Born in South Hiendley in 1771, the son of John Watson, a surveyor, he trained in Wakefield with William Lindley of Doncaster, who built South Parade in Wakefield. Charles then designed much of the St John’s Square area.
Take a walk around some of his buildings here.
4 Walks Around Wakefield
Self-led walks around Wakefield illustrating some of our fascinating and rich heritage.
Our friends at Wakefield Civic Society have put together a series of self-led walks around Wakefield to illustrate some of our fascinating and rich heritage.
ARCHITECT CHARLES WATSON (1771-1836)
MONUMENTS TO WOMEN
Anyone who knows Wakefield will be familiar with the statue to Queen Victoria in Castrop-Rauxel Square on Rishworth Street, but did you know that there are other monuments to women in and around the city? Find some of Wakefield’s wonderful women here.
NORTHGATE PUBS
Since medieval times, Wakefield has held a reputation for being ‘the Merrie City’. Although the precise origins of the label are long lost, it’s perhaps not difficult to imagine why the name might have been coined!
Take a trip back in time and discover some of Northgate’s historic pubs here.
A CITY OF ART & SCULPTURE
Wakefield’s standing as a place for art and culture is justly deserved. The creation in 1997 of the Yorkshire Sculpture Park, and the opening of the Hepworth Wakefield gallery in 2011 have drawn national and international attention to the city and district. Not all artwork is contained in galleries and museums, of course! Stroll around the city centre to discover a wealth of art that’s free to explore here.