Francis Charlton

After studying at Ushaw College in County Durham and Edinburgh University, Francis Charlton chose civil engineering as a profession. Civil engineers design, create and connect the world around us. It’s about roads and railways, schools, offices, hospitals, water and power supply and much more.

In 1838 Francis worked for the President of the Institute of Civil Engineers during the time when the South Shields railway was under construction. His later achievements in engineering roles were on many of the North-Eastern railways - the Newcastle and Darlington railway and the Newcastle and Berwick railway being notable examples. For three years he was resident engineer of the construction of the Marron extension of the Whitehaven, Cleator, and Egremont railway in Cumberland.

In 1866 Charlton was elected to the post of County Surveyor of Northumberland which meant he was both architect and engineer and was responsible for all improvements to the bridges and roads, together with all the buildings belonging to the county. As County Architect he successfully designed and carried out improvements to many buildings and was the engineer for several bridges in Northumberland, the most important being the Duchess' bridge, across the River Aln near Alnmouth, and Wark bridge, across the North Tyne.

In 1869 Francis was elected a Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers.