Dictionary of National Biography, 1885-1900/Meeson, Alfred
MEESON, ALFRED (1808–1885), architect and surveyor, son of Edward Meeson and Elizabeth Collins, his wife, was born on 4 April 1808 at 67 Aldermanbury, London. He was educated in London, and spent the earlier part of his life in private practice as architect and surveyor in Wakefield, Yorkshire. In 1842 he came to London at the request of Sir Charles Barry [q. v.], to superintend the constructional and engineering details of the new houses of parliament, and continued to act as Barry's confidential assistant until the completion of the work. In 1853 he was appointed engineer in charge of the houses of parliament, with a residence in the building. On the abolition of that post he continued in private practice at 58 Pall Mall. Meeson had a great reputation as a surveyor and consulting engineer, and was employed on the international exhibitions of 1851 and 1862, and on the erection of Covent Garden Theatre, the Albert Hall, and other important public works. He was architect to the first Alexandra Palace on Muswell Hill, and on its destruction by fire was joint architect of the new building. Meeson died unmarried on 12 Jan. 1885, at 4 Harley Road, South Hampstead, London.
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