William Hobson

William Hobson (1752-1840), of Markfield House in South Tottenham, was a successful Quaker builder who in 1805 was commissioned to build Martello Towers along the South and East coast as defences against a feared French invasion during the Napoleonic Wars. He was also involved in the construction of the London Docklands and the building of the new Newgate prison.

Henry Raeburn was commissioned by William Hobson in the late 1700s to paint portraits of himself and his wife, Ann. The portraits were bequeathed to the Victoria and Albert Museum by their great-grandson Henry Pulsford Hobson. The V&A notes describe the portrait of William Hobson as:

Oil painting depicting William Hobson of Markfield, a notable building contractor, portrayed three quarter length, seated in a chair, wearing breeches and a thick coat. His hair is white but he has the stature and complexion of a young, bullish man.

Judging from the apparent age of the sitter and the style, the work was probably executed in Raeburn’s last years. The gentleman is shown at a desk, in three-quarter length, seated with legs apart. He looks slightly to the right, avoiding the direct gaze at the viewer.

Raeburn painted some of the areas, such as the sitter’s face and front of his coat, in very fine detail. In other passages he shows a dynamic sketchiness of brushwork, for which he was renowned.

Susanna Hobson by John Constable British Museum

John Constable stayed at Markfield House, as a guest of William Hobson from 24 June to 11 July 1806 where he made numerous sketches of the family.

William Hobson moved to Markfield House, which he had had built, in 1798. The house was sold to developers in 1879 and demolished in 1880.

The Tottenham and Edmonton Advertiser commented:
        Like many other estates in the once rural parish of Tottenham,
        the land is doomed to become covered ere long with brick and
        mortar, and its stately mansion with its ornamental grounds
       will also shortly know their place no more.

William Hobson died on 23rd May 1840 and was buried at All Hallows, Tottenham.

Additional information from: Lost House of Haringey, Bruce Castle Museum, 1986