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200 years in existence as anestablished legal practice is agreat achievement. As the firmcelebrates reaching this uniquemilestone, we consider ouraccomplishments since 1811and the key ingredients of ourevolution.

Watson Burton’s origins date back to theVictorian era, when the firm was founded and established in Newcastle upon Tyne in 1811.

Under the management of Joseph and Robert Spence Watson, the 1800s saw the firm beginto work with some great innovators, most notably advising Joseph Swan on the patent protectionof the carbon filament light bulb. Swan, whose patent led to the creation of products whichhave changed home and business life throughout the world, was the inventor of the electriclight bulb, patenting his a year before Thomas Edison. Shortly after that Swan’s Gatesheadhome became the first in the world to have working light bulbs installed.

Robert Spence Watson was an influential figure during a distinguished chapter of the firm’shistory.

200 years in the making

Pilgrim Street c1910 - the home of Watson Burton until 1960s

© New

castle City Library

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Towards the end of the nineteenth century, thepioneering firm began to cement its reputation,with Spence Watson successfully instigatingthe settlement of trade disputes by arbitration,and was sole umpire on 47 occasions in suchdisputes between 1884 and 1904.

In 1909 the offices of Watson, Burton andCorder, Solicitors and Commissioners for Oathswere based at Pilgrim House, 139 PilgrimStreet, Newcastle, where they remained untilthe early 1960s.

In the twenty first century, the firm continuesto evolve and build on the legacy created overthe past 200 years as we work with exciting,innovative organisations across a range ofsectors. A good example of this is the recent

work undertaken on behalf of Northumberland-based Avid Technology Group. The companyis designing and producing electric vehicles,propelling the North East to the forefront as aglobal hub for electric cars.

More recently, a carefully planned, long-termstrategy saw the firm extend its national reach.In 2004, Watson Burton moved to state of theart offices in Newcastle city centre. This wasswiftly followed by the opening of a Leedsoffice in 2005 and the London office in 2007.It was then that the firm made the decision tofocus on its core service offerings of constructionand international engineering projects,employment, corporate, insurance, and realestate.

This strategy has seen the firm successfullyattract a raft of major new regional, nationaland international clients including Atkins,Federal Signal, Bellway Group, Narec, theNuclear Decommissioning Authority andBannatyne.

Looking to the future the firm aims to deliverclear practical advice to clients across thecountry, providing them with practical solutionsto meet their strategic business objectives.Key to the firm’s success is a combination ofcommercial and technical experiencedelivered with a personal touch, which formsthe foundation of many long-standing clientrelationships.

atson Burton’s origins dateback to the Victorian era, whenthe firm was founded andestablished in Newcastle uponTyne in 1811

W

State of the art offices in Newcastle since 2004 The Leeds office, opened in 2005 The Gherkin, home to Watson Burton since 2007

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Robert Spence Watson- profile of an influential figure

Robert Spence Watsonwas born 8 June1837 at 10

Claremont Place, Gateshead and was thesecond child of Joseph and Sarah Watson.

He began his education in 1846 as a pupil ofDr. Collingwood Bruce then moved onto tostudy at Bootham School, York, at the age of11, where he remained until he was 15. Froma young age Spence Watson showedacademic acumen, noted as the only boy whowas able to spell 99 out of 100 words in aspelling test at Bootham, with the one wrongword being ‘fuchsia’.

Just before his 16th birthday in 1853, SpenceWatson began studying at University College,London, where he tied for the 1853 EnglishLiterature prize. To his later regret, he decidednot to complete the course and swiftly madehis way back home to the North East.

1853 was a busy year for Spence Watson. Histime spent in London saw him progress withhis career as he gave his first budget speechto the House of Commons and it also sawhim travel abroad for the first time - a pastimethat later became a regular feature within his life.

In 1856, Spence Watson had a large share inthe management of the Newcastle Black ShoeBrigade, which often meant rough and dirtywork at midnight with vagrants and youngthieves, many of whom later became competentand honest workmen as a result of his influence.

After studying in London for a couple of years,Spence Watson moved back to the NorthEast in 1860 and was admitted to practice asa lawyer. This achievement led him to begin alegal practice with his father, trading as J. & RS Watson, where he remained a practisinglawyer for the rest of his life.

Spence Watson had an immense passion forthe arts and education which resulted in himbecoming the Secretary to the NewcastleLiterary & Philosophical Society in 1862 - apost which he held for 31 years. He used thisposition to exert great influence on the regionand further afield to help establish the Lit &Phil. As a result of the hard work of him andothers the Lit & Phil is now established as theUK’s largest independent library outside ofLondon, housing more than 150,000 booksas well as a music and DVD library.

On 9 June 1863, Robert Spence Watsonmarried Elizabeth Richardson at the Friends’meeting house, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle andthe couple went on to have six children together.

As Spence Watson’s increased interest ineducation came to the fore, 1868 saw thestart of him publishing his work, with the firstpaper entitled “A Plan for Making the societymore extensively useful, as an educationalinstitution”.

In 1871, Spence Watson help to found theDurham College of Science, which laterbecame Armstrong College, and developedinto Newcastle University. He became its firstpresident in 1910. Any educational movementcould depend on Spence Watson’s support.He led the way in university extension for thenorth and in the creation of the NewcastleFree Public Library.

After the death of his father in 1875, Robert,Elizabeth and their children moved into theWatson family home at Bensham grove,Gateshead, where they remained for the restof their lives.

As the recognised arbitrator in the coal tradein the North, Earl Spencer described him in1891 as “perhaps the greatest living authorityin England on labour questions.”

In 1901 Spence Watson became President ofthe Lit and Phil, where he documented the fullhistory of the Society, which is now on displayin the library and he remained in this post upuntil his death in 1911.

He was a lifelong Quaker, an active memberof the liberal party, and became a member ofthe Privy Council in 1907.

This year is unique in the fact that it marks twomilestones - the 200th anniversary since thecreation of Watson Burton and the centenaryof the death of the firm’s most extraordinarycharacter, Robert Spence Watson. This manis not only an important part of the firm’shistory, but also a pioneer in establishing theNorth East’s national profile as a region foreducation, culture and diversity.

Gillian Hall, Senior Partner at Watson Burton,said: “Spence Watson was a formidablearbitrator, orator and advocate of justice. He is an inspirational figure whose legacy hasshaped our firm and a man whose clearvision, commitment and energy we do well to follow today.”

obert SpenceWatson was not onlyan important part ofthe firm’s history, butalso a pioneer inestablishing theNorth East’s nationalprofile as a region foreducation, cultureand diversity

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