James Trubshaw

James Trubshaw (13 February 1777 – 28 October 1853) was an English builder, architect and civil engineer. His civil engineering works include the construction of the Grosvenor Bridge in Chester, Cheshire, then the longest stone span. He also pioneered the technique of underexcavation with the straightening the leaning tower of St Chad's in Wybunbury, Cheshire.

Early life and career He was born to stonemason, builder and engineering contractor, James Trubshaw and his second wife Elizabeth (née Webb), at the Mount near Colwich in Staffordshire, the second son in a family of seven sons and two daughters. He was educated in Rugeley, but left school aged only eleven to start work in his father's business. He worked for a time in partnership with the Lichfield architect Thomas Johnson (1794–1865), who was to become his son-in-law. In 1827, Trubshaw became a member of the Institution of Civil Engineers, and presented several papers there. He later became the chief engineer of the Trent and Mersey Canal Company, and superintended the construction of reservoirs, feeders and railways for the company. The Institution of Civil Engineers, to whom Trubshaw presented models of the bridge showing its method of construction, described his methods as having "excited the admiration of the Profession."

He also constructed many other bridges, including Exeter Bridge over the Derwent in Derby, Derbyshire (1850; now demolished). At that date, the 29.3 m tower inclined to the north east by 1.6 m, due to its location on sloping sandy soil with underlying saliferous beds, and it had tilted an average of 12 mm per year since 1790. and the Leaning Tower of Pisa (1999–2001). Trubshaw's work accords with modern conservation principles as it was invisible, used the minimum intervention required and could be reversed or repeated if necessary. Despite the extreme instability of the ground, the straightened tower of St Chad's stood without further intervention for over 150 years; it was restabilised using reinforced concrete foundations in 1989. Weston House, Warwickshire (now demolished)

He designed several Commissioners' Churches, including St James' Church, Longton, Staffordshire (1833–34), St James' Church, Congleton, Cheshire (1847–48) and Holy Trinity, Hanley, Staffordshire (1848–49). He also rebuilt St Michael's Church, Great Wolford, Warwickshire and St Lawrence's Church, Chorlton, Staffordshire.

Personal life Trubshaw was described as tall and athletic. His brother John (1776-1834) appears to be the great-grandfather of the soldier and actor Arthur M. Temple Trubshawe (1905-1985) via grandson Vyvyan Trubshawe (1853-1924) who was also an architect.