Thomas Cobden

Thomas Alfred Cobden (1794 – 1842) was an English architect, best known for designing many buildings in south-east Ireland, such as Cathedral of the Assumption, Carlow, Duckett's Grove and Browne-Clayton Monument.

Life Cobden was born in Chichester on 13 April 1794, the son of a builder Thomas Cobden and Mary Camp. Cobden had many siblings, as Thomas Cobden was a widower when he married Camp. Thomas Cobden the elder built Chichester Market House in 1807 with William Brooks, under the direction of John Nash. Nothing is known of Cobden's education, but it would appear he began in his father's trade as early as 1813.

Cobden married Ann Fleming at Westminster St James 14 September 1821, with whom he had at least five children. Due to his work in the area, Cobden lived in Carlow for some time, building a house on College Street. Cobden's work began with designs for Gurteen le Poer, County Waterford, for John William Power, and Wells House, County Wexford, for Robert Doyne. From 1835 to 1842, Cobden exhibited designs at Royal Irish Academy and the Royal Hibernian Academy. Russellstown Park, and the Tudor-revival Ballykealy House. Cobden took much of his inspiration from Europe, in particular the Beffroi Tower in Bruges.