Thomas Harrison was an English architect who flourished in the last two decades of the 18th century and the first three decades of the 19th century. Little is known of his early life, and his precise date of birth is not known. He was born in Richmond, Yorkshire, and was baptised on 7 August 1744. In 1769 he was sent to study architecture in Rome. He started his professional life as an architect in 1782. This followed his success in a competition to design Skerton Bridge in Lancaster, Lancashire, as a result of which he moved to Lancaster. While there he carried out a number of projects, including a new tower and spire for St John's Church, a clock tower for the town hall, and new buildings within the complex of Lancaster Castle. While he was working on Lancaster Castle, he was also involv