John Graham Johnson

John Graham Johnson was born in London on 26 January 1882. He obtained his architectural training in London in the 1890s, first as an articled pupil for three years to Charles Forster Hayward, and then as improver for two years and assistant for two more years to J.E.K. & J.P. Cutts. In 1907 he worked with Percy Hopkins at Gerrards Cross and Beaconsfield, designing eight houses in Gerrards Cross. During 1908 he worked independently, designing a further eight houses in Gerrards Cross, including 'South Park House', 8 South Park Drive, for Y.J. Lovell & Son.

At the end of 1908, John Graham Johnson began a fruitful partnership with Percy Charles Boddy of Ruislip. As there is no perceptible change in the style and lettering of the drawings produced before and after the formation of this partnership, it seems likely that Johnson managed the Gerrards Cross business from his office at Station Approach, whilst Boddy continued to work on commissions in the Ruislip area.  John Graham Johnson was the most prolific of the Gerrard's Cross architects, designing over 50 houses during his two-year partnership with Percy Charles Boddy. Johnson was the master of the façade, using different elements of cottage architecture to give each four bedroom house a different appearance. His design for 'Noris' (now 'Lynbury'), 14 South Park Crescent, featured in Y.J. Lovell's advertisement in Where to Live Around London, in 1910. At this time, John Graham Johnson was living at 'Merton', Marsham Way, Gerrards Cross.

John Graham Johnson dissolved his partnership with Percy Charles Boddy in 1912 and moved to VictoriaBritish Columbia. After service during the First World War, he returned to Canada, and was in private practice at Kentville, Nova Scotia, for five years. For health reasons Johnson returned to Victoria, becoming Resident Architect for the Canadian Pacific Railway. In 1930, he resigned to establish his private practice in Victoria. There he designed many houses, particularly in OakBay, sometimes using the Arts and Crafts style, but he was equally comfortable employing the Modern style. He died in Victoria, 27 July 1945, aged 63.