He was born inPreston, Lancashire, and educated atFort Augustus Abbey, aBenedictine school in Scotland, theUniversity of St Andrews (graduating Master of Arts, First Class Hons (Scotland) and awarded D.LITT in 2002) and then in 1970 arrived atOriel College, Oxford, to prepare for aDPhil. The doctoral degree was awarded in 1974 for work on the architectSamuel Wyatt.[1] He worked for theGreater London Council's Historic Buildings Division from 1974[2] to 1986, where he worked inter alia as architectural editor of the Survey of London, and Historic Buildings Inspector for Westminster, and also revised the Statutory Lists of Historic Buildings for 2 east London boroughs. As an independent consultant since 1988 he has advised on the restoration of numerous country houses, churches and other listed buildings. His contribution to the Conservation Plan for 7 Dials andCovent Garden in London won the 1998 Camden Environmental Award. He also wrote the Conservation Plan for theAshmolean Museum, Oxford, in association with Rick Mather Architects.
He has been an Architectural Writer forCountry Life for 50 years contributing nearly 400 articles and reviews.As chairman of the Art and Architecture Committee of Westminster Cathedral he has overseen the completion of the mosaics in St George's and St Joseph's chapels, the Vaughan Chantrey and several individual panels.
Robinson wasFitzalan Pursuivant Extraordinary at theCollege of Arms from 1982 and is nowMaltravers Herald Extraordinary. As an officer of arms he took part in the Proclamations of King Charles III, and the Lying in State, funeral at Westminster Abbey, and interment at Windsor of Queen Elizabeth II in September 2022, and the coronation of King Charles the III at Westminster Abbey in May 2023. In 1978 he was appointed Librarian to the Duke of NorfolkEarl Marshal.[3][4]
Robinson is also a Knight of Magistral Grace of theSovereign Military Order of Malta, and is Archivist and Genealogist of the British Association. He lives at Beckside House,Cumbria, and is an active member of theGeorgian Group of which he was a trustee and vice-chairman for 20 years, acquiring their HQ Adam townhouse in Fitzroy Square, setting up the Casework committee, and instituting the Young Georgians, and founding and presiding over the Annual conservation Awards for 10 years from 2003 to 2013.
He served on the North West Regional Committee of the National Trust for 10 Years and is Heraldic Adviser to the National Trust. He was a trustee of the Lakeland Arts Trust for 25 years, and served on the Council of the Society of Antiquaries, the council of the National Records Association, and was a trustee of Burghley House for five years and is a trustee ofArundel Castle, andWilton House. He was a founder member of the Friends of Christ Church Spitalfields and helped establish the music Festival there. His scholarly book onJames Wyatt is the definitive treatment of the subject. HisNew Georgian Handbook, written jointly with Alexandra Artley ofHarpers Magazine, was the architectural face of theYoung Fogey movement and has become collectable.
Decorations: Diamond Gold and Platinum Jubilee Medals of Queen Elizabeth II, and Coronation Medal of King Charles III
Georgian Model Farms: A Study of Decorative and Model Farm Buildings in the Age of Improvement, 1700–1846 (1982) Oxford University PressISBN9780198173663.
Holland Blind Twilight, autobiography second volume (2021)
Wilton House (Rizzoli in 2021)
The Sixth Duke of Devonshire’s handbook to Chatsworth (2022]
History of the Beefsteak Club (2023)
Magazine articles
"A. D. Profile 22: Hawksmoor's Christ Church, Spitalfields" - contributor -Architectural Design, 7/1979 C. Amery, R. W. Chitham, K. Downes, M. Gillingham, J. Kenworthy-Browne, R. A. Beddard, J. M. Robinson, G. Stamp. pp. 1–32.
"Cameron discoveries" in:Architectural Review, 1982, 1030. J. M. Robinson, D. Shvidkovsky. pp. 42–51 – includes bibliographical references.
"The Signior" in:AA-Files, 1985, 8 J. M. Robinson. pp. 108–109 – book review.
"In pursuit of excellence" in:Country Life, 1979, 4277 J. M. Robinson. pp. 2113–2114.
"Classical quartet: new country houses" in:Country Life, 35/1990 J. M. Robinson. pp. 74–77.
"No. 20 St James's Square, London" in:Country Life, 44/1989 J. M. Robinson pp. 152–157.
"Pavilions to pleasure" in:Country Life, 14/1989 K. Powell, J. Glancey, J. M. Robinson. pp. 132–133.
"Scraping the ceiling" in:Country Life, 16/1989 J. M. Robinson. pp. 192–193.
^Merle Rubin (27 February 1985). "Tradition updated: Britain's grand new country houses; The Latest Country Houses, by John Martin Robinson, London: The Bodley Head (distributed by Merrimack Publisher's Circle, Salem, N.H.). 256 pp. $19.95".The Christian Science Monitor.
^John Ezard (26 June 2002). "Obituary: The Duke of Norfolk: As Britain's premier peer and senior Catholic layman, he led a spirited but quiet life".The Guardian.
^"Nothing second-rate or suburban about this man's book".Derby Evening Telegraph. 18 January 2007.
