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Mark Hodson

“Grimsby is like an unfinished book, there is still lots of work to do.” says Mark Hodson, Grimbarian and an award-winning architect whose passion for quality community architecture, for providing the people of Grimsby with useful, long-standing, and beautiful public builds, has driven his desire to give back to his hometown. 

Born in Grimsby, Mark grew up on the East Marsh and Nunsthorpe estate with his family, whose history with the Docks goes back generations. His father was a trawler skipper and his grandad, Alf, a nautical teacher. He attended school in the town, including what was Chelmsford School; little did he know how much this place would play a part in his future career. 


Mark’s initial ambition was to join the Police, but in the meantime he worked to do up houses. It was in this time he took part in a youth opportunity scheme, where he gained experience as an architect with a local practice. His love for drawing, Lego building, and recreational maths came together in architecture.  

Whilst studying at the School of Architecture in Hull, Mark discovered his passion for, and the importance of, community architecture. Spaces that not only serve a purpose, but clearly improve the environment and have an impact on peoples’ lives. These values still shape Mark’s builds to this day.  


After moving back to Grimsby, Mark established his own practice with just a drawing board in a spare bedroom. This year, from its Cleethorpes studio, Mark Hodson Architects celebrates its 30th birthday. 

“More towns like Grimsby and Cleethorpes should have quality architectural practices, not just the cities. There is so much we can do to give back to our hometowns.” 


One of Mark’s most personal projects was working on significant updates to Franklin College, which exists on the site of his former school, Chelmsford. Mark was able to stand in what was the hall and visualize a place for the next generation of Grimbarians to learn for many years to come. Other notable Grimsby builds include the Women’s Refuge, classrooms and the hydrotherapy pool enclosure for Humberston Park Special School, and the Centre4 Community Centre on the Nunsthorpe. 


Recently, Mark has completed work on the £8.5m YMCA Humber building in Freeman Street, which provides living space for 74 residents with cooking and laundry facilities, and a café, as well as space for workshops and counselling. It is hoped that 21 Freeman Street, as it is known, is the catalyst in a larger regeneration project for the historic area. 


“It’s about understanding the town’s history and what makes it tick. The civic heart may be the town centre, but there is this whole other town within a town which is the Docks, with its own streets and structure, including Freeman Street. You can only respond to the prosperity of the Docks when it is directly linked to Freeman Street. Then there’s the East Marsh and the homes that were built for people in the industry. There’s another town heart strongly cemented between the three. We need to understand the mutually positive benefits for taking care of each other.  


“With regeneration, it’s not just about giving the community a public space, it needs culture and art. Plans need to be bold, with clear leadership, vision, and communication. Culture is key in regeneration and it has to have meaning to it.” 


Words by Lindsay Cowie

Photography by Dan Clarke

Portrait proudly sponsored by...

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