A VICTORIAN “graffiti artist” whose signature tag on a Durham Cathedral bookcase lay forgotten for more than a century was a two-time mayor who lunched with Charles Dickens, his great-great-grandson has revealed.

As reported in The Northern Echo last week, history buffs at the cathedral were left baffled after workmen dismantling the bookcase to make way for a new door found two newspapers from 1880 hidden under the base and names written on the timbers in pencil.

One of the names was Robert Robson, whose descendant Ian Robson has now revealed was a carpenter and builder employing 21 men, twice served as Mayor of Durham in the 1860s and during his term in office hosted Charles Dickens on one of the author’s reading tours.

He also owned shares in Durham Market, which opened in 1851.

Ian Robson, a retired graphic designer of Bishop Auckland, County Durham, said: “My wife spotted it in the paper.

“My dad used to say he (Robert Robson) had lunch with Charles Dickens. We thought he was joking at the time, but he was mayor and would have hosted Dickens when he visited Durham.”

On the recent discovery, the 59-year-old said: “It’s nice to have that link with the past. He looks stern in the one photo I have of him but it’s nice to know he was human – even if it is from graffiti.”

Ian Robson’s grandfather Henry was Robert’s second son. Henry’s older brother Edward became a fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects, designed homes and buildings around the country and twice turned down a knighthood, apparently because he preferred to continue to be known as plain Mr Robson.

The other name found on the bookcase was John Milbanke, also believed to have been a Durham builder.

The newspapers unearthed are from 1880, meaning Mr Robson would have been 76 if he was responsible for hiding them.

A signature on one of the papers, Mr R Yelloby, Berwick on Tweed, remains a mystery.

The discoveries were made in the Monks’ Dormitory as part the cathedral’s ongoing £10m Open Treasure renovation.