Charles Thomas Adshead was born in Norbury, Cheshire, England on 6 June 1878 and was articled to John Henry Woodhouse (1847-1929) and George Harry Willoughby (1859-1934?) of Woodhouse & Willoughby in Manchester from 1894 to 1899. He then worked as an assistant to George Reavell (1865-1947) in 1899-1900; and to Richard Holt (1861-1948). He also attended art and technical schools in Manchester and Stockport. He was awarded the Ashpitel Prize in 1901 and qualified as an architect that year. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1902.
Adshead commenced independent practice as an architect in Manchester in 1905. He was in partnership with Percy Harwood Topham (1877-1963) from 1911 as Adshead & Topham. They were joined by Adshead's brother, Percy Brooks Adshead (1879-1971) in 1919, when the firm became Adshead, Topham & Adshead. The practice was dissolved in 1939 following the outbreak of World War Two. Charles Thomas Adshead died in Stockport, Cheshire on 27 March 1955
School in Hollingworth, near Manchester (1907); Council School, Hazel Grove, near Stockport, Cheshire (1910); Playhouse Theatre, Williamson Square, Liverpool (1912-13); Wesleyan Sunday School, Hazel Grove, near Stockport, Cheshire (1913); Town Hall and Public Offices, Sale, Cheshire (1913-15); and Bolton School in Bolton, Lancashire (1919).
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001