Charles Reginald Newborn was born Sanna, India on 12 October 1878 . He subsequently moved to England and was articled to George Stephenson from 1894 to 1897. He also attended classes at the Architectural Association Schools in London. He worked as an assistant to Fowler & Hall from 1897 to 1899; and to George Ernest Nield (1864-1945) from 1899. While still working in Nield's office Newborn set up his own independent practice in London in 1904. From 1922 to 1930 he was in partnership with George Willie Smith (1883-1958) as Newborn & Smith.
Newborn was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British architects (LRIBA) in 1911. He was also a Member of the Institute of Structural Engineers (MIStructE)
His address was given as Danun Cottage, Leatherhead, Surrey, and 222 Strand, London in 1911; "Whindale”, Chapel Road, Tadworth, Surrey 1914; 6, New Square, Lincoln's Inn in 1923 and 1927; and Westmead, Great Western Road Hounslow, Middlesex in 1930. He died on 6 September 1930.
Clothing factories and offices, Hackney; reinforced concrete factory for manufacture of boots, Hackney; extensive wharves and warehouses at Shad Thames for proprietors of Butler's Wharf; rebuilding of London Egg Market (after fire), and of King's Arms Yard, Coleman Street, E.C.; conversion of St. Paul's Chapter House Into City Club; motor and carriage works, etc., at Hitchin, Herts; several doctors' houses and other residences at Otford, Hounslow, Bradford, St. Margaret's, Athlone (Ireland) and elsewhere; restoration of Melbourne Lodge, Barnes: several housing schemes; polo stables and grooms' quarters, additions to polo, golf and tennis pavilions, etc., at the Roehampton Club. [Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 38, 22 November 1930 p. 54