Basic Biographical Details

Name: Sydney Decimus Kitson
Designation:  
Born: 1871
Died: 1937
Bio Notes: Sydney Decimus Kitson was born in 1871 and educated at Charterhouse and Trinity College, Cambridge. He was articled to Edward John May from 1893 to 1895, and was assistant to William Douglas Caröe in 1896. He commenced independent practice in 1897 in Leeds. Kitson worked in partnership with Francis William Bedford from 1897 to 1904. He was elected FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being Edward John May, John Belcher and Harry Sutton Chorley. Prior to the First World War he had an extensive local practice.

He served as APM for Nottinghamshire during the First World War, the demands of his duties sowing the seeds for the lung disease which was to plague him for the rest of his life. After the war he lived in London for a time, subsequently moving to Boston Spa, Yorkshire and finally to Kidlington, near Oxford. Whilst there he became honorary secretary of the RIBA in 1928. After completing his term in this post, he devoted his time and energy to writing a book on the English watercolourist John Sell Cotman. This was finally published in the Spring of 1937, shortly before his death.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Greek Street Chambers, Greek Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandBusiness1906 *  
Item 2 of 3Gledlow, Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandPrivate(?)Before 1906After 1914 
Item 3 of 3Lloyds Bank Chambers, Vicar Lane, Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandBusiness(?)1914 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3Edward John May18931895Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3William Douglas Caröe18961896Assistant 
Item 3 of 3Bedford & Kitson18971904Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Belcher3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Harry Sutton Chorley3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Edward John May3 December 1906for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4James Muir Calder5 December 1910for Associateship
Item 2 of 4James Smith Findlay30 November 1936For Licentiateship
Item 3 of 4Norval Rowallan PaxtonMid 1923for Associateship
Item 4 of 4John Stuart Syme20 March 1911for Licentiateship - as president of the Leeds & Yorkshire Architectural Society

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 21899BrahanPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 2 of 21899Cartwright Memorial HallBradford YorkshireEnglandCompetition design

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914  p1083
Item 2 of 2Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder9 July 1937  p74 Obituary
Item 2 of 2RIBA Journal17 July 1937v44London: Royal Institute of British Architectspp913-15 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBARIBA Biographical Files  
Item 2 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Drawings Collection  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F v17 p130