Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Robert Ashcroft
Designation:  
Born: 9 September 1906
Died: 1973
Bio Notes: William Robert Ashcroft was born on 9 September 1906, the son of Frank Ashcroft, minister of religion and his wife Anne Robson. He was articled to Dick Peddie & Walker Todd from 1925 to 1930, attending morning classes at Edinburgh College of Art under John Begg. After completing his apprenticeship he took day classes at the College for two years, obtaining his diploma in June 1933. He was admitted ARIBA on 5 March the following year, his proposers being Begg, John Jerdan and William James Walker Todd. His nomination papers give no business address and indicate that he was lodging with C Smith of 33 Spottiswoode Street, Edinburgh.

Ashcroft became a lecturer in the School of Architecture at Dundee College of Art (subsequently Duncan of Jordanstone) either just before or just after the Second World War. He was tall, well-built, bespectacled and scholarly-looking with a seemingly calm, reserved manner; but as he had no significant personal practice his standing within the School was not high-profile and he was confined to teaching the first two years. He remained at the College until his retirement.

In the early 1970s he was living at 3 Rowanbank Gardens, Broughty Ferry, Dundee. He died aged 66 at Dundee Royal Infirmary in 1973, survived by his wife Rebecca Maxwell Sempill.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 556, Maule Street, Carnoustie, Angus, ScotlandPrivate 1973 
Item 2 of 5c/o C Smith/33, Spottiswoode Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1934 *  
Item 3 of 5Thornlea, Albany Terrace, Perth, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate1950 *After 1955 
Item 4 of 5Dundee College of Art, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1951 *  
Item 5 of 53, Rowanbank Gardens, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, ScotlandPrivateEarly 1970s *  

* 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 1J M Dick Peddie & Walker Todd19251930Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Begg5 March 1934for Associateship
Item 2 of 3John Jerdan5 March 1934for Associateship
Item 3 of 3William James Walker Todd5 March 1934for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Recollections of David M Walker (a pupil of Ashcroft's at Dundee College of Art, 1951-1)
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no5329 (combined box 71)