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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 56, Maule Street, Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland | Private | | 1973 | | | c/o C Smith/33, Spottiswoode Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1934 * | | | | Thornlea, Albany Terrace, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1950 * | After 1955 | | | Dundee College of Art, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1951 * | | | | 3, Rowanbank Gardens, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, Scotland | Private | Early 1970s * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | J M Dick Peddie & Walker Todd | 1925 | 1930 | Apprentice | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Begg | 5 March 1934 | for Associateship | | John Jerdan | 5 March 1934 | for Associateship | | William James Walker Todd | 5 March 1934 | for Associateship |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor 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) | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no5329 (combined box 71) |
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