Basic Biographical Details | Name: | Corson & Aitken | | Designation: | | | Born: | c. 1860 | | Died: | c. 1880 | | Bio Notes: | William Reid Corson was born in Dumfries c.1825, the second son of James Corson, Provost in Dumfries 1831-33. He was articled to Walter Newall of Dumfries, but by the mid-1840s he had moved to Leeds where he became partner to Edward La Trobe Bateman: both had spent a period working for Owen Jones on Little Woodhouse in 1847. In 1849 they were joined by Corson's brother George, but shortly thereafter Bateman left Leeds leaving the Corsons in charge of the office. In 1855 William Corson left Leeds to take over John Edgar Gregan's architectural practice following Gregan's sudden death in April of that year. He continued to work from Gregan's old address at 20 Cooper Street until he formed a partnership with Robert Walker Aitken from Peddie & Kinnear's office, establishing an office at St James Chambers, Manchester in 1868 or 1869; his brother maintained the Leeds office thereafter.
William Corson became the second President of the Manchester Society of Architects 1867-69. Although Derek Linstrum claims that he emigrated Santa Monica in California there is clear evidence that he remained in Manchester from his professional and private addresses in local directories. He remained in partnership with Robert Aitken until early 1880 when the partnership appears to have been dissolved. Corson continued to practice on his own at 10 St James's Square, Manchester with Aitken working intially from Duchy Chambers in Clarence Street and then from St George's Chambers, Albert Square after which he appears to have retired or possibly worked elsewhere. | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | St James's Chambers, St James's Square, Manchester, England | Business | 1868 * | c. 1880 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils| The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | William Reid Corson | c. 1860 | After 1868 | Partner | | | Robert Walker Aitken | c. 1867 | c. 1880 | Partner | |
Buildings and Designs| This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1868 | East UP Church | Galashiels | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | Enlargement |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this : | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory | 1868 | Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory | | London, Wyman | | | Linstrum, Derek | | West Yorkshire Architects and Architecture | | | | | Wilson, T B | 1937 | Two Leeds Architects: Cuthbert Brodrick and George Corson | | | |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this : | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information per Neil Darlington |
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