Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve) | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 15 December 1853 | Died: | 12 January 1922 | Bio Notes: | William Thomas Oldrieve was born in London on 15 December 1853, the son of William Oldrieve, clerk of works and his wife Elizabeth Tyler. His father's family were Baptists from Devonshire. He was educated at Mansfield Grammar School, serving for a time under his father in the clerks of works office at Thoresby Hall under Anthony Salvin, 1868-71. He then moved to the office of the builders William Cubitt & Co where he spent the years 1871-73. From there he obtained a place in the War Office, attached to the Royal Engineers where he remained until 1881 when he gained first place in the competitive examinations as assistant architect and surveyor in the Office of Works. During that period he spent at least part of his time in the Edinburgh office under Walter Wood Robertson. At some point post-1880 he was a distinguished pupil of Professor Baldwin Brown, gaining a class medal and the Cousin prize in the Architectural Section of the Fine Arts Class at Edinburgh University. In 1886 he was Godwin Bursar of the RIBA. This he used to visit Hamburg, Berlin, Vienna and Paris, making a particular study of post office buildings, notably Guadet's new Hotel des Postes in Paris and the General Post Office in Hamburg. As a result of his study he was later appointed architect for provincial post offices in England and Wales. Works included Post Offices at Hyde, 1899-1900; Weston super Mare 1900; Aldershot, 1900-02; Hinkley 1901-02; Plymouth 1902; Merthyr 1903;Southampton 1903; Norwich (extension) 1904; Burslem 1904; Hereford (extension) 1904; Lincoln, 1906; Salisbury, 1907; and Swansea.
Following his time in Edinburgh, he was variously in the Chief Architect's Office, London Office of Works; in charge of Manchester District Office of Works and Chief Assistant to the Principal Architect to the Department of Works in England. In April 1904 he was appointed Principal Architect for Scotland. He was admitted FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being Sir Henry Tanner, Sir John Taylor and Sir Robert Rowand Anderson.
Oldrieve had strong antiquarian interests and a took a particular interest in the Ancient Monuments side of his duties, giving a paper on the Royal Palaces of Scotland at the RIBA in 1908, one on the excavation of the original abbey church at Holyrood to the Scottish Ecclesiological Society and another on the roof of Glasgow Cathedral to the Society of Antiquaries. Oldrieve was appointed one of the first Royal Commissioners of Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland in January 1908
When Oldrieve retired in 1914 at the age of sixty he formed the partnership of Oldrieve Bell & Paterson. Of his partners William Wilson Paterson at least was a former member of his Office of Works staff; and Bell was Andrew W Bell, presumably the same who had been Dunfermline Burgh Engineer in the years around 1900, although no further details of him are yet known.
Shortly after his retirement Oldrieve and his wife embarked on what the Building News described as a "world cruise" visiting South Africa, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, the Sandwich Islands and, most importantly, New Zealand, where his son and his family were then living.
On his return became in 1917 Secretary for the Ministry of Munitions for North and East Scotland; and during that period he was, with Rowand Anderson and Thomas Ross, one of the principal organisers of the National Art Survey for Scotland. At the end of the war he re-formed the partnership of Oldrieve, Bell & Paterson. D Hay Fleming wrote of him 'All who came in contact with him were charmed by his pleasant unassuming and courteous manner, his unselfishness, generosity and transparent sincerity. Between him and the members of his staff, the greatest harmony ever prevailed, due doubtless on the part of his staff to the kindness and consideration he invariably showed them, and his readiness to give them the benefit of his long and varied experience'. Oldrieve was not only a good architect himself, but recruited an exceptionally able staff who were given exceptional opportunities for original design. The buildings executed during his regime were an exceptionally interesting series, predominantly Edwardian classic, but a few were late Gothic and Scots Renaissance, notably Aberdeen Post Office and the unrealised scheme for Falkland Palace - like government offices on Calton Hill.
Oldrieve was deeply religious. He was a member and elder of Morningside Baptist Church, President of the Baptist Union in 1915 and at the time of his death of stomach cancer on 12 January 1922 he was President of the Carrubbers Close Mission and a director of the National Bible Society for Scotland. He left a widow, Emma Goodchild; a son, the Rev Frank Oldrieve, Secretary of the Leper Mission, India; and a daughter, Elizabeth. His moveable estate was £3,356 15s 10d. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 3, Parliament Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | | | |  | Didsbury, Manchester, England | Private | | | 1891 Census |  | 1, Stanhope Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1887 | | |  | 9, Duncan Street, Higher Broughton, Salford, England | Private | 1895 | | Slater Directory |  | HM Office of Works, New Bridge Street, Manchester, England | Business | 1895 | | Slater Directory |  | 194, Elms Road, Clapham, London, England | Private | 1901 | | Kelly. London and Suburbs; 1901 Census |  | 11, Merchiston Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1903 | c. 1910 | |  | 15, Braid Avenue, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1910 | 1922 | |  | 22, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1914 | | Address of Oldrieve Bell & Paterson |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | John Thomas Galletly | | | Assistant Architect | Assistant architect and surveyor, second class, in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh (1910) |  | Albert Robert Myers | | | Assistant Architect | Assistant architect and surveyor, first class, in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh (1910) |  | A Odell | | | Assistant Architect | Assistant architect and surveyor, second class, in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh (1910) |  | Charles Albert Hindle | | | Assistant | Dates unknown, but in Manchester office of H M Office of Works |  | Cecil John William Simpson | 1897 | 1906 | Assistant | In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | William Dean | 1901 | 1904 | | |  | Arthur John Marshall | January 1903 | 1911 | Assistant | in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | Herbert Ryle | 8 June 1903 | September 1904 | Assistant | Assistant architect and surveyor, second class, in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh (1910) |  | James Cumming Wynnes | 1904 | c. 1911 | Assistant | in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | David Webster Robertson | January 1904 | 1914 | Assistant | In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | Charles Ernest Jackson | 1905 | 1914 | Assistant | in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | Archibald Scott | 1905 | Before 1919(?) | Assistant | In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | Sydney Houghton Miller | After 1907 | Before 1909 | Assistant(?) | In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | Ernest Scott Petch | 1911 | April 1914 | Assistant | In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | Arthur John Marshall | 1911 | After 1914 | Assistant Architect | Assistant architect and surveyor, second class, in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh (1910) |  | James Wood | 1912 | 1914 | Assistant | Working in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | Andrew Duncan Kellock | 1912 | 1914 | Assistant | With the exception of war service; in H M Office of Works |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | 1892 | Glasgow General Post Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rebuilding of central part facing Ingram Street, on site of Atheneum (as architect with particular responsibility for Post Office buildings, working under Walter Wood Robertson, Architect for Scotland) |  | 1893 | Falkirk Post Office | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Front block? - as assistant to Robertson in the Office of Works |  | 1894 | Parcel Post Office | | | Manchester | England | Including the Manchester offices of H M Office of Works |  | 1896 | Inland Revenue Offices | | | Manchester | England | |  | 1899 | Post Office | Hyde | | Cheshire | England | |  | 1900s | Post Office | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Extension - probably by Oldrieve (as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) |  | 1902 | General Register House, Sasine Office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1902 | Parcel Post Office building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Working in H M Office of Works, first as assistant with responsibility for post offices, then as Architect for Scotland |  | 1903 | Baptist Tabernacle | Blackpool | | Lancashire | England | In association with C A Hindle |  | 1903 | Post Office | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | 1904 | Central Telephone Exchange | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations at rear. Oldrieve as Architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1904 | Dunfermline Abbey, Wardlaw Vault | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Vault renovated and reduced in size. (Oldrieve as architect of Scotland in the Office of Works) |  | 1904 | Eskdalemuir Royal Magnetic Observatory | Eskdalemuir | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |  | 1904 | Head Post Office | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works (succeeded Walter Wood Robertson) |  | 1904 | St Andrews Castle, bathing shelter | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1904 | St Andrews Castle, sea defences | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Lowering of wall in front of castle on south side, and addition of railings - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1905 | Post Office | Bootle | | Lancashire | England | |  | 1906 | Post Office | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations - Oldrieve as architect of Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1906 | Post Office | Banff | | Banffshire | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect of Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1906 | Post Office | North Berwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1906 | Post Office | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | c. 1906 | Post Office | Leicester | | Leicestershire | England | Extension |  | 1907 | Edinburgh Castle, Cistern | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1907 | General Post Office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension and remodelling of public office - Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1907 | Post Office | Stornoway | Lewis | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | With Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in HM Office of Works |  | 1907 | Post Office | Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Oldrieve as Architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1907 | Post Office | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1907 | Post Office | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect of Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1907 | Post Office | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions - with Oldrieve as Architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1908 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, sundial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Renovation |  | 1908 | Parliament House, Supreme Courts of Scotland | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and extensions, including reconstruction of lobby and oak library adjoining court IX - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1908 | Post Office | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Working for HM Office of Works. |  | 1908 | Post Office | Lerwick | Mainland | Shetland | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1908(?) | Post Office | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1908 | St Andrews Cathedral Museum | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | As architect of Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1909 | Edinburgh Life Assurance Company | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Adapted internally to become the Royal Society Building - Oldrieve as architect in Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1909 | Royal Institution | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal reconstruction and new galleries - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | c. 1909 | Royal Botanic Garden, laboratory building | Inverleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As architect for Scotlland in H M Office of Works |  | c. 190(?) | Post Office | Duns | | Berwickshire | Scotland | May be by Oldrieve as architect in Scotland in H M Office of Works, depending on date |  | 1910 | Bridgeton Telephone Exchange | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh |  | 1910 | Edinburgh Industrial Museum | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | South-east extension |  | 1910 | Labour Exchange | Tollcross | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1910 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Supervised John Wilson Paterson's work |  | 1910 | Post Office | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1910 | Post Office | Brechin | | Angus | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect of Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1910 | Telephone Exchange | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Oldrieve as Architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1911 | Glasgow General Post Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of side blocks (steel and reinforced concrete) - commenced by W T Oldrieve, completed by C J W Simpson, as successive Architects for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1911 | National Gallery of Scotland | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal alterations to west section. Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1911 | Telephone exchange | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | As architect for Scotland in the Office of Works |  | 1912 | Head Post Office | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | South extension - Oldrieve as architect of Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1912 | Marksmen’s Pavilion Hunters Bog Range Holyrood Park | Holyrood Park | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Initial sketches |  | 1912 | Post Office | Stornoway | Lewis | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | Additions and alterations with Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in HM Office of Works |  | 1912 | Post Office | Wick | | Caithness | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect of Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | Mid 1912 | Scottish Office buildings | Calton Hill | | Edinburgh | Scotland | First proposed scheme (unexecuted); detailing identical to Aberdeen Post Office - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works, assisted by James Cumming Wynnes |  | 1913 | Glasgow Cathedral | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New roof and ceiling - Oldrieve as Architect for Scotland |  | 1913 | Labour Exchange | | | Dundee | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1913 | Post Office | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works. (Buildings of Scotland). Perhaps with overall responsibility. |  | 1913 | St Clement's Church | Rodel | Harris | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Harling removed and alterations especially to tower - Oldrieve as architect for Scotland |  | Before 1914 | Letter Sorting Office | Dalry | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works |  | 1921 | Iona Abbey | | Iona | Argyll | Scotland | Rebuilding of two arches at west end of north arcade |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Architecture in Manuscript 1601-1906 | | Architecture in Manuscript 1601-1906, 1022 | | | p301 |  | Pike | | Edinburgh and the Lothians at the turn of the 20th century | | | p272 |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p13 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 20 January 1922 | CXXII | | p 120 - obituary |  | RIAS Quarterly | 1922 | no 2 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary pp10-12 |  | RIBA Journal | 28 January 1922 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p193 |  | RSA | * | | | 96th annual report |  | Scotsman | 14 January 1922 | | | Obituary |  | The Times | 14 January 1908 | | | p5 col A Scottish Historical Monuments Commission |  | The Times | 16 January 1922 | | | p14 col D - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional research by Iain Paterson |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v17 p154 no1173 (microfilm reel 12) |
Images © All rights reserved. Edinburgh and the Lothians at the opening of the twentieth century / by A. Eddington. Contemporary biographies / edited by W.T. Pike |