Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Wilson Walker | Designation: | | Born: | 1878 | Died: | 18 November 1926 | Bio Notes: | John Wilson Walker was born in 1878, the younger son of George Walker of Portlethen, and was educated privately and at Robert Gordon’s College in Aberdeen. He was articled to Ellis & Wilson of Aberdeen in 1896, presumably being a relative of Robert Gordon Wilson, one of the partners within the practice. During his apprenticeship he attended Gray's School of Art. In 1901 on completion of his articles he moved to London as an assistant in the office of Niven & Wigglesworth. Whilst there he attended the LCC School of Arts & Crafts under Halsey Ricardo as well as undertaking travels abroad, spending a month in Normandy in 1902 and six months in Italy, Sicily, Switzerland and Holland in 1905. He passed the qualifying exam in June the latter year and was admitted ARIBA on 4 December, his proposers being his employers David Barclay Niven and Wigglesworth, and John Slater.
In 1906 he was taken into partnership by Wilson, along with Wilson's son (also Robert Gordon Wilson), the practice becoming Wilsons & Walker. Walker was mobilised in the first days of the First World War and was demobilised with the rank of Major in 1919. Walker and the younger Wilson were both admitted FRIBA in early 1922, Walker's proposers being George Watt and the then president and secretary of the Aberdeen Society of Architects; by that time Walker had undertaken some 300-400 commissions.
Walker died on 18 November 1926 as a result of being knocked down by a car. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 26, Beresford Road, Highbury, London N, England | Private | 1905 * | | | | 375, Union Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1921 * | | | | Kilreen, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, Scotland | Private | 1921 * | | |
* 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 | | Ellis & Wilson | 1896 | c. 1900(?) | Apprentice | Became partner c.1906 | | Niven & Wigglesworth | c. 1900(?) | Before 1906 | Assistant | | | Wilsons & Walker | 1906 | 1926(?) | Partner | |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | 1906 | House, Polmuir Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1906 | Ironmongers Court, Upperkirkgate | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1906 | Royal Mills, Palmerston Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions | | 1906 | Two houses, Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1906 | Villa, Rubislaw Den North | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1906 | Aberdeen Steam Laundry Works | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1906 | Blairs College | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions/alterations? | | After 1906 | Bleach and Dyeworks | Garthdee | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1906 | Broadford Works | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Large alterations and additions - flax store and spinning mill, alterations to beam engine house and new north and south mills | | After 1906 | Carden Place UP Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations/additions? | | After 1906 | Daily Free Press Buildings, shops, offices and printing and publishing premises | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations/additions? | | After 1906 | Higher Grade School | Banchory | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | After 1906 | House, Rubislaw Den South | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1906 | John Knox Established Church | Mounthooly | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions/alterations? | | After 1906 | Nazareth House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions? | | After 1906 | North of Scotland meal mills | | | Aberdeenshire? | Scotland | | | After 1906 | Northern Co-operative Society Bakery | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1906 | Provision Works | Torry | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions/alterations? | | After 1906 | Secondary School | Peterculter | | Kincardineshire/Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | After 1906 | St Margaret's Presbytery | Aboyne | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1907 | UP Church | Burghead | | Morayshire | | Renovations | | 1908 | Ballogie House | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1909 | Bakery and flour stores for Northern Co-operative | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations to bakery | | 1909 | Ellon Free Church | Ellon | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1909 | Villa, Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1910 | Sausage Factory, Millbank | Berryden | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1914 | Cluny Free Church | Cluny | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Remodelling | | After 1919 | Government Housing Scheme | Torry | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 26 November 1926 | | | p852 Obituary | | RIBA Journal | 18 December 1926 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p154 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v16 p98 (microfilm reel 19); F v25 no1871 (microfilm reel 15) |
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