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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 326, Beresford Road, Highbury, London N, EnglandPrivate1905 *  
Item 2 of 3375, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1921 *  
Item 3 of 3Kilreen, Stonehaven, Kincardineshire, ScotlandPrivate1921 *  

* 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 3Ellis & Wilson1896c. 1900(?)ApprenticeBecame partner c.1906
Item 2 of 3Niven & Wigglesworthc. 1900(?)Before 1906Assistant 
Item 3 of 3Wilsons & Walker19061926(?)Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4David Barclay Niven4 December 1905for Associateship
Item 2 of 4John Slater4 December 1905for Associateship
Item 3 of 4George WattEarly 1922for Fellowship
Item 4 of 4Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth4 December 1905for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 21Richard Rennie Alexander29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 2 of 21William George Hay Black Bruce (or William George Bruce)29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 3 of 21Herbert Kitchener Calder29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 4 of 21James Charles Clark30 November 1925For Associateship
Item 5 of 21William Liddle Duncan20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 21Leo Durnin29 November 1926For Associateship
Item 7 of 21William Glashan2 November 1925For Associateship
Item 8 of 21Frank Alexander Greig Inglis29 November 1926For Associateship
Item 9 of 21Alexander Fraser Lawrie3 March 1924For Associateship
Item 10 of 21Robert Sorley Lawrie30 November 1925for Associateship
Item 11 of 21Robert Stuart Stephen Mackay11 June 1923For Associateship
Item 12 of 21Ian Alexander Moodie8 January 1923For Associateship
Item 13 of 21Donald Cameron RaeLate 1922For Associateship
Item 14 of 21Alexander Simpson ReidLate 1922for Associateship
Item 15 of 21Albert Victor Robertson29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 16 of 21David John Alexander RossLate 1922for Associateship
Item 17 of 21Dorothy Elizabeth Soper29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 18 of 21Alexander Malcolm Stewart14 June 1926For Associateship
Item 19 of 21T Scott Sutherland3 March 1924for Associateship
Item 20 of 21William Logan TaylorLate 1922For Associateship
Item 21 of 21William Tocher30 November 1925for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 281906House, Polmuir Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 2 of 281906Ironmongers Court, Upperkirkgate  AberdeenScotland 
Item 3 of 281906Royal Mills, Palmerston Road  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 4 of 281906Two houses, Queen's Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 5 of 281906Villa, Rubislaw Den North  AberdeenScotland 
Item 6 of 28After 1906Aberdeen Steam Laundry Works  AberdeenScotland 
Item 7 of 28After 1906Blairs College  AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions/alterations?
Item 8 of 28After 1906Bleach and DyeworksGarthdee AberdeenScotland 
Item 9 of 28After 1906Broadford Works  AberdeenScotlandLarge alterations and additions - flax store and spinning mill, alterations to beam engine house and new north and south mills
Item 10 of 28After 1906Carden Place UP Church  AberdeenScotlandAlterations/additions?
Item 11 of 28After 1906Daily Free Press Buildings, shops, offices and printing and publishing premises  AberdeenScotlandAlterations/additions?
Item 12 of 28After 1906Higher Grade SchoolBanchory AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 13 of 28After 1906House, Rubislaw Den South  AberdeenScotland 
Item 14 of 28After 1906John Knox Established ChurchMounthooly AberdeenScotlandAdditions/alterations?
Item 15 of 28After 1906Nazareth House  AberdeenScotlandAdditions?
Item 16 of 28After 1906North of Scotland meal mills  Aberdeenshire?Scotland 
Item 17 of 28After 1906Northern Co-operative Society Bakery  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 28After 1906Provision WorksTorry AberdeenScotlandAdditions/alterations?
Item 19 of 28After 1906Secondary SchoolPeterculter Kincardineshire/AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 20 of 28After 1906St Margaret's PresbyteryAboyne AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 21 of 281907UP ChurchBurghead Morayshire Renovations
Item 22 of 281908Ballogie House  AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 23 of 281909Bakery and flour stores for Northern Co-operative  AberdeenScotlandAlterations to bakery
Item 24 of 281909Ellon Free ChurchEllon AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 25 of 281909Villa, Queen's Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 26 of 281910Sausage Factory, MillbankBerryden AberdeenScotland 
Item 27 of 281914Cluny Free ChurchCluny AberdeenshireScotlandRemodelling
Item 28 of 28After 1919Government Housing SchemeTorry AberdeenScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder26 November 1926  p852 Obituary
Item 2 of 2RIBA Journal18 December 1926 London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp154

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v16 p98 (microfilm reel 19); F v25 no1871 (microfilm reel 15)