Basic Biographical Details Name: | Edmund John Milner Allen | Designation: | | Born: | 1859 or 1860 | Died: | 1912 | Bio Notes: | Edmund John Milner Allen was born in 1859 or 1860, son of the English painter John Milner Allen. He was articled to William Warlow Gwyther from 1876 to 1880, winning the Royal Academy Schools Silver Medal in the latter year. Thereafter he was an assistant with Thomas William Cutler. In 1884 he was working with Arthur Buxton Cummings Gibson and they won the three competitions for Baths and Washouses in Newcastle. Whether this was a full partnership or merely an alliance of convenience for the competitions is not clear. In 1887 he joined John William Simpson in partnership. The firm had an extremely successful run in major competitions. Simpson entered the Glasgow Infirmary competition in 1900 on his own. Given that Gibson's first design for St Cuthbert, Newcastle was jointly with MP Manning who was a partner of Simpson it may be that all four men knew each other from their early training in London.
Allen's health failed in the early 1900s. He died in 1912. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 10 New Inn, Strand, London, England | Business | Before 1894 | 1899 or 1900 | | | 3 Verulam Buildings, Gray's Inn, London, England | Business | 1899 or 1900 | Before 1912 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
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 | | 1886 | Edinburgh Municipal Buildings | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Third premiated competition design - in collaboration with John William Simpson, prior to partnership | | 1887 | City Hospital | | | Liverpool | England | First premiated competition design | | 1890 | Victoria Institute | Worcester | | Worcestershire | England | Won competition and secured job | | 1891 | Glasgow Art Gallery and Museum | Kelvingrove | | Glasgow | Scotland | Won competition - appointed as architects in 1892 | | 1896 | Manchester Royal Infirmary: Piccadilly site | | | Manchester | England | Won competition | | 1897 | Town Hall | | | Cardiff | Wales | Unsuccessful competition design | | 1899 | Cartwright Memorial Hall | Bradford | | Yorkshire | England | Won design competition (£150 premium) | | 1904 or 1905 | Victoria Institute | Worcester | | Worcestershire | England | Alterations? - unclear whether under firm of Simpson & Allen or Simpson & Ayrton |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Courtesy of Graham Potts | Information sent via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent September 2012. |
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