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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 210 New Inn, Strand, London, EnglandBusinessBefore 18941899 or 1900 
Item 2 of 23 Verulam Buildings, Gray's Inn, London, EnglandBusiness1899 or 1900Before 1912 

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 3William Warlow Gwyther18761880Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Thomas William Cutler18801887Assistant 
Item 3 of 3Simpson & Allen1887Before 1912Partner 

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 81886Edinburgh Municipal Buildings  EdinburghScotlandThird premiated competition design - in collaboration with John William Simpson, prior to partnership
Item 2 of 81887City Hospital  LiverpoolEnglandFirst premiated competition design
Item 3 of 81890Victoria InstituteWorcester WorcestershireEnglandWon competition and secured job
Item 4 of 81891Glasgow Art Gallery and MuseumKelvingrove GlasgowScotlandWon competition - appointed as architects in 1892
Item 5 of 81896Manchester Royal Infirmary: Piccadilly site  ManchesterEnglandWon competition
Item 6 of 81897Town Hall  CardiffWalesUnsuccessful competition design
Item 7 of 81899Cartwright Memorial HallBradford YorkshireEnglandWon design competition (£150 premium)
Item 8 of 81904 or 1905Victoria InstituteWorcester WorcestershireEnglandAlterations? - unclear whether under firm of Simpson & Allen or Simpson & Ayrton

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of Graham PottsInformation sent via 'Contact Us' on website Sent September 2012.