Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Henry Sayers
Designation:  
Born: 11 July 1903
Died: 6 January 1966
Bio Notes: William Henry Sayers was born on 11 July 1903, the son of William Sayers, insurance manager, and his wife Mary Craig. He was articled to Dick Peddie & Walker Todd from September 1919, studying at Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt Technical College. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1923 he moved to the office of Alex A Foote, who described him as a 'most obliging man possible, and very hard worker always. Had little or no experience, but came on towards the end.' He left in 1926 to become first assistant to Thomas Bowhill Gibson, and in 1930 joined the staff of the British Aluminium Company. He commenced practice on his own account in 1934 and seems to have met with initial success, designing domestic, commercial and estate buildings, and premises for the British Linen Bank, as well as collaborating with Alexander Cattanach (Junior) of Kingussie on a large number of cinemas throughout Scotland, although it is not yet known which of Cattanach's works this involved. The impact of war in 1940 forced him to suspend his business. The practice was still suspended when he applied for Licentiateship of the RIBA at the end of the following year, and he was admitted on 14 April 1942, his proposers being Foote, Charles E Tweedie and Leslie Grahame-Thomson. His address at that time was 'Allcroft', 49 Pentland View, Edinburgh.

Sayers died on 6 January 1966 at the Western General Hospital Edinburgh. His wife Isabella Sharp Wood survived him.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Allcroft/49, Pentland View, Fairmilehead, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 19301966 

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 4J M Dick Peddie & Walker ToddSeptember 19191923Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Alexander Allan Foote1 November 192330 January 1926Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Thomas Bowhill Gibson19261930Senior Assistant 
Item 4 of 4British Aluminium Company Architects Department19301934Architect(?)Presumably in Edinburgh office

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Alexander Allan Foote14 April 1942for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Leslie Grahame Thomson (or Leslie Grahame-Thomson; later Leslie Grahame MacDougall)14 April 1942for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Charles Edward Tweedie (junior)14 April 1942for Licentiateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 2 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSAlex Allan Foote & Son Collection AAF 1930/7/1/1
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no5093 (combined box 56)