Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Leck | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1852 | Died: | 9 September 1907 | Bio Notes: | William Leck was probably Irish, since he was articled to Francis Stirrat of Belfast in 1870, but was probably related to the Glasgow chartered accountant Henry Leck who had business links with Alexander Thomson and his partner Robert Turnbull. He moved to that firm c.1875 and probably sometime after 1877 transferred to John Burnet & Son. From there he obtained a post in the City of London District Surveyor's Office (Southern Division) under Frederick Wheeler, from which he moved first to William Young's and then to Ernest George & Peto. During his London years he travelled in France, Holland and Belgium and he studied at the Royal Academy schools under Richard Phené Spiers, presumably with a view to the qualifying exam which he either did not take or did not pass.
Leck emigrated to the Transvaal in 1889 and opened an office in Pretoria, moving to Johannesburg and setting up independent practice there later in the same year. In the later 1890s he entered into partnership with Frank Emley (1861-1938) of Newcastle, who had emigrated for health reasons c.1893. The practice was hugely successful, designing the Rand Club, Corner House and the Cullinan Building which had marked Burnetian characteristics in 1902, the National Bank in 1903, and some very grand private houses, notably Highfield in an Ernest Newton-influenced manner in 1905. On the strength of these Leck was admitted FRIBA on 5 December 1904, his proposers being Herbert Baker, John James Burnet and another. He died of pneumonia on 9 September 1907. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | c/o Miss Bell/140, Mains Street West, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | c. 1881 | | | | Pretoria, South Africa | Business | 1889 | 1889 | | | Johannesburg, South Africa | Business | 1889 | 1907 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | (Sir) Herbert Baker | 5 December 1904 | for Fellowship | | (Sir) John James Burnet | 5 December 1904 | for Fellowship |
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 | | c. 1881 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design entered under then name Alcyone |
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 | | | | | Chipkin, Clive M | | Johnannesberg Style | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 31 August 1907 | | | Obituary | | RIBA Journal | 19 October 1907 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p712 Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v15 p59 (microfilm reel |
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