Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Sharp
Designation:  
Born: 14 July 1884
Died: 3 October 1950
Bio Notes: Robert Sharp was born on 14 July 1884. He was articled to John Alexander Ogg Allan of Aberdeen in 1899, remaining with him as assistant after completing his apprenticeship and studying at Robert Gordon's College and Gray's School of Art.

In 1906 he emigrated to Bombay, India, subsequently settling in Colombo as assistant to Charles Frederick Stevens, who also had an office in Bombay. Whilst there he worked on the reconstruction of the Grand Oriental Hotel, which was originally formed in the 1880s from military buildings of 1837, and which he gave as his address in 1911. Stevens and his soon-to-be-partner Thomas Sedgwick Gregson were Sharp's proposers when he was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July of that year. His nomination forms give his year of birth as 1881, presumably because the minimum age of thirty years required to qualify for Licentiateship would have caused his application to be rejected or delayed if he had stated his true birth date.

Sharp left Stevens and Gregson in 1915, presumably to be enlisted in the armed forces. He returned to London in 1919 to commence practice on his own account at 28 Victoria Street, Westminster, specialising in motor garage and industrial work. He was still practising from this address when he was elected FRIBA on 6 April 1936, his proposers this time being Sidney Charles Clark, Stephen Huntley Egan and Percie Ion Elton.

He died on 3 October 1950 at the age of 66, his practice at 13 Lower Belgrave Street continued by his son Alan G Sharp.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 18991909 
Item 2 of 5Grand Oriental Hotel, Colombo, Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon, unPrivate1911 * when working on the Hotel with Stevens & Gregson
Item 3 of 528, Victoria Street, London, EnglandBusiness1919After 1936 
Item 4 of 574, Dora Road, Wimbledon Park, London, EnglandPrivate1936  
Item 5 of 513, Lower Belgrave Street, London, EnglandBusinessAfter 19361950 

* 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 3John Alexander Ogg Allan1899c. 1903(?)Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3John Alexander Ogg Allanc. 1903(?)1909Assistant 
Item 3 of 3C F Stevens & Co1909After 1911Assistant 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Alan G SharpBefore 19503 October 1950  

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 5Sidney Charles Clark6 April 1936for Fellowship
Item 2 of 5Stephen Huntley Egan6 April 1936for Fellowship
Item 3 of 5Percie Ion Elton6 April 1936for Fellowship
Item 4 of 5Thomas Sedgwick Gregson20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 5Charles Frederick Stevens20 July 1911for Licentiateship

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 10 George Mason & Co factorySouthfields LondonEnglandDate unknown
Item 2 of 10 Hospital of Our Lady of ConsolationLambeth LondonEnglandDate unknown
Item 3 of 10 Moons' GarageKensington LondonEnglandDate unknown
Item 4 of 10 Thomson & Norris factoryHayes MiddlesexEnglandDate unknown
Item 5 of 10 Thomson & Norris factoryBrentford MiddlesexEnglandDate unknown
Item 6 of 101909Grand Oriental Hotel  ColomboSri Lanka (formerly Ceylon, un 
Item 7 of 101924Bluebird GarageFulham LondonEnglandDate unknown
Item 8 of 101928Lex Garage  LondonEngland 
Item 9 of 101935Thomson & Norris Corrugated Cases factoryTurnhouse EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 101949Thomson & Norris Corrugated Cases factoryTurnhouse EdinburghScotlandArchitect for canteen, store and loading bank

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder1 December 1949  p747
Item 2 of 4Builder27 January 1950  p150
Item 3 of 4Builder13 October 1950v179 p402 - obituary
Item 4 of 4RIBA JournalMarch 1951 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary - p202

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 L v20 no1581; F no3338 (box 21)