Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Webster Robertson
Designation:  
Born: 10 October 1879
Died: After 1914
Bio Notes: David Webster Robertson was born on 10 October 1879, probably in Edinburgh. He was articled to Edinburgh School Board architect Robert Wilson in October 1895, and attended Heriot-Watt College and the Edinburgh School of Applied Art. On completion of his apprenticeship in January 1900 he moved to H M Office of Works in London, but he returned to Wilson's office as assistant in August the same year.

In January 1901 Robertson moved back to London to work for William Alfred Pite, but three months later he rejoined the Office of Works and served in the London office until January 1904, when he was transferred to the Edinburgh Parliament Square office as assistant to William Thomas Oldrieve. Whilst there he took a month's holiday in 1909 to tour Milan, Florence, Venice and Verona. He was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, proposed by James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association. He was still in the Edinburgh Office of Works in 1914, engaged mainly on structural steelwork and reinforced concrete construction. He was a member of the Concrete Institute and contributed several articles on technical subjects to the 'Builders' Journal'.

Publications:
Article in 'Builder's Journal', 15 July 1908
'How to select R S Joists', 'Builders' Journal', 30 March 1910

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 311, Blacket Avenue, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1912After 1914 
Item 2 of 320, Gilmour Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1917c. 1928 
Item 3 of 333, Gilmour Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1929c. 1940 

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 7Robert WilsonOctober 18951899Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)January 1900August 1900AssistantIn London office
Item 3 of 7Robert WilsonAugust 1900January 1901Assistant 
Item 4 of 7William Alfred PiteJanuary 1901April 1901Assistant 
Item 5 of 7H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)April 1901January 1904ApprenticeIn London office
Item 6 of 7William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve)January 19041914AssistantIn H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
Item 7 of 7H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)January 1904After 1914AssistantIn Edinburgh office, working under W T Oldrieve

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1James Bow Dunn24 June 1912for Licentiateship - as president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association

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 71905Eskdalemuir Royal Magnetic ObservatoryEskdalemuir DumfriesshireScotlandAs assistant to W T Oldrieve in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh (gives 1905 as date in LRIBA papers but probably worked through same period as Oldrieve himself)
Item 2 of 71907General Post Office  EdinburghScotlandExtension and remodelling of public office - Oldrieve as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works
Item 3 of 71910Bridgeton Telephone ExchangeBridgeton GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to W T Oldrieve in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
Item 4 of 71910Labour ExchangeTollcross EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to William Thomas Oldrieve, in H M Office of Works
Item 5 of 71910Royal Institution  EdinburghScotlandInternal reconstruction (steelwork and reinforced concrete) and new galleries - as assistant to W T Oldrieve in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
Item 6 of 71910Telephone Exchange  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to W T Oldrieve in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
Item 7 of 71911Glasgow General Post Office  GlasgowScotlandAddition of side blocks (steel and reinforced concrete) - as assistant to W T Oldrieve in H M Office of Works

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Post Office Directories     

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 v25 no2074