Basic Biographical Details Name: | (Sir) Richard John Allison | Designation: | | Born: | 8 January 1869 | Died: | 28 September 1958 | Bio Notes: | Born in Battersea, London, on 8 January 1869, Richard John Allison was the second son of Joseph Charles Allison and his wife Harriet. He was educated at a private Choir School and studied Art at Lambeth School of Art. In 1883, he was articled to Karslake and Mortimer (Lewis Karslake) in 1883 and entered HM Office of Works in 1889, aged 20, where he was employed as a draughtsman on the temporary architectural staff for the next 12 years. He was appointed Assistant Architect in 1901; Architect in 1911; and Principal Architect following the retirement of Sir Henry Tanner in 1914, He became Chief Architect, HM Office of Works, on the formation of the Directorate of Works in 1920, remaining in this post until his retirement, aged 65, on 7 January 1934.
Allison passed the RIBA qualifying examination in 1904 and was elected ARIBA on 5 December 1904, his proposers being Henry Tanner, J Taylor and Ashton Webb. On 20 June 1919 he became a Fellow of the RIBA, his proposers being H Tanner and W Pott - Vol 23 No 1648
A member of the Arts Club, he died unmarried at his residence at Highgate on 28 September 1958, at the age of 89. The funeral took place at Golders Green Crematorium on 3 October 1958.
He was awarded the OBE in the Birthday Honours. June 1918, a CBE in 1920, a Knighthood in June 1927 and CVO (Commander Victoria Order ) in 1934.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | London, England | Business | | | | | Clyde Villas, 3, Cornford Road, Streatham, London, England | Private | 1881 | | Census | | 26, Whatman Road, Lewisham, London SE | Private | 1904 | | | | 63, Hornsey Lane, Highgate, London N6, England | Private | 1926 | 1958 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Peter Kydd Hanton | Late 1933 | for Fellowship | | Archibald Scott | 1930 | 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 | | Before 1928 | Ambassador's Residence, Chancery and other compound buildings | | | Tokyo | Japan | Responsible for initial design | | 1929 | Scottish Office buildings | Calton Hill | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Scheme I (unexecuted) - in collaboration with J Wilson Paterson of H M Office of Works, Edinburgh, and A J Pitcher |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Who Was Who | | Who was Who | | | online edition. December 2007, accessed 10 Aug 2012 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 3 October 1958 | | | p577 - obituary | | RIBA Journal | February 1959 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p145 - obituary | | The Times | 30 September 1958 | | | p13 - obituary |
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