Basic Biographical Details Name: | Stephen Welsh | Designation: | | Born: | 5 April 1892 | Died: | 1976 | Bio Notes: | Stephen Welsh was born on 5 April 1892 in Forfar and served his articles there with the firm of Gavin & Soutar from 1908. In 1912 he moved to Glasgow to work as assistant to George Arthur Boswell, enabling him to study at the Glasgow School of Architecture under Eugène Bourdon. Between then and 1915 he worked as assistant in the offices of Stewart & Paterson in Glasgow, William Curtis Green in London and Mills & Shepherd in Dundee. The dates of each of these appointments remain unclear.
Welsh served in the armed forces for four years during the First World War and on his return in 1919 he resumed his studies and enrolled as a student at Liverpool School of Architecture under Charles Reilly. Whilst there he was admitted ARIBA in 1921, his proposers being William Brown Whitie, John Watson, and Reilly, who wrote of him in his supporting statement: 'although I have only known him a year while he has been in the School of Architecture at Liverpool I have formed a very high opinion of his work and character. Out of 150 students he is one of the first two or three. I expect a great career for him.' In the same year he spent five months travelling in the USA, spending the summer vacation with Carrere & Hastings.
On completing the course at Liverpool in 1922 he went to the British School at Rome as Rome Scholar, remaining there until 1925 and using his spare time to tour Italy, Sicily, Greece, France and the Near East. His notes on and drawings of the restoration of the Porto di Ripetta in Rome were printed in the 'Town Planning Review' in December 1927.
In 1925-26 Welsh worked briefly for W Curtis Green. He spent the year travelling in Canada and the USA with the aid of a bursary given by Sir Joseph Duveen during which period he worked for a time in the office of Duveen's architect John Russell Pope. He then commenced practice on his own account in Forfar but in 1927-28 he taught at the Liverpool School of Architecture in charge of the 5th and 6th year students. In the latter year he moved to Sheffield to take up a position as Head of the Department of Architecture at Sheffield University, becoming a Professor in 1948 but continuing to practise from his home address. He was admitted FRIBA on 5 March 1934, his proposers being John Lancashire, Edward Mitchel Gibbs and Charles Matthew Hadfield, all of Sheffield.
Welsh died in 1976. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 54, Yeaman Street, Forfar, Angus, Scotland | Business | 1920 * | | | | Forfar, Angus, Scotland | Business | 1926 | 1928 | | | Liverpool School of Architecture, Liverpool, England | Business | 1927 | 1928 | | | The University, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England | Business | 1928 | After 1934 | | | 17, Taptonville Road, Sheffield, Yorkshire, England | Private/business | 1934 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | William Lambie Clunie | 9 December 1947 | For Licentiateship | | Richard Houston Dewar | 3 October 1953 | for Associateship |
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. 1950 | Reid Hall | Forfar | | Angus | Scotland | Rebuilding following fire. |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIAS Quarterly | 1922 | no2 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Summer - CHECK for further info and page no etc. |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | British Architectural Library | Welsh Archive | | | | British School at Rome | Welsh Archive | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no 3187 (microfilm reel 25) ; F no3193 (box 18) |
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