Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Williamson
Designation:  
Born: 26 May 1878
Died: 4 January 1947
Bio Notes: John Williamson was born on 26 May 1878 and articled to J R & E E Pearson in Edinburgh from June 1893, remaining with them as an assistant until 1901. During that period he attended classes at Edinburgh School of Art and Leith Technical College where he was awarded silver and bronze medals, and made measured drawings of Holyrood Abbey and Carolina House. In 1901 he left for Newcastle-upon-Tyne as assistant to Edwin Bowman, with whom he remained until December 1904 when he left to undertake private commissions in Newcastle and Edinburgh. In April the following year he returned to salaried employment, briefly working with Glamorgan County Council Education Committee's architect David Pugh-Jones as chief assistant before joining Birkenhead Corporation Surveyor's Department as an architect in August the same year. He was admitted LRIBA on 19 June 1910, his proposers being Robert Burns Dick and John White of Newcastle, and Thomas Taliesin Rees of Birkenhead and Liverpool.

In 1912 Williamson returned to Glamorgan County Council to work as deputy to Pugh-Jones. He passed the Special Final for admittance as ARIBA under the war exemption scheme in 1921, and later succeeded Pugh-Jones as County Architect of Glamorgan. He was also Chairman of the South Wales Institute of Architects from 1933 to 1935.

Williamson was elevated to FRIBA on 9 October 1939, his proposers being William James Nash, William Sydney Purchon and Percy Edward Thomas. He died on 4 January 1947.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 257, Albert Avenue, Higher Tranmere, Birkenhead, Cheshire, EnglandPrivate1910 *  
Item 2 of 2Maples, The Parade, Whitechurch, Cardiff (near), WalesPrivate1939 *  

* 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 9J R & E E PearsonJune 18931899Apprentice 
Item 2 of 9J R & E E Pearson18991901Assistant 
Item 3 of 9Edwin Bowman1901December 1904Chief Assistant 
Item 4 of 9Glamorgan County Council Architect's DepartmentApril 1905August 1905AssistantWorking on the Education Committee under David Pugh-Jones
Item 5 of 9David Pugh-JonesApril 1905August 1905AssistantIn Glamorgan County Council Architect's Department
Item 6 of 9Birkenhead Corporation Architect's DepartmentAugust 19051912Architect 
Item 7 of 9Glamorgan County Council Architect's Department19121932(?)ArchitectDeputy to David Pugh-Jones, County Architect
Item 8 of 9David Pugh-Jones19121932(?)Architect
As deputy in Glamorgan County Council Architect's Department
Item 9 of 9Glamorgan County Council Architect's Department1932(?)After 1939Chief ArchitectTook over as County Architect after David Pugh-Jones's retirement or death

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Robert Burns Dick19 December 1910for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 6William James Nash9 October 1939for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6William Sydney Purchon9 October 1939for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Thomas Taliesin Rees19 December 1910for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 6(Sir) Percy Edward Thomas9 October 1939for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6John White19 December 1910for 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 2After 1893Blocks of flats, Trinity Road  EdinburghScotlandAs apprentice/assistant to J R & E E Pearson
Item 2 of 2189712-14, Inverleith PlaceInverleith EdinburghScotlandProbably involved, as apprentice to J R & E E Pearson

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 3 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1923    
Item 4 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA JournalApril 1947v54London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp345 - obituary

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 no403 (microfilm reel 31); F no3716 (box 27)