Basic Biographical Details

Name: Reginald Buchanan Urquhart
Designation:  
Born: 20 November 1883
Died: August 1959
Bio Notes: Reginald Buchanan Urquhart was born in Dysart on 20 November 1883, the son of James Urquhart, Customs Officer. The family moved from Dysart to Limekilns, Fife in 1891 and Reginald Urquhart was educated at Limekilns Elementary School. In March 1897 he was awarded the Elgin Bursary (an annual award made by the Earl of Elgin) and moved to Dunfermline High School.

He was articled to Thomas Hyslop Ure of Dunfermline in 1899 and on completion of his apprenticeship in November 1903 joined the Superintending Engineer's office at H M Naval Establishment, Rosyth, assisting on the planning and detailing of the new naval base there. He moved to London in January 1906 to join the LCC Architects' Department in the County Hall offices as a technical assistant. His work there consisted mainly of surveying and he was heavily involved in the implementation and administration of the Factory and Workshop Act of 1901 and later the London Building Act of 1930.

From 1915 to 1919 he served as a Corporal mechanic in the Royal Air Force. In 1918 he married Lillian Fanny Adams.

In 1930 and 1931 he attended architecture classes at the Art School in Southend-on-Sea, Essex, where he lived at the time. He was admitted LRIBA in the latter year, proposed by George Topham Forrest, Robert Robertson and Douglas Niel Martin-Kaye. By that date he had had various architectural illustrations published in magazines including 'The Studio', 'Country Life' and the 'Builders' Journal'. He also had several paintings exhibited at the South London Art Gallery.

He was still with the LCC when he was elected FRIBA on 16 October 1945, his proposers being James William Hepburn, John Henry Forshaw and Edwin Williams, by which time he had also been involved in the layout of housing estates and the planning of roads and railways.

He died in 1959.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Fairway, Tunbridge Avenue, Southend-on-Sea, Essex, EnglandPrivate1931 *  
Item 2 of 314, Silverston Way, Stanmore, Middlesex, EnglandPrivate1945 *  
Item 3 of 3Rochford Road, Prittlewell, Essex, EnglandPrivate1959  

* 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 4Thomas Hyslop Ure1899November 1903Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Admiralty Works Department (Rosyth)November 19031905 or January 1906Assistant 
Item 3 of 4London County Council Architects' Department (LCC Architects' Department)January 19061945Assistant 
Item 4 of 4London County Council Highways Department (LCC Highways Department)After 1906Before 1945AssistantPresumably spent part of his time with the LCC in the Highways Department as he worked on road planning

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6George Topham ForrestLate 1931for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 6John Henry Forshaw16 October 1945for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6James William Hepburn16 October 1945for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Douglas Niel Martin-KayeLate 1931for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 6Robert RobertsonLate 1931for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 6Edwin Williams16 October 1945for Fellowship

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 1November 1903Royal Naval EstablishmentRosyth FifeScotlandNew buildings - as assistant

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder24 August 1959v197 p102 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Courtesy of Sue MowatInformation via 'Contact Us' on website Sent May 2016
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no3954 (box 18); F no4109 (box 32)