Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Brindle Halley
Designation:  
Born: 6 January 1890
Died: 25 July 1941
Bio Notes: William Brindle Halley was born on 6 January 1890, the son of John Halley, cabinetmaker, and his wife, Helen Rachael Brindle. In 1905 he was employed as a draughtsman in the office of Scott Morton. The office notebook reveals that his nickname was 'Beetle' and he is described as 'rather frivolous but nevertheless of a very serioues business-like disposition'.

From 1907 to 1912 he studied in Edinburgh at the School of Applied Art and then at the College of Art, under John Wilson, John Watson and Campbell Mitchell, gaining several prizes and a 1912 travelling scholarship which took him to London and Paris under the direction of Sir Robert Lorimer. No record has been found of any apprenticeship. His early career was interrupted by war service abroad, after which, in July 1919, he was engaged by Rowand Anderson & Paul. He left them in June 1921 to spend a year and a half with James Bow Dunn, returning to Rowand Anderson & Paul in January 1923. Two years later he left again, spending nine months with A L Goodwin before joining Dick Peddie & Walker Todd as senior assistant. He was still there at the time of his admittance as LRIBA in late 1931, his proposers being John Wilson, John Begg and John Jerdan. He was still a member of the Edinburgh Architectural Association in 1939-40 when he gave his address as 67 Montpelier Park.

He died at Edinburgh Royal Infirmary aged 51 on 25 July 1941, survived by his wife Agnes Dymock Loch.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 276, Comiston Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1926 *c. 1931 
Item 2 of 267, Montpelier Park, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1932 *1939 or after 1940 

* 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 6Scott Morton & Co (later Scott Morton & Tynecastle Co Ltd; finally Scott Morton Ltd)1905 Draughtsman 
Item 2 of 6Rowand Anderson & PaulJuly 1919June 1921Assistant(?) 
Item 3 of 6James Bow DunnJune 1921December 1922Assistant(?) 
Item 4 of 6Rowand Anderson & PaulJanuary 1923December 1924Assistant(?) 
Item 5 of 6Alan Lawrie Goodwin (or Alan Laurie Goodwin, or Alexander Lawrie Goodwin, or Allan L Goodwin)January 1925October 1925Assistant(?) 
Item 6 of 6J M Dick Peddie & Walker ToddLate 1925After 1931Senior Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John BeggLate 1931for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3John JerdanLate 1931for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3John WilsonLate 1931for Licentiateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSScott Morton (formerly Peter Miller) Collection, RIAS SMO S/20/20
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no3982 (box 19)