Basic Biographical Details

Name: Joseph Abraham Meikle
Designation: Architect
Born: 28 June 1876
Died: 1942
Bio Notes: Joseph Abraham Meikle was born on 28 June 1876 and was a day student at the Glasgow & West of Scotland Technical College from 1892 to 1894 and an evening student from 1895 to 1897. His movements over the following three years are unknown, but in 1899 he joined a firm of stone masons for practical experience, presumably in or near London, as he attended evening classes at King's College London under Professor Stanley Davenport Adshead from the following year until 1903 or 1904 whilst still with the firm. He then worked in a succession of London offices, spending a year with Russell & Cooper, a year with Fred Rowntree, a further two years with Russell & Cooper, three years with Smith & Brewer and a year with William Ralph Low before joining William George Hunt as chief assistant in 1911. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July that year, his proposers being Cecil Claude Brewer, Arnold Dunbar Smith and Thomas Edwin Cooper.

He had continued to undertake occasional work for Smith & Brewer since leaving their office, and some time before Brewer's death in 1918 he rejoined the firm as chief assistant, remaining with them thereafter. He passed the qualifying exam in July 1921 and was admitted ARIBA late that year, again proposed by Smith and Cooper but with Fred Rowntree as his third proposer. He was made a junior partner in 1930 and became senior partner on Smith's death in 1933.

His travels during his early years were limited to Britain, but he later ventured several times to France, and visited the USA and Canada in 1928 and Germany in 1933. He was elected FRIBA on 18 October 1937, his proposers this time being Francis William Troup, Henry Martineau Fletcher, and Sidney Kyffin Greenslade of Exeter who had been a friend of Smith and Brewer's.

He died in 1942.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 29, Cautley Avenue, Clapham Common, London, EnglandPrivateBefore 1911After 1937 
Item 2 of 26, Queen Square, London, EnglandBusiness1937 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 9Russell & Cooper19041905Assistant 
Item 2 of 9Fred Rowntree19051906Assistant 
Item 3 of 9Russell & Cooper19061907Assistant 
Item 4 of 9Smith & BrewerJuly 19071910Assistant 
Item 5 of 9William Ralph Low19101911Assistant 
Item 6 of 9William George Hunt1911Before 1918Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 9Smith & BrewerAfter 19111930Chief Assistant 
Item 8 of 9Smith & Brewer19301933Junior Partner 
Item 9 of 9Smith & Brewer1933After 1937Senior Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 9Cecil Claude Brewer20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 9(Sir) Thomas Edwin Cooper (or Edwin Cooper)20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 9(Sir) Thomas Edwin Cooper (or Edwin Cooper)Late 1921for Associateship
Item 4 of 9Henry Martineau Fletcher18 October 1937for Fellowship
Item 5 of 9Sidney Kyffin Greenslade18 October 1937for Fellowship
Item 6 of 9Fred RowntreeLate 1921for Associateship
Item 7 of 9Arnold Dunbar Smith20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 8 of 9Arnold Dunbar SmithLate 1921for Associateship
Item 9 of 9Francis William Troup18 October 1937for Fellowship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v19 no1458; A no3340 (microfilm reel 26); F no3413 (box 23)