Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Ernest Stewardson
Designation:  
Born:  
Died:  
Bio Notes: Robert Ernest Stewardson was articled to Robert Macfarlane Cameron in Edinburgh from 1894 to 1898. On completing his apprenticeship he moved to London where he worked as assistant to William Henry White for one year; in H M Office of Works, Westminster for one year; in the LCC Architects Department under William Edward Riley for one year; and to George Hornblower for three-and-a-half years. During these early years he spent holidays sketching in Scotland, East Anglia and Normandy.

He was admitted ARIBA on 5 December 1904, his proposers being Hornblower, White and William Alfred Pite. The following year he was chosen by Aston Webb to be sent to the Public Works Department in Bloemfontein, South Africa to carry out the Grey College Buildings, following which, in 1908, he moved to Shanghai to work as assistant and latterly chief assistant to Walter Scott. It was there that he commenced independent practice in April 1913.

In 1919 he entered into partnership with Herbert Marshall Spence, a former colleague in the Office of Works, as Stewardson & Spence. Stewardson was elected FRIBA in early 1921, his proposers being White, Riley and Hornblower. By that time he had undertaken extensive travels embracing America, Canada, India, South Africa, the Strait Settlements, the Phillipines, Siberia, Germany, Russia, China and Japan.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 317, Pall Mall East, London SW, EnglandBusiness1904 *  
Item 2 of 332, Huron Road, Upper Tooting, London SW, EnglandPrivate1904 *  
Item 3 of 322, Ming Yuen Road, Shanghai, ChinaBusiness1920 *  

* 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 10Robert Macfarlane CameronOctober 18941898Apprentice 
Item 2 of 10William Henry White18981899Assistant 
Item 3 of 10H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)18991900AssistantIn London office (Westminster)
Item 4 of 10London County Council Architects' Department (LCC Architects' Department)19001901AssistantWorking under William Edward Riley
Item 5 of 10William Edward Riley19001901AssistantIn LCC Architects Department
Item 6 of 10George Hornblower19011905Assistant 
Item 7 of 10Bloemfontein Public Works Department19051908AssistantAppointed by Aston Webb
Item 8 of 10Aston Webb19051908AssistantOn-site in Bloemfontein, South Africa
Item 9 of 10Walter Scott1908Early 1913Chief AssistantBegan as assistant but soon promoted
Item 10 of 10Stewardson & Spence19191928Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6George Hornblower5 December 1904for Associateship
Item 2 of 6George HornblowerEarly 1921for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6William Alfred Pite5 December 1904for Associateship
Item 4 of 6William Edward RileyEarly 1921for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6William Henry White5 December 1904for Associateship
Item 6 of 6William Henry WhiteEarly 1921for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Alexander Wood Graham-BrownLate 1923for Associateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Denison, Edward and Guang, Yu Ren2006Building Shanghai: The Story of China's Gateway Chichester: Wiley-Academy (John Wiley & Sons Ltd) 

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 A v16 p43 (microfilm reel 19); F no1744 (microfilm reel 14)