Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Thomas Oswald White Gratton | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 26 June 1912 | Died: | 1989 | Bio Notes: | Thomas Oswald White Gratton was born on 26 June 1912 and commenced his professional training undertaking 'general building superintendance' with an unidentified building contractor on 24 June 1929, attending evening classes in building construction at Glasgow High School from 15 September that year. He took evening classes at Glasgow School of Art from September 1930 and on 21 October 1931 commenced an apprenticeship in an unspecified architect's office. From the following year he attended day classes at the School of Art whilst continuing his apprenticeship. After completing his five-year apprenticeship he spent time working as an assistant, seemingly in the same office, from 1 November 1935 until 30 January 1936. He obtained his diploma in June the latter year and was admitted ARIBA on 30 November, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes, William James Smith and Eric Alexander Sutherland. At that time he was working in the office of William Ross of 189 Pitt Street, Glasgow.
Gratton practised from 93 Douglas Gardens, Glasgow in the late 1930s and he lived in Lenzie. During the second World War he served with the Forces. He was chief architect to the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) in the mid-1940s and entered into partnership with Peter McLean as Gratton & McLean sometime after 1943. His wife Agnes Freeland Gratton (known as Nessie), also became a partner in the firm. In the 1940s Gratton was Chief Architect to the SSHA. Thomas and his wife Agnes Freeland Gratton, also an Associate of the RIBA, both retired from the firm on 30 September 1971, resigned from the RIBA and moved to Estoril, Portugal. The Gratton & McLean office was at 21 Woodside Terrace, Glasgow at the time of their retirement.
He returned to England and died in Worthing, West Sussex in May 1989. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 2, Selbourne Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1936 * | | |  | 93, Douglas Gardens, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Late 1930s * | | |  | Aytoun Lodge, Lenzie, Dunbartonshire/Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | Late 1930s * | | |  | 113, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1950 * | | |  | 21, Woodside Terrace, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1971 * | | |  | Estoril, Portugal | Private | 1971 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | William Ross | 1936 * | | Assistant | |  | Gratton & McLean | 1950s | | Partner | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
RIBARIBA Proposers
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | England and Wales | Births, marriages and deaths | | |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional research by Iain Paterson |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no6152 (combined box 122) |
Images © All rights reserved. RIAS Quarterly no 47 Autumn 1934 |