Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Hill Walker | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1875 | Died: | After 1955 | Bio Notes: | William Hill Walker was born c.1875, the son of James Walker, farmer of Kingsbarns and his wife Jessie, later of Dauphinhill, Greenside Place, St Andrews where he went after he retired. He was an assistant with Hall & Henry of Church Square, St Andrews when he was taken into partnership by David Henry, the surviving partner of the practice, in 1913, but Henry died in the following year and Walker enlisted for war service. Although an architect and a man of means, Walker seems to have preferred to serve in the line. He was promoted sergeant in the 1/7th Black Watch in 1919 and was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre for his role in the advance on Ypres in the previous year.
When the office, still at Church Square, was reopened in 1918 it was in the name of William Hill Walker only. His practice at first consisted mainly of police stations and houses and domestic work, mainly alterations.
In 1927 Walker took into partnership Frank Pride, previously of Thoms & Wilkie, who had been sent to St Andrews in 1925 to take over the practice of the completely unrelated Captain William Walker who had died in February 1923, and had commenced practice on his own account in April that year. A branch office was opened at 8 Catherine Street, Cupar in 1930.
Walker was more than comfortably off and his approach to business was somewhat relaxed. In 1933 he retired early, being bought out by Pride, who continued the practice as sole partner but retained the practice title of Walker & Pride. Walker thereafter spent much of his time on the bowling green and on church business as an elder of St Leonard's Church from 1933 and as its session clerk, 1934-55 (a post he had previously held in 1909-15). The painter Ada Hill Walker (1879-1955) was his youngest sister. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Church Square, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland | Business | | | Main office | | 1 Westview, Ladebraes Lane, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland | Private | | | | | 8, Catherine Street, Cupar, Fife, Scotland | Business | 1930 | | Branch office |
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Hall & Henry | 1913 | February 1914 | Partner | | | Hall & Henry | Before 1913 | 1913 | Assistant | | | Walker & Pride | 1927 | 1933 | Partner | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1921 | Links House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | | 1921 | Ten houses for Leslie Town Council | Leslie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1924 | 54 Hepburn Gardens | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1925 | Police Constable's house | Thornton | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1925 | Police Constable's house | Windygates | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1925 | Police Constable's House, Chapel | Kirkcaldy (near) | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1925 | Police Station | Leslie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1925 | Police Station | Kincardine-on-Forth | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1927 | 1 Middleshade Road | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1927 | House for Cupar District Committee of the County Council | Parbroath | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1927 | Links House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | | 1928 | 1 Glamis Drive | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1928 | 3 Middleshade Road | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1928 | Forty houses, Maryfield, for Leslie Town Council | Leslie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1929 | Baidlands | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1930 | Adamson Hospital | Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | New X-ray and Sterilizing Departments | | 1930 | Eighty-four houses, Priestden Park, for Town Council | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1930 | Links House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Conversion to clubhouse | | 1930 | Police Station | Newburgh | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1930 | Police Station | East Wemyss | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1931 | 13 Buchanan Gardens | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1931 | 5 and 7 Priestden Road | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1931 | Balcree | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1931 | Shopfront for Mitchell, butchers, Market Street | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Bay Tea Rooms | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions | | 1932 | Cottages for Local Authority | Dunshelt/Cupar Muir | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Edgewood | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Forty-six houses for Burgh Council | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Houses for Fife County Council | Pitlessie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Houses for Fife County Council | Springfield, Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Houses, Kinnessburn Road, for Town Council | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Housing for Fife County Council | Strathmiglo | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Housing for Fife County Council | Kingskettle | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Housing for Fife County Council | Newton of Falkland | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | New premises for Cupar & District Co-operative Society, Bonnygate | Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1933 | Crossgate Printing Works | Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | Extensive reconstruction and additions | | 1935 | Kinburn House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | | 1936 | Eight houses for Fife County Council | Windygates | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1936 | Tenement for Tayport Town Council | Tayport | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1937 | Twenty houses for Fife County Council | Leuchars | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | One hundred and eight houses for the County Council | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | Police house | Kingskettle | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | Twenty houses and teacher's house for Fife County Council | Colinsburgh | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | Twenty houses for County Council | Freuchie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | Twenty-two houses for Fife County Council | Lower Largo | | Fife | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | p116 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Glen L Pride. |
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