Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Frater
Designation:  
Born:  
Died: 1957
Bio Notes: Robert Frater was articled to Robert Alexander Bryden in January 1901, studying at Glasgow School of Architecture and by correspondence with Orlando Middleton ARIBA and 'Mr Bond' ARIBA, London (presumably Alexander Godolphin Bond). Bryden died in 1906, the year Frater completed his apprenticeship, but Frater remained as assistant to his son Alexander Stewart Bryden, who continued the firm as Bryden & Robertson, until 1907. His movements over the ensuing three years are unknown but in 1910 he entered the office of Watt, Tulloch & Fitzsimons in Belfast. In 1911 he passed the preliominary examination of the RIBAHe returned to Scotland in 1915 to take up an appointment as chief assistant to Cullen, Lochhead & Brown in Hamilton, but left them the following year to work for Lanarkshire Steel Company in Motherwell. He had returned to Ireland to the office of his earlier employer by then known as Tulloch & Fitzsimons.

He was admitted ARIBA on 1 March 1920, his proposers being Frederick Henry Tulloch, Nicholas Fitzsimons and James Lochhead. At the time of his application for admittance in August 1919 he was working for Greenock Corporation from an office at 11 Dellingburn Street, and living at 7 Bank Street, Greenock.

When Frederick Tulloch retired in 1922, Nicholas Fitzsimons took Frater into partnership. Frater remained in the firm until circa 1947, when he set up in practice on his own. His work included churches, schools and commercial buildings. He died at Holywood, Co. Down, in 1957.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 211, Dellingburn Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusiness1919 *  
Item 2 of 27, Bank Street, Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1919 *  

* 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 7Robert Alexander BrydenJanuary 19011906Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Bryden & Robertson19061907Assistant 
Item 3 of 7Watt, Tulloch & Fitzsimons19101914Assistant 
Item 4 of 7Cullen, Lochhead & Brown19151915Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 7Lanarkshire Steel Company19161919Assistant(?) 
Item 6 of 7Greenock CorporationAugust 1919 *   
Item 7 of 7Tulloch & Fitzsimons19221947Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Nicholas Fitzsimons1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 2 of 3James Lochhead1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Frederick Henry Tulloch1 March 1920for Associateship

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Irish Architectural ArchiveDictionary of Irish Architects 1720-1940 Sent March 2009
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v25 no2874 (microfilm reel 23)