Basic Biographical Details

Name: (Sir) Harry Anthony Wheeler (or simply Sir Anthony Wheeler)
Designation: Architect
Born: 7 November 1919
Died: 19 December 2013
Bio Notes: Harry Anthony Wheeler was born on 7 November 1919, the son of Herbert G Wheeler who was a Londoner and a master engineer and who had established a garage in Stranraer, and his wife Laura E Groom. He was apprenticed to Alexander Maclean Goudie of Stranraer in July 1936, transferring to the office of Lennox & MacMath in Glasgow in September 1937 to continue his apprenticeship whilst studying at Glasgow School of Architecture. He went to France under a travelling scholarship in August 1939, a month before leaving Lennox & MacMath. He undertook military service in France, Holland, Belgium and Germany during the Second World War reaching the rank of captain by the time he was demobbed. After his return, in July 1946 he undertook a study tour in Italy under the Glasgow School of Art's John Keppie Travelling Scholarship, and in September he returned to the School. A successful student, during his studies he received other awards including the GSA's Bellahouston Travelling Scholarship, the RIBA's Grissell Gold Medal and Neale Bursary, and and the RIAS's Rowand Anderson Studentship. He received his diploma in June 1948. He was admitted ARIBA on 14 December 1948, his proposers being Gavin Lennox, Daniel Walter MacMath and Professor William James Smith. His endorsement on his nomination papers describes him as the 'most outstanding student of this year'. At that time he gave an address in Stranraer, but before the year was out he had moved to Oxford as Assistant City Architect.

In 1949 (according to his FRIBA papers - though it seems the date may have been earlier) he secured another travelling scholarship that enabled him to travel to Switzerland, and in the same year he left Oxford for London to join the practice of Sir Herbert Baker & Scott. The following year he moved again, this time back to his native Scotland to take up the post of Chief Assistant to the Glenrothes Development Corporation. At some point he obtained a RIBA Diploma in Town Planning, and he was retrospectively awarded a BArch from the University of Sheffield.

Wheeler was appointed senior lecturer at Dundee School of Architecture in 1952, and at the same time established his private practice as H Anthony Wheeler with an office at Sailor's Wharf, Kirkcaldy. Two years later Frank Sproson was assumed into partnership, the practice title becoming Wheeler & Sproson.

The firm was active in the restoration work for the National Trust for Scotland under the Little Houses scheme and won many awards for their work. Wheeler also played a key role in the conversion of part of Falkland Palace into a private apartment for Major Crichton Stuart and for the conversion of Houston House into a hotel.

In 1959 Wheeler was elected FRIAS, and by 1964 he was a representative of its Edinburgh chapter. On 19 July 1967 he was elected FRIBA, proposed by Robert Hogg Matthew, Alan Reiach and John Hardie Glover. His nomination papers list further study tours, to Israel and Greece in 1963 and to Finland in 1965.

Further partners were taken on by the practice: Donald McInnes in 1965, Anthony Weir in 1967, and Alan Clark and William McLeod in 1975.

Wheeler was a talented draughtsman and remained active in exhibiting work with the Scottish Society of Architect Artists. In August 2012 he was made an honorary fellow of the society. From 1983-90 he served as president of the Royal Scottish Academy. During his term in the office the Friends of the RSA and the RSA shop were developed. He also served on the Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland and had a term as president of the RIAS. He received an honorary doctorate from Robert Gordon University.

Outwith the professions he was a keen angler and loved music and theatre as well as being devoted to the Scottish countryside. He was a significant collector of Japanese prints.

He died on 19 December 2013. He was predeceased by his wife but survived by his daughter

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 49, Broomfield Gardens, Wigtown, Wigtownshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)Before 1948After 1950 
Item 2 of 426, King Edward Street, Markinch, Fife, ScotlandBusiness(?)c. 1953 *  
Item 3 of 4Woodley/34, Southerton Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1958 *After 1967 
Item 4 of 4Sailor's Walk/441-447, High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1964After 1967 

* 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 6Alexander Maclean GoudieJuly 1936September 1937Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Lennox & MacMathSeptember 1937September 1939Apprentice 
Item 3 of 6Oxford City Architect's Department19481949Assistant ArchitectAssistant City Architect
Item 4 of 6(Sir) Herbert Baker & A T Scott19491950Architect 
Item 5 of 6Glenrothes Development Corporation (or Glenrothes New Town Development Corporation)19501952Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 6Wheeler & Sproson1954 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 6John Hardie Glover19 July 1967for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Gavin Lennox14 December 1948for Associateship
Item 3 of 6Daniel Walter MacMath14 December 1948for Associateship
Item 4 of 6Robert Hogg Matthew19 July 1967for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Alan Reiach19 July 1967for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6(Professor) William James Smith14 December 1948for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Frank Sproson4 February 1970For Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 122 Boots the ChemistSt Andrews FifeScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 2 of 122 Development for the British Sailor's Society with residential accommodationGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 3 of 122 Development for the British Sailor's Society with residential accommodationGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 4 of 122 Falkland PalaceFalkland FifeScotlandConversion of part of the Palace into private quarters for Major Crichton Stuart.
Item 5 of 122 Group of cottagesFalkland FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 122 Housing development in Broad StreetCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 122 Stirling Road housing (42 houses)Milnathort Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 8 of 122 The reading room cottageFalkland FifeScotlandConversion to electricity substation
Item 9 of 1221951Woodside Shopping Precinct, Community Centre and HousingGlenrothes FifeScotlandAs architect with Glenrothes Development Corporation.
Item 10 of 1221953Burntisland redevelopment (including 128 houses)Burntisland FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 1221953The Bowery housing estateLeslie FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 1221954Sailor's WalkKirkcaldy FifeScotlandMajor repairs
Item 13 of 1221955Somerville Square and Somerville Street RedevelopmentBurntisland FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 122After 1955116 houses for Leslie Town CouncilLeslie FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 1221956Ardwell HouseWigtown WigtownshireScotlandRemoval of Baronial additions and new fron elevation.
Item 16 of 1221957Lochgelly Central Area redevelopment (including 308 houses and 2 Laundrettes)Lochgelly FifeScotland 
Item 17 of 1221957Priory AcresSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 18 of 1221957Villa, 34 Southerton RoadKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 19 of 1221958Dysart redevelopment (including 162 houses)Dysart FifeScotland 
Item 20 of 1221960s263 housesGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 21 of 1221960sH M Detention Centre and Staff housingAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 22 of 1221960sMarried quarters for MPBWRosyth FifeScotland 
Item 23 of 1221960sResearch laboratory and offices for Tullis RussellMarkinch FifeScotland 
Item 24 of 1221960St Columba's Church and hallsGlenrothes FifeScotland 
Item 25 of 12219615, 6, 7 Rumford and 54 High StreetCrail FifeScotlandRestoration (one of the first buildings restored under the National Trust's Little Houses Scheme). Nos 5 & 6 Rumford made into one house.
Item 26 of 1221962Housing development, PrinlawsLeslie Fife  
Item 27 of 1221962The Gyles housingPittenweem FifeScotlandRestoration and new buildings
Item 28 of 1221963Houses in School PlaceUphall West LothianScotland 
Item 29 of 1221964Hill Court HousingSouth Queensferry West LothianScotland 
Item 30 of 1221964Housing, Oxgangs Avenue, Oxgangs Drive and Oxgangs Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 31 of 1221964Married officers quarters for MPBWElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 32 of 1221964Married quarters for MPBWRhu DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 33 of 1221964Married quarters, CoulportCoulport ArgyllScotland 
Item 34 of 1221964Royal Navy Base, Married quarters for MPBWFaslane ArgyllScotland 
Item 35 of 1221964Torbain Parish ChurchKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 36 of 1221964Whitburn AcademyWhitburn West LothianScotland 
Item 37 of 1221965Boghall Parish ChurchBathgate West LothianScotland 
Item 38 of 1221965Housing development, Langlee EstateGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 39 of 1221965RNAS Pinefield, BarracksElgin MorayshireScotlandMarried quarters
Item 40 of 1221965Springfield Housing Development (144 houses), West BarnsDunbar East LothianScotland 
Item 41 of 1221965The AnchorageDysart  FifeScotlandRestoration and new houses
Item 42 of 1221966Bannockburn Heritage CentreStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 43 of 1221966Youth and Community CentreBlackburn West LothianScotland 
Item 44 of 1221967Balbirnie Paper MillMarkinch FifeScotlandAlterations to water purification plant; new research and physics laboratory added; alterations to offices
Item 45 of 1221967Grangemouth Central Area redevelopment with shopping centreGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 46 of 1221967The TowersDysart FifeScotlandRestoration as housing
Item 47 of 122Before 1967West Fife Infectious Diseases HospitalDunfermline FifeScotlandExtension
Item 48 of 1221968Adamson HospitalCupar FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 49 of 1221968Blackburn Town CentreBlackburn West LothianScotland 
Item 50 of 1221968Broxburn Old Town redevelopment (250 houses)Broxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 51 of 1221968Fife and Kinross District AsylumSpringfield, Cupar FifeScotlandPsychiatric inpatient unit for adolescents. administration and central blocks, classrooms and dormitory wing
Item 52 of 1221968Four houses, AbronhillCumbernauld LanarkshireScotland 
Item 53 of 1221968Macdonalds buildingsCulross FifeScotland 
Item 54 of 1221968West ChurchCowdenbeath Fife Scotland 
Item 55 of 1221968Wood's HospitalUpper Largo FifeScotlandConversion into Cottage housing
Item 56 of 122c. 1968St John's Church, LangleeGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 57 of 1221969370 houses for Cumbernauld Development Corporation, Abronhill 4Cumbernauld LanarkshireScotland 
Item 58 of 1221969Forth Road BridgeFirth of Forth   Garages for service vehicles added to administration block
Item 59 of 122Before 1969University of St Andrews, Students' UnionSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 60 of 122Early 1960sHousing in old Buckhaven (180 houses)Buckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 61 of 122Late 1960s(?)Housing for SSHACulross FifeScotland 
Item 62 of 1221960s or 1970sStaff housing for Tullis Russell, CadhamMarkinch|Glenrothes Fife  
Item 63 of 1221970sAberdeen Royal InfirmaryForesterhill Aberdeen Staff housing added
Item 64 of 1221970sBoots the ChemistBroughty Ferry AngusScotland 
Item 65 of 1221970sEducational Centre for the Chartered Accountants of Scotland  EdinburghScotland 
Item 66 of 1221970sFactoryCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 67 of 1221970sFactoryInverkeithing FifeScotland 
Item 68 of 1221970sHousing for Local AuthorityBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 69 of 1221970sHousing for SSHAGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 70 of 1221970sHousing for SSHA  DundeeScotland 
Item 71 of 1221970sHousing for SSHA  AberdeenScotland 
Item 72 of 1221970sHousing for SSHAKinghorn FifeScotland 
Item 73 of 1221970sLocal Authority housingKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 74 of 1221970sLocal Authority HousingGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 75 of 1221970sLocal Authority HousingSt Monans FifeScotland 
Item 76 of 1221970sLocal Authority HousingStrathmiglo FifeScotland 
Item 77 of 1221970sLocal Authority housing- Howden FLivingston West LothianScotland 
Item 78 of 1221970sNinewells Hospital and Medical School  DundeeScotlandStaff housing. In the RIBA Directory of 1975 this is given as 'nurses' quarters for SSHA'. Unclear if this is actually an error for ERHB or SERHB.
Item 79 of 1221970sPremises of James D BruceDunfermline FifeScotlandReconstruction?
Item 80 of 1221970sSheltered housing for Royal British LegionGlenrothes FifeScotland 
Item 81 of 1221970sSheltered housing for the Church ArmyKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 82 of 1221970sSheltered housing for Viewpoint Housing AssociationLivingston West LothianScotland 
Item 83 of 1221970sShopping centreStenhousemuir StirlingshireScotland 
Item 84 of 1221970sTelephone exchangeDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 85 of 1221970sTelephone ExchangeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 86 of 1221970Bank of ScotlandCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 87 of 1221970Houstoun HouseUphall West LothianScotlandConversion into hotel
Item 88 of 1221971Housing, BorrowfieldMontrose AngusScotland 
Item 89 of 1221972Edinburgh College of Art, Hunter Building  EdinburghScotland 
Item 90 of 1221972St John's ChurchGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 91 of 1221974Hawthornbank House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 92 of 1221974Housing, Harbour PlaceBurntisland FifeScotlandRestoration
Item 93 of 1221975Wood's HospitalUpper Largo FifeScotlandRestoration
Item 94 of 122Before 1975Alliance Building SocietyDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 95 of 122Before 1975Alliance Building SocietyKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 96 of 122Before 1975Factories for Fife County CouncilHillend FifeScotland 
Item 97 of 122197643-67 High StreetDysart Fife Reconstruction of group of historic buildings and conversion into flats.
Item 98 of 1221976Boots the ChemistBerwick-upon-Tweed NorthumberlandEngland 
Item 99 of 1221976Housing, Old Farm Court, for Viewpoint Housing AssociationColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 100 of 1221976St Peter's Episcopal ChurchKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 101 of 1221978Housing for Viewpoint Housing AssociationColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 102 of 1221978Path HouseKirkcaldy FifeScotlandRestoration and conversion of 17th century house into nurses' home.
Item 103 of 1221979Tourist Information CentreStranraer WigtownshireScotland 
Item 104 of 122Late 1970sSt George's Free Church  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 105 of 122Late 1970sTourist Information CentreJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 106 of 1221980sBannockburn Heritage CentreBannockburn (Whins of Milton) StirlingshireScotland 
Item 107 of 1221980Bell's Brewery  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 108 of 1221980Sandport Industrial Estate, factoryLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 109 of 1221981Sheltered housing, WoodthorpeColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 110 of 122Before 1981Boots The Chemist ShopDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 111 of 122Before 1981Forth Park HouseKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAlterations including new Maternity wing
Item 112 of 122Before 1981Kirkcaldy Burgh Infectious Diseases HospitalKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAlterations including new A & E Department and cafeteria for visitors
Item 113 of 122c. 1981Kinmount HouseAnnan DumfriesshireScotlandConversion of N range of stable to house
Item 114 of 1221983Flats, Broughton Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 115 of 1221983Free ChurchBurntisland FifeScotlandConversion to sheltered housing
Item 116 of 1221983Glamis House (Cheshire Home)Glenrothes FifeScotland 
Item 117 of 1221983Royal BankDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 118 of 122c. 1983Viewpoint sheltered housingSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 119 of 1221986Block of buildings 34 High Street  EdinburghScotlandRedevelopment for Castlerock Housing Association
Item 120 of 1221986Community outdoor and education centreLinlighgow West LothianScotland 
Item 121 of 1221988Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus, Students' UnionRiccarton MidlothianScotland 
Item 122 of 1221991Heriot-Watt University, Riccarton Campus, Leonard Horner Hall  MidlothianScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 10Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp14 The Bowery, Leslie; Somerville Street, Burntisland; Dysart Housing, Pittenweem Housing; Old Buckhaven
p34-5 Cumbernauld Housing
p35-6 Stirling Road
p38 Torbain Parish Church
p110-115
p156 Dysart Redevelopment
Item 2 of 10Glendinning, Miles2008Modern architect: the life and times of Robert Matthew RIBA Publishingp467
Item 3 of 10Glendinning, Miles and Muthesius, Stefan1994Tower Block: Modern Public Housing in England, Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland Yale University Press: New Haven and Londonp381 Gazetteer 2
Item 4 of 10International Who's who International Who's who   
Item 5 of 10Miles Glendinning, Diane Watters, David Whitham Docomomo Scotland Leaflet  p228 Image of Forth Road Bridge and Dysart Housing Scheme
Item 6 of 10Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 7 of 10Post Office Directories    1953-54
Item 8 of 10RCAHMS1999Homebuilders: Mactaggart & Mickel and the Scottish housebuilding industry RCAHMSp167, 185
Item 9 of 10RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 10 of 10Willis, Peter1977New architecture in Scotland  p8 Dysart Redevelopment
p92-5 Ninewells Hospital

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Architects Journal14 February 1962  p338 Dysart Housing Scheme
Item 2 of 7Architectural ReviewApril 1967  p277-9 Dysart Housing Scheme
Item 3 of 7Builder18 August 1961  'Civic Trust Design Awards, 1960 - Results of Competitions in the County Boroughs, The Awards, Scotland' pp304-305 - served as assessor for Motherwell & Wishaw projects
Item 4 of 7Housing ReviewAugust 1967  7/8-1967 p107-10 Dysart Housing Scheme
Item 5 of 7Municipal Journal20 December 1953  p2759, Bowery Development
Item 6 of 7RIAS Quarterly2014 Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Spring issue
Item 7 of 7Scotsman28 December 2013  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no10296 (stored under F5841); F no5841 (combined box 103)

Images

© All rights reserved. Šand courtesy of RIAS 

© All rights reserved. Šand courtesy of RIAS