Basic Biographical Details

Name: Walter Ashley Bartlam
Designation:  
Born: 14 February 1917
Died: 6 September 2012
Bio Notes: Walter Ashley Bartlam was born on 14 February 1917 in Warwickshire. He enrolled in the army at the beginning of the Second World War and went to France with the Military Police as part of the British Expeditionary Force. He transferred to the Royal Engineers where he was sent to a camp at Elgin on an officers' training course prior to obtaining his commission at Aldershot in 1944. He took part in the D-Day invasion and subsequently he was involved in the run-down of POW camps in Europe.

After he was demobbed , he studied for the Diploma in Architecture at Birmingham from 1936. He was elected ARIBA in 1948 and moved to Elgin the following year in the hope of a job with A J Morrison there but this did not materialize and he opened busness on his own account. The practice undertook many house designs in the early days alongside a few commerical buildings. He pioneered open plan office for the HIDB Office in Inverness, gaining three Civic Trust Awards. He counted among his clients the HIDB, the SDA and many councils including Rothes (where he served as burgh architect).

He was elected FRIAS in 1955 and FRIBA on 8 January 1957, his proposers being A Douglas Jones, T M Ashford and Herbert Jackson. Jones in his statement says that Bartlam built a house for himself and converted the present one for house and offices which demonstrate 'very considerable ability'.


From 1964-65 Bartlam served as Vice President of the RIAS, representing the Inverness Chapter. By the mid-1970s he had two partners, James Cameron Manson and A H Campbell. The form was titled W Ashley Bartlam. By the 1970s he had offices in Kingussie, Inverness, Elgin, Nairn and Kirkwall.

He retired in 1982 after completing 3245 jobs over a period of 33 years.

Outwith his profession, Bartlam was a Town Councillor for 6 years, a founding member and Chairman of the Elgin Round Table and a founding member and first President of the Moray Ski Club. He was a keen sailor and had two cruising yachts which he took as far as Norway and the Faroes. His second yacht was a ferro-concrete ketch, the first ever built by Johnes of Buckie. For a period of time he owned a yacht charter company based at Holm in Scapa Flow. He was elected Rear Commodore of the Findhorn Yacht Club in 1965 and in 1967 and 1970 organized the 18 foot National Sailing Chaampionships at Findhorn.

In 1985 there were 5 architects and 5 technicians employed. The practice by that date was called Ashley Bartlam Partnership. Bartlam was a consultant by this time.

After he retired he took up painting sculpture and writing. One of his sculptures is on display at Tankerness Museum. He wrote on a number of local historical and archaeological subjects. Some are lodged at the National Record of the Historic Environment.

Bartlam died on 6 September 2102, survived by his two daughters. His wife had predeceased him in 2010.

Publications:
'Conversion of dwelling house and offices' Ideal Home January 1956
'New dwelling house at Forres Moray' Ideal Home Book of Plans 1956

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6106, High Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusiness1950  
Item 2 of 6South Villa/41, Moss Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1955After 2010 
Item 3 of 64, Balblair Street, Nairn, Nairnshire, ScotlandBusiness1970 * Branch office
Item 4 of 611, Queensgate, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1975 *After 1981 
Item 5 of 657, High Street, Kingussie, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness1981 Branch office
Item 6 of 611, Broad Street, Kirkwall, Orkney, ScotlandBusiness1981 * Branch office

* 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 1Ashley Bartlam PartnershipAfter 1970(?) Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3James Cameron MansonBefore 1970 Assistant 
Item 2 of 3A H CampbellMid 1970s Partner 
Item 3 of 3James Cameron MansonMid 1970s Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Tolson Murray Ashford8 January 1957For Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Aldwyn Douglas Jones8 January 1957For Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Herbert Jackson8 January 1957For Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This 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 691950House for F B Kerr  MorayshireScotland 
Item 2 of 69c. 1950South VillaElgin MorayshireScotlandRestoration - latterly used as practice office
Item 3 of 691952Holy Trinity Episcopal SchoolElgin MorayshireScotlandConversion to hall? New build?
Item 4 of 691952House for H Allen  MorayshireScotland 
Item 5 of 691952House for P Williamson  MorayshireScotland 
Item 6 of 691952House for W L Robson  MorayshireScotland 
Item 7 of 691952Oykel Hotel   ScotlandNew building? Alterations?
Item 8 of 691953House for A H Forbes  MorayshireScotland 
Item 9 of 691953House for Mrs J N James  MorayshireScotland 
Item 10 of 691953Tor-na-Coille HotelBanchory Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandNew cocktail bar added
Item 11 of 691954Shop front for Messrs JacksElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 12 of 691956House for Miss M Mellis  MorayshireScotland 
Item 13 of 691956House for Mr G B Render  MorayshireScotland 
Item 14 of 691956Logie HouseForres MorayshireScotlandAdditions - Apple Room and height of former larder and coal store raised.
Item 15 of 691956Red Lion HotelFochabers MorayshireScotlandAlterations - work not yet begun
Item 16 of 691956Relugas Mansion House  MorayshireScotland 
Item 17 of 691959Gordonstoun, students' accommodation  MorayshireScotlandTow house designed by him
Item 18 of 691959Hospital ChapelElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 19 of 69Before 1959HousingSeatown MorayshireScotland 
Item 20 of 691961Garage service stationElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 21 of 691962Caravan Sales Centre  AberdeenScotland 
Item 22 of 691962Housing for Rothes Town CouncilRothes MorayshireScotland 
Item 23 of 691962Public HouseElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 24 of 691963Farm steadingKnockando MorayshireScotland 
Item 25 of 691963Housing developmentForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 26 of 691963Mortuary ChapelNairn NairnshireScotland 
Item 27 of 691963Transport garage workshopElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 28 of 691963Yacht ClubFindhorn MorayshireScotlandAdditions
Item 29 of 691964Aberdeen Savings BankNairn NairnshireScotland 
Item 30 of 691964Estate workers housesForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 31 of 691964Mansion HouseLochlaggan Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations
Item 32 of 691964Woolmill dyeshed  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 33 of 691965Clydesdale Bank and officesElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 34 of 691965Riding SchoolNewtonmore Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 35 of 69Before 1965Mill buildingsElgin MorayshireScotlandConversion
Item 36 of 691966BenRiach Glenlivet DistilleryGlenlivet BanffshireScotlandAdditions
Item 37 of 691966Glenfarclas DistilleryBallindalloch BanffshireScotlandAdditions including visitor centre
Item 38 of 691967Advance factoryElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 39 of 691967British Legion ClubNairn NairnshireScotlandAlterations
Item 40 of 691967Flats and housing developmentElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 41 of 691967HouseGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotland 
Item 42 of 691967Lodge for Lord Dulverton  Morayshire Alterations
Item 43 of 691967Offices for the Highlands and Islands Development BoardInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 44 of 69Before 1975Advance factoryBanff BanffshireScotland 
Item 45 of 69Before 1975Advance FactoryInverurie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 46 of 69Before 1975Advance FactoryForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 47 of 69Before 1975Advance factoryBuckie BanffshireScotland 
Item 48 of 69Before 1975Advance factoryFort William Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 49 of 69Before 1975Advance factoryInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 50 of 69Before 1975BoutiqueRothes MorayshireScotland 
Item 51 of 69Before 1975Eventide Home for the Church of ScotlandPortreeSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 52 of 69Before 1975Farm buildings, Knockando  MorayshireScotland 
Item 53 of 69Before 1975House for Colonel ThuillierBrahan Ross & CromartyScotland 
Item 54 of 69Before 1975House for Dr StephenFochabers MorayshireScotland 
Item 55 of 69Before 1975House for Mr FinchGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotland 
Item 56 of 69Before 1975House for Mr ForbesInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 57 of 69Before 1975Local Authority housingDufftown BanffshireScotland 
Item 58 of 69Before 1975Local Authority housingBuckie BanffshireScotland 
Item 59 of 69Before 1975Office for the Highlands and Islands Development BoardLerwickMainlandShetlandScotland 
Item 60 of 69Before 1975Offices for RiddochElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 61 of 69Before 1975Outward Bound Sea SchoolBurghead MorayshireScotland 
Item 62 of 69Before 1975Oyster hatchery  ArgyllScotland 
Item 63 of 69Before 1975Phoines Estate  Inverness-shireScotlandEstate work - details not specified in source
Item 64 of 69Before 1975Royal Marine HotelNairn NairnshireScotlandAlterations
Item 65 of 69Before 1975Station HotelNairn NairnshireScotlandAlterations
Item 66 of 69197630-32 High StreetElgin MorayshireScotlandConversion to offices
Item 67 of 691976High StreetForres MorayshireScotlandUpgrade of many properties
Item 68 of 69197942-46 High StreetElgin MorayshireScotlandRestoration
Item 69 of 691980Mill shop for Johnstons of ElginNewmill, Elgin MorayshireScotlandConversion of warehouse to shop

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 3RIBA1975RIBA Directory of practices   
Item 3 of 3RIBA1981Directory of Practices 1981   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS Quarterly201212Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Winter

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no5269 (Combined Box 67)