Basic Biographical Details

Name: Lawrence Wren
Designation:  
Born: 30 August 1907
Died: March 1990
Bio Notes: Lawrence Wren was in Cumbria born on 30 August 1907. From 1923 to 1928 he served his articles with J Forster, County Architect, Cumberland. During this period he took a Building Trades Course at Carlisle Technical School and the School of Chemistry. From 1928 to 1931 he was as assistant with Kent County Council Architect’s Department and worked on schools, libraries and hospitals. From 1929 to 1931 he was a member of the SE Society of Architects Design Club.

In 1931 Wren was promoted to senior assistant with the same department working under Major W H Robinson, Kent County Architect. That same year he made a tour of France, studying design and town planning. He was part-time lecturer in Building Construction and Sanitary Science at Maidstone Technical Institute from 1932-36 while still working with Kent County Council. From 1936 he moved to become chief assistant to Matthew Purdon Smith in Dumfries. He was elected LRIBA on 6 February 1939, his psoposers being Major W H Robinson, John L Dernan and Colin H Murray who was the honorary secretary of the SESA.

He subsequently worked for Newcastle Regional Hospital Board. He retired to Carlisle in 1968 and died there in 1990.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 222, Lockerbie Road, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivatec. 1938  
Item 2 of 295, Irish Street, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandBusinessc. 1938  

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 4J Forster19231928Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Kent County Architect's Department19281931Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Kent County Architect's Department19311936Senior Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Matthew Purdon Smith1936 Chief Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2John L Dernan6 February 1939For Licentiateship
Item 2 of 2(Major) Wilfred Harold Robinson6 February 1939For Licentiateship

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 3After 1936Block of FlatsDumfries DumnfriesshireScotlandAs Chief Assistant with Matthew Purdon Smith
Item 2 of 3After 1936Grain warehouseStranraer WigtownshireScotlandAs Chief Assistant to Matthew Purdon Smith
Item 3 of 3After 1938The GroveShawhead DumfriesshireScotlandConversion to Auxiliary Hospital for Directors of Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary - as chief assistant to Smith.

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no4735 (Combined Box 32)