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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

William Richard Lethaby
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
17/07/1931
William Richard Lethaby was born at Barnstaple on 18 January 1857, the son of a radical nonconformist carver and gilder, Richard Pyle Lethaby. He was educated at Barnstaple Grammar School and at the local Literary and Scientific Society. In 1871 he was articled to the Wesleyan architect Alexander Lauder and remained there until 1878 when he joined the office of Richard Waite at Duffield, Derbyshire followed by an office in Leicester.

In 1879 Lethaby won the Soane Medallion and Travelling Scholarship and travelled in France. His drawings were published in the Building News and attracted the attention of Richard Norman Shaw who engaged him as his chief assistant to his return to London. He entered the Royal Academy Schools in 1880 winning the Silver Medal, a was co-founder of the St George's Art Society which became the Art Workers' Guild.

In 1889 Lethaby left Shaw to commence practice on his own account at 10 Hart Street and with Reginald Blomfield, Mervyn E Macartney, Ernest Gimson and Sydney Barnsley founded the furniture-making firm of Kenton & Co. Thereafter he became first art adviser to the Technical Education Board of LCC in 1892 and one of the founders of the Central School of Arts and Crafts where he taught architecture with Halsey Richards and was principal 1902-1911; and in 1900 he became first Professor of the Royal College of Art a post he retained until 1918. These commitments, together with a mishap in the practice induced him to retire from architectural practice in 1902.

Lethaby declined the Gold Medal in 1924 and died in London on 17 July 1931.

'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
111 Inverness Terrace London EnglandPrivate

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Richard Norman Shaw203260In year 1879In year 1891Assistant

RIBA Proposals

This person proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSALS2 classic

PersonDate ProposedNotes
Charles Sydney SpoonerIn year 1906For Fellowship
Arnold Dunbar Smith1906/12/03for Fellowship
Louis David Blanc1911/03/20for Licentiateship

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Eynhallow ChurchIn year 1897EynhallowOrkneyScotlandConsolidation of ruins
Melsetter HouseIn year 1898HoyHoyOrkneyScotland
Orgill LodgeIn year 1898HoyHoyOrkneyScotland
Chapel of St Colm and St MargaretIn year 1898MelsetterHoyOrkneyScotland
Hoy Lodgec. 1900HoyHoyOrkneyScotlandReconstruction
Rysa LodgeIn year 1902HoyOrkneyScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
British Architectural Library, RIBADirectory of British Architects 1834-19142001
Who's Who in Architecture1914
Rubens, GodfreyWilliam Richard Lethaby, his life and work, 1857-19311986

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
RIBA Journal1931/08/08*Obituary p 696 by F W Troup
RIBA Journal1932/02/20*p293 Tribute by Sir Reginald Blomfieldp 314 Review of drawings by Noel Rooke,
RIBA Journal1932/04/02*p439 Letters by J A Morris, P J Waldram and P M Johnston
RIBA Journal1931/09/19*Obituary by Arthur Keen, p737
Builder1931/07/24*