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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

(Sir) William Tite
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
20/04/1873
William Tite was born in London on 7 February 1798, the son of Arthur Tite, a wealthy merchant. He was articled to David Laing in 1812, admitted to the Royal Academy Schools in 1818 and was largely responsible for Laing's St Dunstan-in-the-East Church as early as 1817-20. His independent career took off with the commission to design Mill Hill School in 1825, and in 1832 he married an heiress, Emily Curtis. He was President of the Architectural Society in 1838 until it merged with the RIBA in 1842. For some years he was in partnership with Edward Norton Clifton after 1839 but the dates have not been clearly established.

Tite's Scottish practice arose mainly from his pioneering work as a railway architect. In July 1846 he offered his services to the Caledonian Railway, and his offer was accepted. He visited Glasgow on 14 October and produced a detailed report on what was required on 27 May 1847. Work proceeded on a number of stations, but of the two main termini, Dunlop Street, Glasgow was never built and at Lothian Road, Edinburgh only the train-shed was built in shortened form. As Tite's health failed, much of the work was carried out by his chief assistant Ebeneezer Trotman. Relations between the Caledonian Railway and Tite began to break down from January 1850 when Tite's fees amounted to £6,181 8s 3d of which £2,024 18s 6d had been paid and the Company was unable to meet the balance. Tite succeeded in obtaining his fees as a result of a Court of Session decision on 5 February 1851, but his Scottish practice was at an end.

Tite visited Italy in 1851-52 to recover his health. He gradually withdrew from practice and entered politics as Liberal MP for Bath from 1855. He was RIBA Gold Medallist in 1856 and President of the RIBA 1861-63 and again in 1867-69, his presidency ending with a knighthood. He died at Torquay 20 April 1873 leaving moveable estate of just under £400,000 ('I inherited a fortune, I married a fortune and I have made a fortune').

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
42 Lowndes Square London EnglandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
7 East India Avenue London EnglandBusiness1868

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
Tite & Clifton203880After 1839Partner
David Laing203878In year 1812In year 1820Apprentice

Employees or Pupils

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

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Thomas Worthington204271In year 1847In year 1848Assistant

RIBA Proposals

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

RIBA PROPOSALS2 classic

PersonDate ProposedNotes
Sydney Smirke1844/04/29for Fellowship

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
Dollar Parish ChurchIn year 1840DollarClackmannanshireScotland
Southside StationIn year 1840GushetfauldsGlasgowScotland
Caledonian Railway StationIn year 1846EdinburghScotlandScheme drawn up - not executed except trainshed in shortened form
Dunlop Street StationIn year 1846GlasgowScotland
Lockerbie StationIn year 1847LockerbieDumfriesshireScotland
Beattock stationIn year 1847BeattockDumfriesshireScotland
Perth Joint StationIn year 1848PerthPerthshireScotlandDesign and beginning of construction
Kirknewton StationIn year 1848KirknewtonMidlothianScotland
Dunblane StationIn year 1848DunblanePerthshireScotland
Ground at Leonard's Hall belonging to the Glovers' CorporationIn year 1849PerthPerthshireScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Briggs, M SSir William Tite MP, his life and work1950The Builder (2 part serial)
British Architectural Library, RIBADirectory of British Architects 1834-19142001
Colvin, HowardA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18402008London: YUP. 4th edition
APSDThe Dictionary of ArchitectureThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892)ed Wyatt Papworth
New DNBNew Dictionary of National Biography

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Builder1873/05/03*Obituary
RIBA Proceedings1874*p209-212
Builder1950/01/13Issue for 13-20 January 1950. Article by M S Briggs.