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Basic Biographic Details

Walter Ashley Bartlam
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
09/06/2012
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

Addresses

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

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
106 High Street Elgin Morayshire ScotlandBusiness1950
South Villa/41 Moss Street Elgin Morayshire ScotlandBusinessBefore 1955After 2010
4 Balblair Street Nairn Nairnshire ScotlandBusiness1970Branch office
11 Queensgate Inverness Inverness-shire ScotlandBusinessBefore 1975After 1981
57 High Street Kingussie Inverness-shire ScotlandBusiness1981Branch office
11 Broad Street Kirkwall Mainland Orkney ScotlandBusiness1981Branch office

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
Ashley Bartlam Partnership401425After 1970Partner

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
James Cameron Manson401426Before 1970Assistant
A H Campbell405389Mid 1970sPartner
James Cameron Manson401426Mid 1970sPartner

RIBA Proposers

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

RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic

ProposerProposer LinkDate ProposedNotes
Aldwyn Douglas Jones4050181957/01/08For Fellowship
Tolson Murray Ashford4050191957/01/08For Fellowship
Herbert Jackson4050201957/01/08For 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
House for F B KerrIn year 1950MorayshireScotland
South Villac. 1950ElginMorayshireScotlandRestoration - latterly used as practice office
House for W L RobsonIn year 1952MorayshireScotland
Holy Trinity Episcopal SchoolIn year 1952ElginMorayshireScotlandConversion to hall? New build?
Oykel HotelIn year 1952ScotlandNew building? Alterations?
House for P WilliamsonIn year 1952MorayshireScotland
House for H AllenIn year 1952MorayshireScotland
House for A H ForbesIn year 1953MorayshireScotland
Tor-na-Coille HotelIn year 1953BanchoryAberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandNew cocktail bar added
House for Mrs J N JamesIn year 1953MorayshireScotland
Shop front for Messrs JacksIn year 1954ElginMorayshireScotland
Logie HouseIn year 1956ForresMorayshireScotlandAdditions - Apple Room and height of former larder and coal store raised.
Red Lion HotelIn year 1956FochabersMorayshireScotlandAlterations - work not yet begun
Relugas Mansion HouseIn year 1956MorayshireScotland
House for Mr G B RenderIn year 1956MorayshireScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
RIBAThe RIBA Kalendar 1950-19511950London: Royal Institute of British Architects
RIBADirectory of Practices 19811981
RIBARIBA Directory of practices1975

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
RIAS Quarterly201212Winter

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005F no5269 (Combined Box 67)
Records of membershipRIAS, Rutland Square201006