Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Walker | Designation: | | Born: | 1881 | Died: | February 1923 | Bio Notes: | William Walker was born in 1881, the son of a wine merchant of the same name in Cupar, where he was educated at the Bell Baxter School, but his family originally came from Longforgan, Perthshire. He was articled to Gillespie & Scott in St Andrews in 1897 or 1898 and remained as assistant, and latterly 2nd chief assistant in a staff of 15, until 1906 when he joined Swanston & Syme in Kirkcaldy as chief assistant. During that period he sketched extensively in Scotland and England, spending a total of ten months touring the cathedral cities, and made at least one study tour in France, working in Normandy, Brittany and the area around Paris, as well as visiting Belgium and the north of Italy; he would later undertake further travels at home and abroad after commencing practice. Walker and his two sisters were very musical, William being secretary of the St Andrews Musical Association.
Walker appears to have begun entering design competitions on his own account in 1906, from his home in Cupar. He commenced practice in 1907, in partnership with an older friend and colleague in Gillespie & Scott's office, Andrew David Haxton (born 1878). The partnership of Haxton & Walker was based in Leven at 3 High Street, Walker having won the competition for a commercial block there. Both partners were admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, proposed by William Fleming Wilkie and the Dundee Institute of Architects.
Walker enlisted at the beginning of the First World War and was commissioned in the Highland Cyclists Battalion, initially stationed at his native Cupar and at Lundin Links. Having risen to the rank of Captain he was posted to India but was invalided home. He was known thereafter as Captain Walker.
Walker was not well enough to resume the Leven partnership, but he married Jenny Reid McCririck of St Andrews and continued to practise from their home at 81 North Street, St Andrews whilst being cared for by her. He was elected FRIBA in January 1921, his proposers being William Williamson, William Fleming Wilkie and John Wilson. His nomination papers state that he was architect to the Commissioners of the Burghs of Pittenweem and Crail and the District Committee of Cupar, and that he had acted as expert adviser to Fife County Council on the erection of a sanatorium, although it is unclear to which sanatorium this applies. He died at home in February 1923. His widow then asked William Fleming Wilkie, then living at Graigower, St Andrews, to take over the practice and complete the work in hand. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | ![Item 1 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Cupar, Fife, Scotland | Private/business | 1906 | 1907 | | ![Item 2 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | 3, High Street, Leven, Fife, Scotland | Business | 1907 | After 1912 | | ![Item 3 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Parkhill, Leven, Fife, Scotland | Private | 1912 * | | | ![Item 4 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | 81, North Street, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1919 | February 1923 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA Proposers
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | ![Item 1 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Kirkcaldy Cottage Hospital | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Addition of circular ward - as apprentice/assistant to Gillespie & Scott | ![Item 2 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1898 | Church for Northern District of Kirkcaldy | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | As apprentice/assistant to Gillespie & Scott | ![Item 3 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1901 | Baptist Church | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction, including new front - as apprentice/assistant to Gillespie & Scott | ![Item 4 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Fife and Kinross District Asylum | Springfield, Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | Two new blocks - as apprentice/assistant to Gillespie & Scott | ![Item 5 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | University of St Andrews, Chemical Laboratory | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Probably involved, as apprentice/assistant to Gillespie & Scott | ![Item 6 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Dairsie Parish Church | Dairsie | | Fife | Scotland | Reseating, redecoration and new furniture - as apprentice/assistant to Gillespie & Scott | ![Item 7 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | University of St Andrews, St Salvator's College | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Southern extension of east range - as assistant to Gillespie & Scott | ![Item 8 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | King's Theatre | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As chief assistant to Swanston & Syme | ![Item 9 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1907(?) | Leven Infant School | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 10 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | Methil Co-operative Society Premises, Harbour Wynd | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | Additions and alterations | ![Item 11 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Church Halls | Elie | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 12 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Golf Clubhouse | Elie | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 13 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | House for Mr F T Wallace | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 14 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | House for Mrs Buntire | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 15 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Leven Town Hall | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | Decoration | ![Item 16 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Markinch Parish Offices | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 17 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Methil Co-operative Society Premises | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 18 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Pittenweem Town Hall | Pittenweem | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 19 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Public House | Windygates | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 20 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1908(?) | Gothenburg | Denbeath | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 21 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Leven Public School | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction | ![Item 22 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Methil Co-operative Society Premises, Wellesley Road | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | Extension | ![Item 23 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Parkhill Public School | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 24 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Methil Co-operative Society Premises, Wellesley Road | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | Shop and workshops | ![Item 25 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Shepherds Hall and houses | Windygates | | Fife | Scotland | Plans dated (the distinct roles of George Charles Campbell and A D Haxton/Haxton & Walker on these building are unclear - perhaps the Haxton plans were a competition design?). | ![Item 26 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1909 | Methil Co-operative Society Premises | Wemyss | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 27 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Leven Public School | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | ![Item 28 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Lundin Mill Primary School | Lundin Links | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 29 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1910 | Buckhaven Co-operative Society premises | Buckhaven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 30 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1910 | Dairsie School | Dairsie | | Fife | Scotland | Additions and alterations | ![Item 31 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1910 | Mr McRuvie's house and chemist's shop | Denbeath | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 32 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1910 | School | Lower Largo | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 33 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1910 | St David's Church Hall | Lower Largo | | Fife | Scotland | Internal work - several different phases? | ![Item 34 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | 50-52 Hepburn Gardens | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 35 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1911 | Public Elementary School | Pittenweem | | Fife | Scotland | Plans dated - east extension (to existing school?) and new school | ![Item 36 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | Social housing | Rosyth | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 37 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1913 | St Monance School | St Monans/St Monance | | Fife | Scotland | Additions and alterations | ![Item 38 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Picture House | Buckhaven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 39 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 or 1915 | Globe Electric Theatre | Buckhaven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 40 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1915 | Proposed cemetery | St Monans/St Monance | | Fife | Scotland | Site plans and section showing ground levels. | ![Item 41 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1920 | Housing in Marygate | Pittenweem | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 42 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1920 | Pitmilly House | Boarhills | | Fife | Scotland | Extensive alterations and additions | ![Item 43 of 43](images/table_item.gif) | 1921 | Abbey Park Housing Estate | Pittenweem | | Fife | Scotland | |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Fifeshire Advertiser | 10 February 1923 | | | | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA Journal | 23 February 1923 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p260 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | ![Item 1 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Haxton & Watson Collection | | Plans and drawings. | ![Item 2 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Glen L Pride | ![Item 3 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v26 no2132; F no1834 (microfilm reel 15) |
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