Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Adams Lumsden
Designation:  
Born: 7 March 1883
Died: 1975
Bio Notes: David Adams Lumsden was born in 1880 and was articled to Thomas Martin Cappon of Dundee in 1898 or 1899 (original sources vary), working under William Gillespie Lamond on St Patrick's RC Church and on alterations to St Mary's RC Church, both in Dundee. Whilst there he studied at Dundee University and Technical College. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1902 or 1903 he moved to Liverpool, entering the office of Walter Aubrey Thomas as assistant and continuing his studies at the Liverpool School of Art and Technical School and at Sandon Studios. The following year he joined the much better known office of Briggs & Wolstenholme of May Buildings, 51 North John Street in the same city, soon to become Briggs, Wolstenholme & Thornely and subsequently Briggs, Wolstenholme, Hobbs & Thornely, as chief assistant. In 1908 he obtained a travelling studentship from Liverpool Architectural Society, enabling him to make a tour of France and Spain including Paris and Madrid.

In 1909 he left Liverpool for Cardiff, where he became chief assistant to Glamorgan County Architect David Pugh-Jones, and the following year was appointed deputy architect to the Glamorgan Education Committee. He was admitted LRIBA on 27 February 1911, his proposers being Cecil Locke Wilson of Cardiff, and Alfred William Stephens Cross and George Hubbard, both of London.

Lumsden was on war service from 1914 to 1919. His movements in the following two years are unclear but in 1921 he was appointed resident architect to Messrs Lewis's Ltd for the reconstruction of their Birmingham store, on completion of which, in 1935, he continued to practise on his own account, working on commercial and industrial premises and domestic buildings. From September 1941 he was involved in the assessment of war damage alongside Leonard Ewen Harper. He was elected FRIBA on 10 February 1942, his proposers being Harper, Ernest Chawner Bewlay and Frank Wager. At that time his offices were at Theatre Royal Chambers, Birmingham, and he was living at Widney Manor, Solihull.

By 1960 Adams was in partnership with John M Phillips in Solihull. He would appear to have retired by 1970 but remained living in Solihull.

Adams died in between April and June 1975 in Sleaford.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 962, Charles Street, Cardiff, WalesBusiness1911 *  
Item 2 of 9St Fagans, Cardiff, WalesPrivate1911 *  
Item 3 of 9111, Singleton Avenue, Birkenhead, Cheshire, EnglandPrivate(?)1914 *  
Item 4 of 9Normanhurst, Howard Road, South Yardley, Birmingham, EnglandPrivate1922 *  
Item 5 of 910A, Temple Row, Birmingham, EnglandBusiness1922 *  
Item 6 of 9Widney Manor, Solihull, Birmingham, EnglandPrivate1941 *  
Item 7 of 9Theatre Royal Chambers, New Street, Birmingham, EnglandBusiness1941 *After 1950 
Item 8 of 9Warwick Road, Solihull, Birmingham, EnglandBusiness1960 *  
Item 9 of 9The Moat Mews, Four Ashes Road, Dorridge, Solihull, Warwickshire, EnglandPrivate1970  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 8Thomas Martin Cappon1898 or January 18991902 or June 1903ApprenticeWorking under William Gillespie Lamond
Item 2 of 8Walter Aubrey Thomas (or Aubrey Thomas)1902 or June 19031903 or March 1905Assistant 
Item 3 of 8Briggs, Wolstenholme, Hobbs & Thornely1903 or March 19051907Assistant 
Item 4 of 8Frederick Brice Hobbs19071909Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 8Glamorgan County Architect's Office19091910(?)Chief AssistantWorking under David Pugh-Jones, County Architect
Item 6 of 8David Pugh-Jones19091910(?)Chief AssistantIn Glamorgan County Architect's Office
Item 7 of 8Glamorgan County Council Architect's Department19101913Deputy Architect 
Item 8 of 8Messrs Lewis's Ltd Architect's Department19211935ArchitectWorking on new Birmingham premises

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 10(Sir) Leslie Patrick Abercrombie (or Patrick Abercrombie)Late 1922for Associateship
Item 2 of 10Ernest Chawner Bewlay10 February 1942for Fellowship
Item 3 of 10Thomas Martin CapponLate 1922for Associateship
Item 4 of 10Alfred William Stephens Cross27 February 1911for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 10Leonard Ewen Harper10 February 1942for Fellowship
Item 6 of 10Frederick Brice HobbsLate 1922for Associateship
Item 7 of 10George Hubbard27 February 1911for Licentiateship
Item 8 of 10Thomas Faulkner ShepheardLate 1922for Associateship
Item 9 of 10Frank Wager10 February 1942for Fellowship
Item 10 of 10Cecil Locke Wilson27 February 1911for 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 21898St Patrick's RC Church, Presbytery and halls  DundeeScotlandAs apprentice to T M Cappon
Item 2 of 21899St Mary's RC Church  DundeeScotlandMajor rebuilding of earlier church - as apprentice to T M Cappon

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 2Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2England and WalesBirths, marriages and deaths  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v10 no582 (microfilm reel 32); A no3572 (microfilm reel 27); F no3866 (box 29)