Basic Biographical Details

Name: Frank Coutts Webster
Designation:  
Born: 1 September 1882
Died: 1959(?)
Bio Notes: Francis Coutts Webster was born on 1 September 1882 and educated at Grove Academy, Broughty Ferry, the son of William Webster, painter, and his wife Christian Watt. He was articled to the tenement architect Robert Keith in Dundee in November 1897 and remained with him for a time as assistant before transferring to the office of the civil engineer Robert Gibson in the same city. During that period he attended classes at Dundee Technical College and University College Dundee. From these menial offices he moved to Stirling c.1903 as assistant to McLuckie & Walker, and by 1904 he had obtained a place as assistant to Rowland Plumbe in London. This enabled him to study at the Royal College of Art, the AA Schools and the Brixton College of Building. He passed the qualifying exam in 1910 and was admitted ARIBA on 5 December of that year, his proposers being Plumbe, Richard Phené Spiers of the RA Schools and Arthur Beresford Pite of the RCA. He was promoted to chief assistant in Plumbe's office in 1912 but left in 1914 to take up a position on the Board of Control as Deputy to the Chief Architect, John Kirkland. By 1930 he he had been been awarded an OBE (MJ) and was FSI.

Coutts does not appear in the RIBA Kalendar for 1938-39. He must either be the Frank Webster who died in 1933 at Bishop Stortford or the Frank Webster who died in Essex in 1937. According to his granddaughter he died in either 1959 or 1960.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5111, Rock Street, Broughty Ferry, Dundee, ScotlandPrivate1882 *  
Item 2 of 539, Ainger Road, Primrose Hill, London NW, EnglandPrivate1910 *  
Item 3 of 515, Grosvenor Road, Muswell Hill, London N, EnglandBusiness(?)1914 *  
Item 4 of 5Caxton House West, Tothill Street, Westminster, London SW, EnglandBusiness1930 * In Board of Control
Item 5 of 5114, Grosvenor Road, Muswell Hill, London N, EnglandPrivate1930 *  

* 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 8Robert KeithNovember 18971902Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8Robert Keith1902Before 1903Assistant 
Item 3 of 8Robert GibsonAfter 1902c. 1903Assistant 
Item 4 of 8McLuckie & Walkerc. 19031904Assistant 
Item 5 of 8Rowland Plumbe19041912Assistant 
Item 6 of 8Rowland Plumbe19121914Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 8Board of Control1914After 1930ArchitectAs Deputy to the Chief Architect, John Kirkland
Item 8 of 8John Kirkland1914After 1930ArchitectIn Board of Control, as Deputy to the Chief Architect, John Kirkland

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6John Alfred GotchLate 1930for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Frederick Robert HiornsLate 1930for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6John KirklandLate 1930for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Arthur Beresford Pite5 December 1910for Associateship
Item 5 of 6Rowland Plumbe5 December 1910for Associateship
Item 6 of 6Richard Phené Spiers5 December 1910for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Charles Stuart Macnab17 November 1942for 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 1c. 1920Edinburgh Royal Lunatic Asylum  EdinburghScotlandPlans for outpatient clinic, teaching unit - perhaps at Royal Edinburgh?

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 3 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1923    
Item 4 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3England and WalesBirths, marriages and deaths  
Item 2 of 3National Archives (via Scotlands People)Statutory births  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v19 no2133 (microfilm reel 20); F no2829 (box 12)