Basic Biographical Details

Name: Herbert Ryle
Designation:  
Born: 1881
Died: 14 March 1966
Bio Notes: Herbert Ryle was born in 1881, the son of John Thomas Ryle pf Crook, County Durham and was articled to Armstrong & Wright, Newcastle from 1899 to 1903, studying at Durham College School of Art. In 1903 he obtained a post as assistant in the Edinburgh branch of the Office of Works under William Thomas Oldrieve, but moved to London to work for James Glen Sivewright Gibson in the following year, passing the qualifying exam in 1905. He was admitted ARIBA on 5 March 1906, his proposers being Charles Francis Armstrong of Armstrong & Wright, Gibson and Arthur Benjamin Plummer of Newcastle. His nomination papers list his travels as a tour of Yorkshire in August 1902, a week in Lincoln in September 1903, a week in Durham in August 1904, and a fortnight in Normandy in July 1905, including Rouen and Caen.

After he had qualified, Ryle returned to the Office of Works in Edinburgh some time before 1914, and remained there. He is known to have carried out the reconstruction of York Buildings, Queen Street, Edinburgh in 1919 as he signed the drawings. In that year he was appointed OBE and in the following year he returned to London working in the headquarters of H M Office of Works on the palaces as he was appointed MVO in 1929 and CVO in 1939. He continued working throughout the Second World War and chaired the Committee on Building Materials Standardisation from 1942.

His wife, Mary Wilson, daughter of George Weir Wilson, predeceased Ryle who latterly lived at the Vale Royal Hotel, Tunbridge Wells.

Ryle died on 14 March 1966.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 19, Avignon Road, Brockley, London, EnglandPrivate1906 *  

* 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 5Armstrong & Wright1 May 1899June 1903Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)8 June 1903September 1904AssistantIn Edinburgh office, working under W T Oldrieve
Item 3 of 5William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve)8 June 1903September 1904AssistantAssistant architect and surveyor, second class, in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh (1910)
Item 4 of 5James Glen Sivewright Gibson24 September 1904After 1905Assistant 
Item 5 of 5H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)Before 1914 Assistant(?)In Edinburgh officeand after 1919 in London office

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Charles Francis Armstrong5 March 1906for Associateship
Item 2 of 3James Glen Sivewright Gibson5 March 1906for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Arthur Benjamin Plummer5 March 1906for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Thomas Galletly20 July 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 11919York Buildings  EdinburghScotlandPorch added and reconstruction - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Who Was Who Who was Who  For the years 1961-70

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building18 March 1966v210 p88 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Frederick MacManus recollections
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v16 p135 (microfilm reel 19)