Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Theodore Percival Bryce
Designation:  
Born: 30 January 1892
Died: 1973
Bio Notes: Born 30 January 1892, William Theodore Percival Bryce was articled to Burnet, Son & Dick, St Vincent Street, in 1913, and commenced study at the Glasgow School of Art and Royal Technical College in the same year. His training was interrupted by war service in 1915-18, but he completed it after the war and received his Diploma from the Glasgow School of Architecture in 1920. In 1920-21, having been awarded the Bourdon Memorial Studentship, he spent time travelling in England. He spent the following winter in London in the employment of Mewes & Davis of Conduit Street, before taking charge of the Paris office of Burnett Napier Henderson Orphoot and Frank Edward Whiting in summer 1922. He joined Orphoot and Whiting in partnership at 21 Alva Street, Edinburgh later that year. He was admitted FRIBA in late 1931 or early 1932, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes, Charles Henry Gage and John Begg. In 1932 he left Orphoot and Whiting, his place in the partnership being filled by Ian Lindsay the following year. In that same year Bryce acted as a proposer for his wife Helen Mary Bryce (born 1898) - whom he may have first met when both were working in the firm's Paris office or previously in London - when she applied for Associateship of the RIBA having completed her studies at the Edinburgh College of Art. Her other proposers were John Begg and Frank Charles Mears; the absence of Orphoot's signature on either her or her husband's nomination papers suggests that there may have been a dispute between him and them around the time of the split of the practice. The Bryces' home address in the early 1930s was 78 Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh, and from at least 1933 they were practising together from 40 Melville Terrace.

It appears that Bryce and his wife had moved to England by the later 1930s. Bryce was elected FRIBA in 1932 but his Fellowship was withdrawn or cancelled in 1937, though resumed from 1944 onwards. His movements in the later 1930s are unclear but by 1946-47 his address is given as being in Gloucestershire. Helen by this time had settled in Buckinghamshire where she remained for the rest of her life. Bryce would appear to have moved frequently having a number of addresses between the 1940s and the 1970s in Wiltshire and Oxfordshire. He would appear to have separated from his wife as they never appear under the same address in directories.

He died in England, his death being registered in Oxford between January and March 1973 and Helen's between July and September 1974 in Aylesbury.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 821, Alva Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness19231932In partnership of Orphoot, Whiting & Bryce
Item 2 of 8Farmfield, Penicuik, Midlothian, ScotlandBusiness1926 *  
Item 3 of 878, Newbattle Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1931After 1933 
Item 4 of 840, Melville Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1933 *  
Item 5 of 8The Bridge House, Downington, Lechlade, Gloucestershire, EnglandPrivate/business(?)c. 1946  
Item 6 of 8Broadleaze Farm, Cricklade, Wiltshire, EnglandPrivate/business(?)c. 1948  
Item 7 of 8Hillside Farm, Callow Hill, Brickworth, Chippenham, Wiltshire, EnglandPrivate/business(?)c. 1960  
Item 8 of 8Lynden house, Ducklington, Witney, Oxfordshire, EnglandPrivate/business(?)c. 1970  

* 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 4Burnet, Son & DickOctober 1913Before 1921ApprenticeWith the exception of war service, 1915-18
Item 2 of 4Mewes & Davis19211922AssistantWinter of these years (6 months)
Item 3 of 4Orphoot, Whiting & BryceMid 19221932Partner 
Item 4 of 4W T P Bryce & H M Brycec. 1933 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6John Begg1931 or 1932for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Charles Henry Gage1931 or 1932for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Thomas Harold Hughes26 November 1926For Associateship
Item 4 of 6Thomas Harold Hughes1931 or 1932for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Alexander Nisbet Paterson26 November 1926For Associateship
Item 6 of 6William Brown Whitie26 November 1926For Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4Helen Mary Bryce4 December 1933for Associateship
Item 2 of 4David Gardiner HardieEarly 1932for Associateship
Item 3 of 4Margaret Johnston James5 March 1934for Associateship
Item 4 of 4Emily Lind Maclennan (Mrs Linda Westwater)Early 1933for Associateship

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 381919Peebles War MemorialPeebles PeeblesshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 2 of 38After 192220 Queen Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 3 of 38After 192221 Glencairn Crescent  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 4 of 38After 192247 Midlothian Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 5 of 38After 19227 Gloucester Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 6 of 38After 1922Birkwood HouseLesmahagow LanarkshireScotlandAlterations and/or additions
Item 7 of 38After 1922Birnie House  PerthshireScotland 
Item 8 of 38After 1922Chrystal Memorial, Glasgow University  GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 38After 1922Coltbridge HallMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 38After 1922Cowhilloch Farm   Scotland 
Item 11 of 38After 1922Cringletie HouseEddleston PeeblesshireScotlandAlterations
Item 12 of 38After 1922Dean Nursing Home  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 13 of 38After 1922Farmfield  MidlothianScotland 
Item 14 of 38After 1922Finavon Castle  AngusScotlandAlterations and/or additions
Item 15 of 38After 1922Garage and works for Moir & Baxter Ltd  EdinburghScotland 
Item 16 of 38After 1922Garrows House  PerthshireScotland 
Item 17 of 38After 1922Greyfield  PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 18 of 38After 1922House, Saltcoats RoadGullane East LothianScotland 
Item 19 of 38After 1922KilnochDavidson's Mains EdinburghScotland 
Item 20 of 38After 1922Leithfield House  KincardineshireScotlandBryce responsible - though this job is mentioned in Orphoot's obituary
Item 21 of 38After 1922Lethendry  EdinburghScotland 
Item 22 of 38After 1922LongroofAmersham BuckinghamshireEngland 
Item 23 of 38After 1922Nursing home  EdinburghScotland 
Item 24 of 38After 1922Romanno WaterworksRomanno PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 25 of 38After 1922St Conan's Church of ScotlandLoch Awe ArgyllScotlandContinued scheme after Campbell's death
Item 26 of 38After 1922Trearne HouseBeith AyrshireScotlandAlterations
Item 27 of 38After 1922Wharf HouseMontrose AngusScotlandAlterations
Item 28 of 38c. 1922Scottish Garden City Housing Association SchemeBonnyrigg MidlothianScotland 
Item 29 of 38c. 1922Scottish Veterans Garden City, Earl Haig GardensTrinity EdinburghScotland2nd phase
Item 30 of 381925Haystoun HousePeebles (near) PeeblesshireScotlandRestoration
Item 31 of 381926House in Devon  DevonEngland 
Item 32 of 381926LongstoneHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandRestoration and alterations after fire
Item 33 of 381928Cuill  EdinburghScotland 
Item 34 of 381928GreybieldPeebles PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 35 of 381928Well House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 36 of 381930Holy Trinity Episcopal ChurchHaddington East LothianScotlandNew chancel
Item 37 of 381932Bruce Hill  EdinburghScotland 
Item 38 of 381933TemplecroftGullane East LothianScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4RIBA1946The RIBA Kalendar 1946-1947 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 4RIBA1948The RIBA Kalendar 1948-1949 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 4RIBA1961Kalendar 1960-61   
Item 4 of 4RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no2980 (box 15); A no 3977 (box 5)