Basic Biographical Details

Name: Davidson & Tawse
Designation:  
Born: Before 1923
Died: Before 1925
Bio Notes: Walter Ramsay Davidson was born on 23 March 1870, the second son of Alexander Davidson of Dess (previously Desswood), Aberdeenshire and his wife Sarah Douglas. His health was delicate and he was educated by a tutor, thereafter proceeding to Pembroke College (RIBA obituary says Caius College), Cambridge. From there he became a pupil in the office of Niven & Wigglesworth, London, followed by several years in Edwin Landseer Lutyens's office. He then set up practice in 1900, initially at 28 Victoria Street and then from c.1907 (or possibly earlier) sharing an office at 8 New Square, Lincoln's Inn, with Vincent Harris.

Davidson's practice consisted almost entirely of fairly large arts and crafts houses of considerable refinement and was mainly in Nairn. Their details show the influence of both Niven & Wigglesworth and Lutyens. Of his work Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth wrote that 'he steered clear of the commonplace without any apparent effort'. Davidson never sought election to the RIBA but was an honorary FRIAS and exhibited at the Royal Academy and - in 1913 only - at the Royal Scottish Academy.

During the Great War he served with ambulance sections in France. Thereafter he continued to practise and in 1923 was associated with Henry S Tawse. Tawse had been born in 1890 and had attended classes at Aberdeen University, Glasgow University and the Royal College of Science & Technology, Glasgow. His relationship to the engineer P Tawse of Aberdeen, if any, is unknown. Tawse served in the First World War, reaching the rank of Colonel. By 1925 Tawse had entered into partnership with _____ Allan in Aberdeen; in fact, Herbert Kitchener Calder's RIBA nomination papers claim that he was already working for the firm of Tawse & Allan in 1921-2, suggesting that the association with Davidson must have been a loose arrangement, perhaps only for the purposes of carrying out work on Ordiquhill Parish Churchyard.

On the death of his elder brother in 1928 Davidson inherited Dess and retired from practice, living at Dess with his sister. Like Vincent Haris he was small in stature. Neighbours at Dess recall that 'Everything seemed to interest him...he was a great talker.' He died unmarried on 23 December 1945.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Lincoln's Inn Fields, London, EnglandBusiness   

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Walter Ramsay Davidson1923 * Partner(?)More probably a loose association than a formal partnership
Item 2 of 2Henry ('Harry') S Tawse1923(?) * Partner(?)More probably a loose association than a formal partnership

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 11923Ordiquhill Parish Churchyard and burial enclosureOrdiquhill AberdeenshireScotland 

References

Currently, there are no references for this . The information has been derived from: the British Architectural Library / RIBA Directory of British Architects 1834-1914; Post Office Directories; and/or any sources listed under this individual's works.