Basic Biographical Details

Name: Frank Stower
Designation:  
Born: 13 November 1912
Died: January 1991
Bio Notes: Frank Stower was born on 13 November 1912. He took evening classes at the Regent Street Polytechnic from 1929 to 1935, whilst presumably serving an apprenticeship in the Co-operative Wholesale Society Architect's Department. In June 1935 he was appointed senior assistant to North, Robin & Wilsdon, working on shops, housing, factories, dairies, bakeries and garages in Exeter, Cheltenham, Edinburgh and London. He was still in the same practice when he was admitted ARIBA on 9 March 1936, his proposers being G T Wilsdon, Joseph Addison and Henry A Douglas. He left later that year to join T P Bennett & Sons.

His career was interrupted by war service from 1939 to 1946, during which he served as Lieutenant Colonel in the Royal Engineers in West Africa,, Algeria, Tunisia, Italy (Rome) and Greece (Athens).

Some time after the war he was taken into partnership by William Holford & Partners. He was in that position when he was elected FRIBA on 16 June 1959, his proposers being Sir William Holford, previous employer Sir Thomas Bennett, and Professor H M Wright. At that time he was living at 1 Archer Road, St Mary Cray, Orpington. His nomination papers cite his involvement in 'multiple stores, Edinburgh' as senior assistant, which suggests that he may have returned to his former employers - by then North & Partners rather than North, Robin & Wilson - after the war.

Stower died in Bromley, Kent in January 1991.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 321, Nower Road, Dorking, Surrey, EnglandPrivate1936 *  
Item 2 of 31, Archer Road, St Mary Cray, Orpington, Kent, EnglandPrivate1959 *  
Item 3 of 32 Angel Court, Throgmorton Street, London, EnglandBusiness1959 * Offices of William Holford & Partners

* 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 5Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS), Architects Department19291934Apprentice(?)presumably as apprentice
Item 2 of 5North, Robin & WilsdonJune 19351936Senior Assistant 
Item 3 of 5T P Bennett & Son19361939  
Item 4 of 5North & PartnersAfter 1946(?)Before 1959(?)Senior Assistant(?)On the basis of his having been involved in 'multiple stores, Edinburgh' as senior assistant, it seems likely that Frank Stower, having worked for North, Robin & Wilson before the Second World War, may have worked for North & Partners after the War.
Item 5 of 5William Holford & Partners1959 * Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Joseph Addison9 March 1936for Associateship
Item 2 of 6(Sir) Thomas Penberthy Bennett16 June 1959for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Henry A Douglas9 March 1936for Associateship
Item 4 of 6(Professor Sir) William Graham Holford 16 June 1959for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6G T Wilsdon9 March 1936for Associateship
Item 6 of 6(Professor) H M Wright16 June 1959for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Arthur Swift2 April 1969For Fellowship

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 1After 1934Multiple stores (perhaps for C & A?)  EdinburghScotlandFrank Stower was involved in this building as Senior Assistant - unclear whether with North, Robin & Wilson before Second World War or with North & Partners after it.

References

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 A no 6001 (combined box 113); F no 5395 (combined box 76)