Basic Biographical Details

Name: Douglas William Hardy
Designation:  
Born: 10 June 1920
Died:  
Bio Notes: Douglas William Hardy was born on 10 June 1920 in King's Norton. In 1950 he took a post as senior assistant in the Birmingham office of the construction department of F W Woolworth. He remained there for four years, the latter two as Deputy District Architect. From 1954 to 1957 he was assistant to the Chief Architect in the Head Office of Woolworths in London. From 1957 to 1959 he was District Architect for the Metropolitan District Office and from 1959 to 1961 he held the post of Deputy Chief Architect in the Head Office in London. From 1 April 1961 he was Chief Architect in the Head Office remaining in this post until 1983.

He was elected FRIBA in 1968. At that time he outlined his responsibilities which ranged over the United Kingdom, the Wset Indies and Rhodesia. He had overall control of staff, the quantity surveying, accounting and building staff at Head Office (which dealt with policy and planning) and in four district offices. Contracts generally amounted to £5m per annum. He had control ogf all design work ranging from OSRP requirements to existing premises to contracts for extensions and reconstruction and new buildings the cost of which sometimes amounted to £1m. He also oversaw the integration of premises into developments, CDAs etc and the early negotiations with and advice to developers. He was also responsible for the final certification of claims for grants in Development Areas.

He retired in 1983.

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 5F W Woolworth & Co Ltd, in-house architects (Woolworth Constuction Department 17 July 19501 June 1954Senior AssistantIn the Birmingham office. For the last two years was Deputy District Architect.
Item 2 of 5F W Woolworth & Co Ltd, in-house architects (Woolworth Constuction Department 1 June 19541 October 1957Assistant ChiefIn the Head Office in London - as assistant to the Chief Architect
Item 3 of 5F W Woolworth & Co Ltd, in-house architects (Woolworth Constuction Department 1 October 195728 September 1959ArchitectDistrict Architect with the Metropolitan District Office
Item 4 of 5F W Woolworth & Co Ltd, in-house architects (Woolworth Constuction Department 28 September 19591 April 1961Depute Chief ArchitectIn Head Office
Item 5 of 5F W Woolworth & Co Ltd, in-house architects (Woolworth Constuction Department 1 April 19611983Chief Architect 

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 41961Woolworth's StoreAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandAs Chief Architect with Woolworths
Item 2 of 41962Woolworth's StoreLochee DundeeScotlandAs Chief Architect with Woolworths
Item 3 of 41964F W Woolworth storePerth PerthshireScotlandAs Chief Architect with Woolworths
Item 4 of 41964Woolworths, High StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAs Chief Architect with Woolworths

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Morrison, Kathryn A Woolworths: 100 years on the High Street London: English Heritage (or Historic England) 
Item 2 of 2RIBA RIBA Directories   

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 no 6192 (Combined Box 125)