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Company History

History of Muir Walker and Pride Ltd.

1850

Jesse Hall was born in 1820 at Bowden, Roxburghshire and in 1850 set up an architectural practice in St Andrews. In 1862 Hall took on as an assistant David Henry, born in Carnoustie in 1835, who had previously been apprenticed as a cabinetmaker. After a period gaining wider experience in Edinburgh, Henry became a partner in 1874 but Hall withdrew from the partnership in 1884 to concentrate solely on his responsibilities as Superintendent of Buildings for the government and from 1890 onwards for the University Court. He retired in 1905 and died in December 1906. Henry continued the practice until his death in February 1914.

1875

William Hill Walker was born, the son of James Walker, farmer of Kingsbarns and his wife Jessie, later of Dauphinhill, St Andrews. He was an assistant with Hall & Henry of Church Square, St Andrews when he was taken into partnership by David Henry, the surviving partner of the practice, in 1913.

1896

Frank Pride is born on 28 March 1896, the son of Robert F L Pride, secretary of the linen and jute firm of Cox Brothers, and later (from 1921) of Jute Industries. He had been articled to Leslie Ower (a family friend) and his partner David Lindsay Allan in July 1912, attending Patrick Hill Thoms’s classes at Dundee Technical College from 1913.

1914

World War 1 begins and both William Hill Walker and Frank Pride go into service. William Hill Walker was promoted sergeant in the 1/7th Black Watch in 1919 and was awarded the Belgian Croix de Guerre for his role in the advance on Ypres. Frank Pride served with the Royal Engineers from 1916. He had been commissioned 2nd Lieutenant and awarded the Military Cross for constructing a fort bridge over the Escaut River in the Schildt in October 1918

1918

After World War 1 the office still at Church Square, was reopened in the name of William Hill Walker.

Frank Pride returns home and takes over another St Andrews’s practice in 1919.

1927

Pride continues practice and merges it with Walker’s long established one as Walker & Pride

1953

Frank Pride’s son Glen L Pride was taken into partnership and the office moved to the former Conservative Club at Mercat House, 1 Church Street, St Andrews, but because of national service Glen did not return to the office until 1955.

2011

Walker & Pride merges with Muir Associates Ltd. Chartered Architects and becomes Muir Walker Pride Chartered Architects. The practice continues at the same address in St Andrews – Mercat House, 1 Church Street, since 1953.

mwp architects st andrews fife
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