Company History
History of Muir Walker and Pride Ltd.
1850
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.