James Bertram (Bertie) Francis Cowper

• Birth date       18 October 1886
• Baptism          4 January 1887 at Manchester (Lancashire, Non-Conformist Church Records)
• Marriage         July-September 1917 to Winifred (1899-1954) daughter of John Phillips at Abergavenny
• Death date      17 April 1964 at “Heathcroft”
• Burial              St. Andrew's Churchyard Barnet

A Manchester-born architect who spent most of his professional career in London, James Bertram Francis Cowper was born on 18 October 1886, the son of James P Cowper, a travelling draper, and his wife Christina Hyslop Young in Chorlton-on-Medlock, Manchester.

He was articled to John McDonald McKennzie, of Altrincham, surveyor and sanitary inspector to Bucklow Rural District Council, 7 Market street in 1905-08 while attending Manchester University and the Schools of Art & Technology. Subsequently he became an improver with Thomas Worthington and Sons for six months in 1908 and remained as assistant from 1909-1910. In 1910 he travelled in France, passed the final examination of the RIBA and on 5 December was elected Associate of the RIBA, proposed by P S Worthington, JH Woodhouse, and P Ogden. His success was noted in the Manchester Guardian: 
"At the last meeting of the Royal Institute of British Architects it was announced that Mr J. B. F. Cowper, of Chorlton-on-Medlock. Manchester, had obtained the highest place in the final examination for the A.R.I.B.A., and had been awarded the Ashpitel Prize. He also gained the" Pugin Studentship (silver medal and £40) awarded for the best study of medieval architecture open to the whole of Great Britain: This is the first occasion on which these two honours have been held together."[Manchester Guardian 28 January 1911 page 10].  Arthur Cates Prizeman 1912.

In early 1911 Cowper left Manchester for London where he found employment in the London County Council architects’ department. 

He served in the First World War with the Royal Engineers ending his military service as a Staff Major. Wounded 1916 [Times 29 July 1916 ]
 
Returning to civilian life in 1919 he was for three years was Superintending Architect for the South of England for the Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. In 1923 he commenced independent practice having obtained first premium in a competition for flats organised by Second Hampstead Tenants Ltd for “Heathcote.” This commission led to several similar schemes including “The Pantiles” in 1934, a block of 40 flats in Hampstead Garden Suburb that follows the Italianate or hacienda style that had a short-lived popularity in the 1930s. Both Heathcroft and The Pantiles are designated Grade II Listed Buildings.

In the summer of 1917 J. B.F. Cowper married Winifred, daughter of John Phillips at Abergavenny. She died 25 October 1954.  He died on 17 April 1964 at “Heathcote” and was laid to rest alongside his wife at St. Andrew's Churchyard, Totteridge, Barnet.

Professional qualifications:
ARIBA         5 Dec 1910: proposed by P S Worthington, J H Woodhouse, P Ogden.
FRIBA         1924

Address
1905-1908    7 Market Street, Altrincham
1909-1910    c/o Thomas Worthington and Sons 46 Brown Street, Manchester,  
1911-1914    London County Council architects’ department.
1914-1919    Military Service
1919-1922    Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries.
1924-1933    5 Kings Bench Walk, Temple London
1935            53 Gower Street
1936            38 Bedford Square, London WC 1

Residence
1910             73 High Street, (now Hathersage Road) Chorlton-on Medlock, Manchester 
1914-1915    96 Heath Street, Hampstead, London NW
1919-1920    4 Spencer Mansions Queen’s Club Gardens. London W14
1922            “Olwyns” Wildwood Road, Hamstead Heath London NW11

Obituaries    Builder v206, 1 May 1964, page 925