Name

William James Morley

Designation
architect
Born
1846
Place of Birth
Garforth Leeds
Location
Bradford Bolton
Died
1930

  • Born:  April-June 1846
  • Died:16 March 1930

William James Morley was born in the Spring of 1846 at Garforth near Leeds, the son of George Morley and was educated at Leeds Grammar School. He was articled to Lockwood and Mawson of Bradford in 1861 and became their office manager in 1868, leaving at the end of 1873 to commence independent practice in the same town at the beginning of 1874. Prior to 1868 Morley had also been an assistant with Eli Milnes and Charles France, also of Bradford.

Having managed the practice of the ailing George Woodhouse of Bolton, he entered into partnership with his son George Herbert Woodhouse in 1884. The practice operated under two styles - Woodhouse and Morley in Bolton and Morley and Woodhouse in Bradford. The partnership was dissolved about 1892 at which time Morley opened a branch office in Albany Chambers, Mawdsley Street, Bolton which continued until 1899.

Morley was admitted FRIBA on 21 November 1892, his proposers being William Young, London, and John Bradshaw Gass of Bolton.  Morley worked alone until 1901 when he took his son and assistant Richard Morley into partnership, the firm being styled W J Morley and Son. A second son, Eric, was a pupil in 1901 and wastaken into the partnership in 1907. A staunch Methodist, many of his commissions had links to the Methodist church. He designed several large buildings, including the mills at Paisley, owned by Messrs J. & P. Coats; the completion of Central Hall, Manchester; the Albert Hall, Manchester; and the Eastbrook Hall, Bradford. In addition, he designed a large number of non-conformist churches in various parts of England and Wales,

W J Morley was President of Bradford Society of Architects in 1892 and again in 1909. His son, Eric Morley, was president in 1939-1947.

He married Annie Brook of Bradford in 1872 and had issue six sons and two daughters. His eldest son (Sir) George Morley was Chief Constable of Hull City Police in 1910 and Chief Constable of Co Durham police 1922.

William James Morley died at Fulton Lodge on 16 March 1930 after a short illness. He had continued in active practice until the end.

NOTE - William Morley’s date of birth is generally given as 1847, as estimated from the Census returns. However, the England and Wales Birth Registration Index 1837-2008 lists only William James Morley born April-June 1846 Pontefract registration district.   

Address

1883-1930: 269 Swan Arcade Bradford

Residence

1881-1891: 1 Welbury Drive Manningham Bradford

1898-1930: Fulton Lodge, 14 Park Drive, Bradford, Yorkshire

 

Obituary: Builder 28 March 1930 page 608

Obituary: Architects Journal 2 April 1930 page 552

Obituary: RIBA Journal 7 June 1930 page 568

Reference: British Architect 24 May 1901 Page 361 - partnership

Reference: The Methodist Who’s Who 1912 page 160

Reference: Dictionary of Scottish Architects

 

 

 

Partnerships

Name Designation Formed Dissolved Location
Morley and Wooodhouse Architectural practice 1884 1892 Bolton Bradford
Morley and Son Architectural practice 1901 1930 Bradford
Woodhouse and Morley Architectural practice 1885 1892 Bolton Bradford