Robert Alexander Briggs [commonly known as R.A. Briggs] was born in London, England, in 1858 and was articled to Gilbert R. Redgrave in London from 1876 to 1879. He also attended the Royal Academy Schools and classes at the Architectural Association Schools in London. From 1879 to 1883 he worked in the Dublin offices of G Moreing, Edward I'Anson ((1812-1888), Lewis Henry Isaacs (1829?-1908) and Henry Louis Florence (1843-1916), Ernest Claude Ayton-Lee (1845?-1890) and J J O'Callaghan (c.1838-1905).
Briggs set up an independent practice in London in 1884 and was in partnership with Charles Gordon Killmister and Harry Le Cronier Browning (1881-1955) as Briggs & Browning from 1910 to 1913.
Two drawings and two plans of 'Blackhouse Hill Cottage, Hythe, Kent, two labourers' cottages converted into a house, and a drawing showing alterations and additions to 'Beechwood', Cookham Dean, by R.A. Briggs are featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1907 (pp.16, 17); a drawing and a ground-floor plan of The Manor House, Wormley, Hertfordshire, and a drawing and ground- and first-floor plans of a house at Tremeirchion, Flint, designed by Briggs are featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1908 (pp.B40, B41); drawing of a house at Abinger Common, Surrey designed by Briggs is featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1910 (p.25), a watercolour drawing (with floor plans) of a house at Pinner, designed by R.A. Briggs & Browning is featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1912 (p.19); and a drawing of a house at Furze Hill, Burgh Heath, Surrey, designed by R.A. Briggs & Browning is featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1914 (p.13).
Briggs was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1882, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1892.
He was the author of a number of books on architecture including 'Bungalows and Country Residences' (London: B.T. Batsford, 1891), which earned him the nickname 'Bungalow Briggs'.
Briggs exhibited on numerous occasions at the Royal Academy in London and the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts between 1884-1910. He died in London on 10 May 1916
A biographical file on Robert Alexander Briggs is available on request from the Enquiry Desk, Royal institute of British Architects Library, London
Additions to Cowley Manor, Glos; Jesus Chapel, Worcester Cathedral; private Chapel and additions Battenhall Mount, Worcester; shops and flats 60, Brompton Road, SW.; flats, Addison Bridge, Kensington, W., and Earl's Court Square, SW.; large factory. Worcester; alterations and additions to house, Ladbroke Square, W.; "Old Mill", Aldeburgh, Suffolk; and houses Queen's Gate, SW. As consulting architect to Allsopp & Sons, Ltd.: new hotels at Hereford, Sunderland, Merthyr Tydvil, Colwyn Bay; alterations and additions to Royal Hotel, Cardiff, and King's Head, Sheffield. New houses at Wombly, Farnborough, Maidenhead, Haslemere, Epsom, Hamble, Leamington, Marlow, Crowborough, Aberdeenshire, Welwyn, South Mimms. Dorking, Horley, Bellagio, Abinger Common, Wormley, Moyallon, Ireland; Northwood, Woodford, Oxted, Sutton, Harrow, Lee. Stanmore, Bagshot, Ewhnrst, Cranleigh, Speldhurst, Beaulieu, Kingswood, Burgh Heath, and Pinner; churches at Pentonvllle, N.E., and Macclesfield; altars and reredos at Wrilbenhall; Straits Settlements; St. Augustine's, Haggerston; and St. Stephen's, Hackney. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 110, 26 May 1916 p. 385
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 110 2 June 1916 p. 409
'Obituary'. RIBA Journal vol. 23, 1916 pp. 246, 248
Stamp, Gavin. The English House 1860-1914. Catalogue of an exhibition of photographs and drawings. London: InternationalArchitect and the Building Centre Trust, 1980 pp. 31-32
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914