William Gerald St. John Cogswell was born in Stevenage, Hertfordshire, England on 23 November 1869 and was articled to Sir Arthur William Blomfield (1829-1899) from 1889 to 1893, and remained with him as his assistant to 1896. During these years he also attended King's College, London. He then worked as an assistant to Charles E. Ware in 1897-98, to Edwin Landseer Lutyens (1869-1944), to Henry John Snell (?-1924), and to William Howard Seth Smith (1858-1928).
Cogswell qualified as an architect in 1900 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1901. He was in partnership with William Henry Ward (1865-1924).
Cogswell's address was given as 4St. Oswald's Vicarage, St. Oswald, Cheshire in 1881; 7 Doughty Street, St. Pancras, London in 1891; 28 Theobalds Road, London in 1901; Old Bank Buildings, Chester, Cheshire and Wallasy Rectory in 1901; 107 Bransford Road, Worcester in 1911 and 1939; Hawford Cottage, St. John's, Worcestershire in 1914; 2 Bedford Square, London in 1914 and 1935; 84 Charlotte Street, Fitzroy Square, London in 1939; and 17 Heathfield Road, Bexleyheath Road in 1952. He died in Darenth, Dartford, Kent on 18 June 1952
Churches — Emmanuel church, Fazakerley, Liverpool (with W. H. Ward); St Andrew, Exmouth (with late J. S. Paul); Helen's Bay Church, Belfast; Astwood Bank, Redditch, &c. Restoration and refitting — St. Luke, Millwall, E.; Beckford Church, Glos.; Ashton-under-Hill, Glos.; St. Andrew, Droitwich; St. Swithun, Worcester: St. John Baptist, Hulme, Manchester; Wallasey Church, Ches.; St. Columb, Notting Hill, &c, &c. Parish Halls — Wallasey, Ches. (with Wynn Owen); St. Luke, Millwall, E.; &c. Schools — Highfield, Liphook (with chapel, &c.); St. Peter's, Weston-super-Mare (with Mr. W. H. Ward); Wykeham House, Worthing, &c. Houses — Home of the Holy Rood, Worthing, new wing and laundry; St. George's Vicarage, Worthing: houses in Homefleld Road and Liverpool Terrace, Worthing; additions to Peacock Hall, Goring; &c, &c. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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Research Laboratories for General Electric Co., Ltd., Wembley, 1918-20; Fazakerley Parish Church, Liverpool, 1908; boarding schools at Weston-super-Mare, Liphook. and Worthing; Home of the Holy Rood, Worthing (extensions); St. George's Vicarage, Worthing; Astwood Bank Church, Redditch (new nave); parish halls, Millwall, E., Wallasey, Cheshire; various church restorations, and a number of residences. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
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
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1926