Allan Ovenden Collard [also known as A.O. Collard] was born in Herne Bay, Kent, England in 1861. He was articled to Thomas Blashill (1830-1905) in London from 1878 to 1881 and remained as his assistant until March 1882. He then worked as an assistant in the Building Act Office of the Metropolitan Board of Works from 1882 to 1886; to George John Vuilliamy (1817-1886). He also attended classes at the Architectural Association in London.
Collard qualified as an architect in 1889 and later that year was elected an Associate of the Royal institute of British Architects (ARIBA). He was elected a Fellow if the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1904.
Collard commenced independent practice as an architect in 1886. He was Consulting Architect to Earl's Court Grounds Ltd., and to Shepherd's Bush Exhibition Ltd. He was also Surveyor to Pritchard's Estates and lectured on professional practice at the Architectural Association.
His address was given as 8 Craigs Court, Charing Cross, London in 1889 and 1894; Ferndale, Church Street, Staines, Surrey in 1904; 26 St. Peter's Square, London in 1905; 8 Buckland Street, Strand, London in 1914; and 1 Rutland Road, Hammersmith, London in 1923 and 1927. He died in London on 1 July 1928.
Empire of India Exhibition at Earl's Court, 1895; and various other exhibitions there for 20 years. Empress Theatre, Earl's Court; Royal Ear Hospital, Soho, 1899; various houses, shops, factories, stables, cottages in London and provinces
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
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 135, 27 July 1928 p.134
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 35, 1928 p. 617