William Morton Cowdell was born in Holme, Huntingdonshire, England in 1855. He was articled to William Jackson (?-1894) in Leicester in 1870 and remained with him as his assistant. He later worked as an assistant to Henry Shenton and Charles Baker (1833-1911) of Shenton & Baker, and to William Millican (1830-1889).
Cowdell commenced independent practice as an architect in Leicester in 1889 and was Architect to the Small Holding Committee, Leicestershire County Council; the Housing Committee, Blaby Rural District Council; and to the Housing Committee, Lutterworth District Council; and Surveyor to National Deposit Friendly Society. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1906 and was a member of the Leicester and Leicestershire Society of Architects and its first President.
Some time between 1910 and 1925 [dates unclear] Cowdell was in partnership with Arthur Francis Bryan (1884-1948) .
Cowdell's address was given as Sunneyside, Springfield Road, Leicester in 1901 and 1925; 12 Grey Friars, Leicester in 1906 and 1914; and 8, New Street, Leicester in 1923. He died in Leicester on 8 July 1925. His son, Charles Joseph Morton Cowdell (1887-1917), was also an architect and was killed in action on 12 September 1917 at Ypres, Belgium whilst serving in the Army during World War One.
Large schools for Education Committee Leicester Town Council; and the Leicestershire County Council. Enlargement of St. Augustine's Church, Leicester, and various Church restorations in the county. Large business premises in Leicester and Leicestershire; business premises, Dover; mailings and licensed houses In Leicestershire and Rutland for the All Saints Brewery Co., Ltd.; Hallaton Hall and other houses, Leicestershire and Leicester. In conjunction with partner, A. F. Bryan: many small holdings for Leicestershire County Council; housing schemes for the Blaby Rural District Council; and Lutterworth Rural District Council. In hand: — Extensive enlargements for the National Provincial and Union Bank of England, Leicester; large additions to Leicester Town Hall, for the City Counci
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