Leonard Arthur Culliford was born in St Helier, Jersey on 15 September 1888. He studied at the Regent Street Polytechnic in London from 1903 to 1906, and at the Architectural Association Schools in London in 1906-07. He then worked as an assistant in the Surveyors' Department at New Scotland Yard in London from 1907 to 1910. He travelled to France, Italy and the USA. In 1913 he qualified as an architect and in 1914 was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA).
During World War One he served with distinction and was awarded the Military Cross and the Croix de Guerre.
Culliford's career as an architect began after the war. In the 1920s he was in partnership with John Eustace Salisbury (1876-1929) as Salisbury & Culliford in London.
Following the death of Salisbury, Culiford practised alone. By 1937 he had taken others into partnership and his practice was titled L. A. Culliford & Partners.
Culliford was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1924.
His address was given as 11 Goldney Road, Paddington, London in 1891; 6 St Georges Road, Coventry, Warwickshire in 1911; 30 Union Street, Coventry, Warwickshire and 8 Meriden Street, Coventry in 1914; 3 John Street, London in 1924 and 1925; and 3 Manor Way, Beckenham, Kent in 1930 and 1960. He died on 12 December 1960. His death was registered in Bromley, Kent
A biographical file on Leonard Arthur Culliford is available on request from the Enquiry Desk, Royal Institute of British Architects Library, London
Works by Salisbury & Culliford included the Rectory in Marchweil, Denbighshire; Grey Gates at Harpenden Common, Hertfordshire; and White House in Harpenden, Hertfordshire.
Works by L. A. Culliford & Partners included headquarters of the Union of Post Office Workers, London (1937), extension to the Daily Telegraph Building, London (1939); National Union of Seamen's offices, with flats over--Maritime House, Clapham, London (1940); Fire station with cottages for Kent Urban District Council (1941); and house, Woodland Avenue, Cranleigh, Surrey (1946).
Barron, P. A. The House Desirable. A Handbook for Those Who Wish to Acquire Homes that Charm. London: Methuen & Co. Ltd., 1929
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
Daily Telegraph building extension, London’ [Designed by: L. A. Culliford & Partners] The Builder 22 December 1939 p. 847
‘Fire station with cottages for a Kent U. D.’ [Architects: L. A. Culliford & Partners] The Builder 28 March 1941 p.319
‘Headquarters for the Union of Post Office Workers, London’ [Designed by: L. A. Culliford & Partners] The Builder 24 September 1937 p. 549
‘National Union of Seamen's offices, with flats over-Maritime House, Clapham’ [Architects: L. A. Culliford & Partners] The Buikder 9 August 1940 p. 135
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 200, 6 January 1961, p. 23