Ernest Gee was born in Liverpool, Lancashire, England on 25 November 1888. He enrolled at the School of Architecture, Liverpool University in Liverpool in 1908 and graduated with a Cert. Arch. in 1910. He was also awarded the Holt Travelling Scholarship and Measured Drawing Prize. He subsequently qualified as an architect and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1916 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1926. He practised as an architect in Liverpool and in c.1926 formed a partnership with Edgar Quiggin (1880-1950) as Quiggin & Gee. The title of the firm was retained for many years after Quiggin's death. Quiggin & Gee became David Parry Quiggin & Gee Associates in 1981.
In addition to his work as an architect, Gee also designed furniture. A photograph of a pedestal desk in Australian walnut with leather top, designed him and manufactured by Frederick Tibbenham Ltd. is illustrated in 'Decorative Art' 1939 (p.105).
Gee was Hon. Sec. of the Liverpool Architectural Society and was awarded the Society's Measured Drawing Prize. His was given as Harrington Chambers, 24 North John Street, Liverpool in 1919 and 1930; and North House, 17 North John Street, Liverpool in 1939. Gee died in Anglesey, Wales in March 1973.
Projects by Gee and Quiggin & Gee included Christ Church in Norris Green, Liverpool (1930-31); Bishop Chavasse Memorial Church, Norris Green, Liverpool (1938); offices and showroom for the Liverpool Gas Co. on Bold Street, Liverpool (1938); hospital block, National Children's Home, Frodsham, Cheshire (1938); a new operating theatre suite for the children's hospital at Alder Hey, Liverpool (c.1955); a burns and plastic surgery unit at Whiston Hospital in Whiston, Lancashire (1961-62); the Equity & Law Building in Castle Street, Liverpool (1971); a factory for Messrs E.T. Gee & Sons Ltd.; a shop for Messrs Ray & Mills; offices for the Legal & General Assurance Society; the Junior School in Morton, Wallasey; a sales room for Messrs Lyons & Co. They also designed a number of private residences in the Liverpool area.
Sharples, Joseph, Powers, Alan and Shippobottom, Michael. Charles Reilly & the Liverpool School of Architecture 1904-1933. Catalogue of an exhibition at the Walker Art Gallery, Liverpool, 25 October 1996 - 2 February 1997. Liverpool: Liverpool University Press, 1996 p. 171 [Contains other references to Gee, unfortunately, this very informative catalogue is not indexed]
Who’s Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1926