Joseph Compton Hall [also known as Compton Hall] was born in Cork, Ireland on 20 January 1863 and was articled to James Medland Taylor (1833?-1909) and Henry Taylor of Medland & Henry Taylor from 1880. He then worked as an assistant to Edward Graham Paley (1823-1895) and Hubert James Austin (1841-1915) of Paley & Austin from 1884 to 1888. He commenced independent practice in London in 1888 and was in partnership with William Oswald Milne (1847-1927) from 1888. By 1919 he had relocated his practice to Reigate in Surrey. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects in 1931. In 1933 he retired from practice and moved to Alfriston, Sussex.
In addition to his work as an architect, Hall was also a painter. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, Royal Society of British Artists, and the Royal Institute of Painters in Water Colours. He was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA) in 1919. He died on 6 April 1937. His death was registered in Hailsham, Sussex.
Restoration of parish churches, and extensive restoration and remodelling of Dunham Massey Hall, Cheshire, for the Karl of Stamford; Oatland Park Church tower; new private houses in Reigate in Surrey, Burwash in East Sussex.; restoration and alterations to old houses, as the Manor House at Ham, for the Earl of Dysart; Turville Park, Henley, for J. S. C. Bridge
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