Arthur Walter Hanstock was born in Batley, Yorkshire, England on 9 July 1874 and was articled to his father, Walter Hanstock (1842?-1900) in 1890. In 1898 they formed a partnership, Walter Hanstock & Son in Batley. Following the death of his father two years later, A. W. Hanstock took over the running of the firm, retaining the original name of the business for some years.
In 1910 Walter Hanstock & Son was given a Honourable Mention in a competition to design the Central Library in Blackpool. Their designs are illustrated in British Competitions in Architecture vol. 3, no. 26, November 1909 (pp. 54-55).
Hanstock's address was given as Upper Lane, Upper Batley, Batley in 1914; and 459 Scalby Road, Scalby, Yorkshire in 1939. He died on 25 March 1949. At the time of his death he was living at Longfield, Newby, near Scarborough, Yorkshire
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