William Archibald Harris was born in Kidderminster, Worcestershire, England on 27 August 1877. From 1894 to 1899 he was articled to Albert Nelson Bromley (1850-1934) in Nottingham. He then went to J. Harris as an improver in 1899-1900. He worked as an assistant to Frederick Ball (1860-?) in 1900-01; and in H.M Ministry of Works in London from 1901 to 1903. He commenced practice as an architect with Thomas Elson Hardy (1872-?) as Hardy & Harris in London in 1903.
Harris was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1912
His address was given as 8 Arthur Avenue, Lenton, Nottingham, in 1901; 81 Burton Road, Brixton, London; 7 Great Chapel Street, Westminster, London and 81 Burton Road, Brixton, Surrey [now London] in 1912; 81 Burton Road, Brixton, Surrey in 1912 and 1920. Harris's name does not appear in Kalendar of The Royal Institute Of British Architects after the 1920-21 edition, and he is not included in Who's Who in Architecture 1923. It is possible, therefore, that he left the architectural profession. He died 46 Shelley Road, Worthing, Sussex on 9 October 1962. His address at the time of his death was 10A Manor Road, Worthing, Sussex
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