Frederick Robertson Kempson was born in Stoke Lacy, Herefordshire, England in c.1837 and was articled to John Prichard (1817-1886) of Prichard & Seddon. He commenced independent practice in London in 1859 and two years later relocated his practice to Hereford. In the 1890s he formed a partnership with Charles Busteed Fowler (1849-1941) in Llandaff, Wales. Kempson was appointed Diocesan Architect for Llandaff, and Architect to Dean and Chapter of Llandaff Cathedral. By 1913 Kempson had an office in Cardiff and London.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1860 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1870. His address was given as 35 Conway Road, Card and 16 Trafalgar Square, Chelsea in 1913. He died in Chelsea, London on 8 October 1923.
"Bringwyn", Herefordshire: County College, Hereford; Free Library and Museum, Hereford; a great many houses, church restorations, schools, and estate work In Herefordshire; St. Peter's Church, Pentre, Glamorgan; St. Michael's Theological College, Llandaff; St. John Baptist, Newport, Mon.; St. Martin's, Cardiff; St. Agnes, Port Talbot; St. John's, Oakwood; and many other works In Glamorganshire, Monmouthshire, Herefordshire, Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, Radnorshire, Breconshire, Worcestershire, Gloucestershire, Kent, Northumberland, Shropshire, Warwickshire.
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. 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