Harry Brooksbank Laycock was born at Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, Wales in 1885. In the 1901 England and Wales Census his occupation was given as Architects Articled Pupil. It is not known to whom or where he was articled.
He was awarded first prize for the design of a headstone in The Studio Prize Competitions in 1905 and in 1907 was awarded a National Silver Medal at South Kensington for the design of a detached belfry tower.
By 1909 Laycock had formed a partnership with James Harold France (1873-1925) as France & Laycock. They had offices at 7 Chapel Walks, Manchester and 13 Canning Street Bury, Lancashire. Work by the practice included an annex to the Congregational Church School in Ashley Road, Hale, Cheshire (1909-11); an extension to the Congregational Church in Ashley Road, Hale, Cheshire (1912-13); and the the Roby Congregational Church and Schools in Longsight, Manchester (1913).
In 1909 France & Laycock were selected 3rd place in a competition to design an Elementary Council School in Elton Ward, Bury. Their entry is illustrated in British Competitions in Architecture vol. 2, no. 9, July 1909 (pp. 342-345)
In addition to his work as an architect, Laycock was also a painter and etcher. His address was given as 17 Park View, Harpurhey, Manchester in 1901; 115 Bury Old Road, Prestwich, Lancashire in 1911; and 7 Syers Road, Liss, Petersfield, Hampshire 1916. He died in Petersfield, Hampshire on 30 August 1916
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001