Frank Walford Locke was born in Birch, Essex, England in 1862. He was articled to Joseph William Rowell (1826?-1902) and William John Rowell of J. W. Rowell & Son in Newton Abbot, England in 1879 and remained with them as their assistant until 1902.
Locke commenced independent practice as an architect in Newton Abbot in 1902 and was made a partner in the firm J. W. Rowell & Son that year. He was a Member of the Society of Architects (MSA) and was admitted a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1925.. His address was given as 2, St. Paul's Road, Newton Abbot, Devon in 1914 and 1926. He died in Newton Abbott on 7 November 1929
Locke's practice was connected for many years with the Devon and Haldon Estates, and also agents for the Governors of Queen Anne's Bounty in the management of their Newton Abbot Estate, during which time Newton Abbot, a great part of Torquay, and also of Cocklngton and Teignmouth have been laid out. New premises for Lloyds Bank at Newton Abbot and Ashburton ; new premises for the Capital and Counties Bank at Newton Abbot, Totnes and Ashburton; restoration of Exmlnster Parish Church, Wolborough Church, Newton Abbot, Starcross Church, and others, and the erection of many large country houses in the neighbouring district, Nonconformist chapels, &c.
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