Arthur Henry Ough was born in Stratford, Essex, England on 11 June 1863 and was articled to his father, Henry Ough (1836–1919), in London from 1877 to 1880. He also studied at Stratford School of Art, and at the Royal Academy Schools and the Architectural Association Schools in London. He worked as an assistant to the Metropolitan District Railway from 1880 to 1882, and to the Great Eastern Railway from 1882 to 1888. From 1888 to 1891 he was employed as Managing Assistant to William Danby (1842-1908) and Robert Kennaway Leigh (1852-1925) of the civil engineering firm Danby & Leigh in Hong Kong. He returned to England in 1891 and that year commenced independent practice in London in partnership with his father.
In 1892 he passed his qualifying exam. In 1901 he went back to Hong Kong where he was in partnership with Danby, Leigh & Orange [James Orange (1857-1927)], later Leigh & Orange. He remained with the company until 1912 when he retired to Dawlish in Devon.
Ough was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1892 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1907. He was also President of the Devon and Cornwall Architectural Society. He died in Torquay, Devon on 21 December 1946
In England: Factories for Messrs. Huntley & Palmer's, Reading, R. & J. Bock, London; Cambridge Scientific Instrument Factory; Board School, East Ham; Royal Corinthian Yacht Club at Port Victoria; Sleights Sewerage. In Hong Kong: St. Georges, King's, Royal, and Prlnce's Buildings, all large blocks of offices; schools for the Italian and French Convents; St. Andrew's Church; Mortuary Chanel, Jews' Cemetery; Holt's Godowns; Jockey Club Grand Stand; Tobacco Factory; Electric Power Station; St. Paul's College Church; St. Joseph's College; Hong Kong University; Canton Sewerage; Swatow Waterworks; Hong Kong Flour Hills; French Hospital; Government Bacteriological Institute; harbour works, wharves, and reclamations. Retired from partnership with Leigh & Orange, Hong Kong, 1912
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