John Rigsby Poyser* was born was born in Nottingham, Nottinghamshire, England in 1872. He was articled to Watson Fothergill (1841-1928) until 1887 and subsequently remained as his assistant. He also worked as an assistant to Arthur Richard Calvert (1852-1922) in Nottingham, in 1897-98. Poyser established his own independent architectural practice in Nottingham in 1899. In 1908, with William Brandreth Savidge (1866-1939) Poyser won a competition to design the Nelson Old Library in Nelson, Lancashire. It is not known if Poyser and Savidge had a formal partnership. About this time Poyser also began collaborating with Sidney Roberts Stevenson (1850-1928), however, again, it is not clear if they formed a formal partnership.
A photograph of a dining room at 'Brookside', Attenborough designed by Poser is featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1907 (p.63); two photograph of a house at Attenborough in Nottinghamshire, designed by Poyser are illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1911 (p.66), and photographs of the living room and entrance front of a cottage at Chilwell in Nottinghamshire, designed by him are illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1913 (p.52).
Poyser was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911. His address was given as Queen's Chambers, Nottingham in 1911; and Brookside, Attenborough, near Nottingham in 1911 and 1939. He died in Basford, Nottinghamshire on 17 January 1954. Poyser's professional papers for c.1900-1920 are kept at the University of Nottingham.
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* His middle name is sometimes incorrectly given as Rigsby. The England Census records confirms that it was Rigby. Rigby was also the middle name of his father, John Rigby Poyser (c.1836-1892) and his son, John Rigby Poyser (1908-1990).
Architectural projects by Poyser included 12 and 14 Glebe Street, Beeston, Nottingham (1903); 51 Kneeton Road, East Bridgford, Nottinghamshire (c.1905); 60 Goose Gate, Nottingham (1908); Library, Nelson, Lancashire (1908), with William Brandreth Savidge; Dame Mellers Lads' Club, Norton Street, Nottingham (1913); a new wing for Nottingham Children's Hospital (1927); new chancel screen, Holy Trinity Church, Lenton, Nottingham (1935).
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