Thomas Stewart Purdie was born in Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland on 17 January 1870 and was articled to John Murdoch (1825-1907) in Ayr from 1886 to 1890. He also attended Glasgow School of Art. He worked as an assistant to John Hutchison (c.1841-1908) in Glasgow from 1890 to 1893; to Burnet, Son & Campbell in Glasgow from 1893 to 1897; to John Burnet & Son from 1897 to 1903; to Aston Webb (1840-1930) in London from 1903 to 1910; and to James Miller (1861-1947) in London from 1910 to c.1912.
Purdue was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British architects (LRIBA) in 1912. His address was given as 188, St Vincent Street, Glasgow from c. 1889 to c.1894; 6 Montagu Gardens Wallington, Beddington, Surrey, England 1911 and 1914; 1 Victoria Street, Westminster, London in 1912; and 39, Kempshott Road, Streatham Common, London in 1924. He died in Wimbledon, Surrey 28 April 1947. His address at the time of his death was given as 27 Lingfield Road, Wimbledon, Surrey
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