William Edward Riley was born in Ossett, near Dewsbury, Yorkshire, England on 12 October 1852 and was articled to William Crutchley in Wakefield, Yorkshire from 1868 to 1872. He then worked as an assistant to William Beck and William Ward (?-1885) from 1872 to 1875.
Riley commenced independent practice as an architect in the mid-1870s. In 1877 he gave up his practice to work at the directorate of Admiralty Architectural and Engineering Works as a draughtsman. He subsequently remained at the Admiralty for the next twenty-two years. In 1899 he was appointed superintending architect to the London County Council (LCC). He continued in this post until his retirement in 1919 [or 1920 - sources differ]. He then went into partnership with Ernest Budge Glanfield (1885-1955) to form the architectural firm of Riley & Glanfield in London.
Riley was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (A.R.I.B.A.) in 1883 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (F.R.I.B.A.) in 1900.
In addition to his work as an architect, Riley was also an accomplished watercolourist. He exhibited at the Royal Academy, and the Royal Society of British Artists in London; and at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts. In 1906 he was elected a member of the Royal Society of British Artists (RBA). He also served on the council of the Royal British Colonial Society of Artists.
Riley died at his home in Lewisham, London on 9 November 1937
Numerous fire stations, schools, and other official buildings for London County Council, including the New Sessions House, Newington Causeway. In partnership with Ernest Budge Glanfield: Silvergates, 52 The Drive, Aldwick, Bognor Regis, Sussex (1934); houses in Wychwood Close, Aldwick, Bognor Regis, Sussex (1934); Savoy cinema, Cobham, Surrey (1937); Sunburst, Hook Park Road, Warsash, Hampshire (1930s); 14 Canons Close, Radlett, Hertfordshire (1930s); 33 Canons Close, Radlett, Hertfordshire (1930s); Christ the King Vicarage, 71 Haldens, Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire (1930s);
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
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
'Obituary'. The Architect & Building News vol. 152, 19 November 1937 p. 218
'Obituary'. The Builder vol. 153, 19 November 1937 p. 917
'Obituary'. Royal Institute of British Architects Journal vol. 45, 20 December 1937 pp. 204
'Obituary'. Royal Institute of British Architects Journal vol. 45, 24 January 1938 pp. 317
Service, Alastair. 'The Architect's Department of the London County Council 1884-1914' in Edwardian Architecture and its Origins. Edited by Alastair Service. London: The Architectural Press Ltd., 1975 pp. 406-411
Who's Who in Architecture 1923. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: Architectural Press, 1923