Frederick William Roberts was born in Manchester, Lancashire, England on 24 March 1859. He was articled to Henry John Snell (?-1924) in Plymouth, Hampshire for five years and remained with him for a further two years as his assistant. He then worked as an assistant to Henry Charles Samson (1837-1924) in Taunton, Somerset, and to Thomas Hammet, Divisional Engineer of the Great Western railway, for nine years.
Roberts established his own independent architectural practice in Taunton in 1892 and remained in practice in Taunton for the rest of his career as an architect. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1906. His address was given as Northbrook Lodge, Taunton, Somerset in 1908 and 1914; and 2, Hammett Street, Taunton, Somerset in 1906 and 1932 He died in Taunton, Somerset on 18 July 1932.
Large and small country houses; large additions to the Manor, Staplegrove, Taunton; to Watts House, Bishop's Lydcard; to Halaway Manor, Stogumber; to Bishopmead, Taunton; to Chapel Cleeve, Blue Anchor. Numerous detached country cottages ; large elementary school, Taunton; Askwlth Memorial School, Taunton. Alterations and additions to numerous country schools. Hostels (or 60 boys, and other blocks at Taunton School Taunton; Chapel and Sunday Schools, Wellington; Hotels at Taunton and Minehead; alterations and additions to numerous hotels and other licensed premises; Electric Light Power Station, Taunton; large additions to factories and mills; laying out of seven large estates: 300 working-class dwellings, Taunton, and 80 at Wellington: Masonic Hall, and Young Men's Institute, Minehead; farmhouses and farm buildings, and various other works in connection with a large general practice.
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