Frederick Rowntree [also known as Fred Rowntree] was born in Scarborough, Yorkshire, England, in 1860. He was articled to Charles A. Bury in Scarborough from 1876 to 1880. He then went as an improver to the office of Edward Burgess (c1848-1929) in London, and served as clerk of works in Leicestershire. In 1885 Rowntree set up his own independent office in Scarborough. In 1890 he relocated his practice to London. Later that year he went into partnership with Malcolm Starck in Glasgow. The partnership dissolved in 1900 and Rowntree returned to London where he opened a new practice in Hammersmith.
In 1912 he formed a partnership with his son Douglas Woodville Rowntree (1888-1966) as Fred Rowntree & Son. In 1919 a second son, Colin Rowntree (1891-1963), joined the practice which was renamed Fred Rowntree & Sons.
During his years in Glasgow Rowntree collaborated with the architect and designer George Walton (1867-1933) on a number of projects. These included the design of a fancy fair stage set for the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists in Glasgow (1891), the design of the Arts and Crafts Exhibition Society's exhibition at the Queen's Rooms, London (1895), the design of John Rowntree & Sons Café in Scarborough, Yorkshire (1895), the design a fancy fair at the Lady's Club in Blythswood Square, Glasgow (1895) the remodelling of Glenbank in Lenzie, Scotland (1896), the design of a gallery at the Lady's Club in Blythswood Square, Glasgow (1896), the design of a tea room and extensions at William Rowntree's department store in Scarborough, Yorkshire (1896), the design of the workshops of George Walton & Co. in Glasgow (1899), and the design of Aultwharrie in Dunblane, Scotland (1900).
Other notable works by Rowntree included several Meeting Houses and Schools for the Society of Friends (Quakers), the Scottish Temparance Life Assurance Building in London (1906). and West China University at Chentu in Szechuan, China (1912). Photographs of entrance halls at Scalby, Yorkshire, and a library at York designed by Rowntree are illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1907 (pp.68, 69), photographs of the interior and exterior of a cottage at Beaconsfield, Buckinghamshire, designed by him are illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1910 (p.71), and photographs of a house at Bransby, Yorkshire, designed by him are illustrated in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1912 (p.62).
Following World War One, Rowntree collaborated with the architects Arthur Joseph Penty (1875-1937) and Charles Sydney Spooner (1862-1938) in a scheme to employ Belgian refugees in the prefabrication of buildings in Belgium. Rowntree was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1905. He exhibited at the Walker Art Gallery in Liverpool and at the Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts between 1904- and 1907. He died in Hammersmith, London, on 7 January 1927.
Scottish Temperance Life Insurance Buildings (Cheapside). Public Schools for the Society of Friends: Bootham School, York: the Mount School. York; Sidcot School, Somerset; Ackworth School, Yorkshire. Private Preparatory Boarding School, Scarborough. Home for Physically Defective Children, Clacton-on-Sea. Friends Meeting Houses: Scarborough, Hampstead, Golder's Green, &c. Village Halls: Bainbridge and Scalby. Institutes: Walthamstow. Forest Gate. Also the following large residences amongst a large number throughout England: Myddelton Lodge", Ilkley; Moor Allerton Hall, Leeds: "Oxhey Grange", Bushey; "The Low Hall, Scalby: "Mytten", Cuckfleld, Sussex; " Pilmuir, Torquay: " Cherry Hill", Brandsby: "Butts Close" York; " Lavender Croft," Hitchln; "Highdown Wood", Milford, Surrey; &c, &c.
[Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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*West China Union University, Chengtu, West China; Bootham School, York (boarding school for boys); the Mount School, York (boarding school for girls); Ackworth School, Yorkshire, science buildings and gymnasium; Sidcot School, Winscombe ("Co-education" School); Orleton College, Scarborough (preparatory school for boys): *Friends' Public School, Leighton Park, Reading: *Edgehill College, Bideford, N. Devon: Doncaster Grammar School, science buildings; *Friends' Sch., Saffron Walden; *Enham Village Centre Orthopaedic Hospital; *Ogilvie School for Physically Defective Children, Clacton-on- Sea; Central Offices, Cocoa Works, York; Scottish Temperance Life Assurance Buildings, Nos. 1-3, Cheapside; *Newspaper House, Fleet Street, London; *W. Rowntree and Sons business premises, Scarborough; cafes: Carlisle, *Filey, 'Scarborough; swimming baths: York and Hucknall; *Public Park and recreation grounds, York; *St. John's Presbyterian Church, Northwood; Frlends' Meeting Houses: Scarborough, Hampstead, *Golden Green, and *Muswell Hill; *Jordan's Village, Bucks, lay-out and cottages. Domestic work: " Cherry Hill", Brandsby (Yorks); "Butts Close", and "The Homestead," York; "The Low Hall", Scalby; "Pilmuir", Torquay; " Braeside", Reigate: "Lavender Croft", and *"Whitehill Close,"' Hitchin; *"Lavender Leez", Little Leighs (Essex); "Oxhey Grange", Bushey; *Highdown Wood, Hambledon: *Oak Lawn, Wimbledon Park; *Caesar's Camp, Wimbledon Common; *"Orchards", Chelmsford; *Elmslie and *"Altons", Beaconsfield; *"Canfield Farm", Stebbing (Essex); etc.
* In conjunction with Douglas W., and Colin Rowntree, AA.R.I.B.A. (sons), as partners.
[Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
For an additional list of architectural projects by Frederick Rowntree see the Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980 [link below]
Button, Roger. Arts and Crafts Churches of Great Britain: Architects, Craftsmen and Patrons.. Settle, North Yorkshire: 2QT Ltd. (Publishing) Ltd., 2020
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
Hamilton, Alec. Arts & Crafts Churches. London: Lund Humphries, 2020
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 132, 14 January 1927 p. 88
‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 132, 28 January 1927 p. 150
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 34, 5 February 1927 p. 255
Robson, Peter. Fred Rowntree, Architect: Some Notes on His Life. York: Newby Books, 2014
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1926