Ernest Simister was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England on 1 November 1877. He was articled to Thomas Taylor (1859-1943) in Oldham from 1894 to 1899 and remained with him as his assistant until 1907. He also studied at Manchester School of Art. In 1913 he formed a partnership, Taylor & Simister, with Thomas Taylor in Oldham. They were joined by Taylor's son, John Alexander Chisholm Taylor (1890-?) in 1919. The partnership was dissolved in 1937 following which which Ernest Simister practised alone until 1955 when John Sutcliffe joined him in partnership. Simister was Surveyor to the Halifax Building Society
Simister was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1921. His address was given as 177 Manchester Street Oldham in 1881; Werneth Hall Road, Oldham in 1901; 194 Coppice Street, Oldham in 1911; 29 Queen Street, Oldham, Lancashire in 1911 and 1926; York Chambers, 40 Yorkshire Street, Oldham in 1937 and 1939; and 76 Windsor Road, Oldham in 1959. He died in Oldham, Lancashire on 13 January 1959
Extensions to Oldham Royal Infirmary; Oldham Town Hall; Chadderton Municipal Buildings; Convent of Mercy, Werneth Grange; Oldham Workhouse. Hospital and Operating Theatre and Nurses Home; Grand Theatre and Opera House, Oldham; Church Institute, workshops, &c. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
For an additional list of architectural works by Ernest Simister see the entry on Taylor & Simister in Architects of Greater Manchester 1800-1940
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