Marshall Arnott Sisson [commonly known as Marshall Sisson] was born in Gloucester, Gloucestershire, England on 14 February 1897. After working with a builder and an architect, he trained under James Burford (1894-?) and Albert Richardson (1880-1964) at the Bartlett School of Architecture, University College, London and won a scholarship to the British School in Rome. He was also a student at the British School of Archaeology in Athens. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1927 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects FRIBA) in 1935.
After a short period in an architect's office in New York, he established his own practice in London in 1928. Sisson's early houses were noted for combining modern design and planning with the use of traditional materials.
Sisson's practice relocated to Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire. Later in his career he was joined by Peter Foster (1919-2010) who subsequently became a partner, and then, following Sisson's retirement in 1971, sole principal of the practice. Foster was very much a traditionalist whose work included numerous church restorations.
In addition to his work as an architect Sisson was also a painter. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in London in 1937, and then again most years from 1951 to 1970.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Academy (ARA) in 1956, a Royal Academician (RA) in 1963, and a Senior Royal Academician in 1972. He was Master of the RA Architectural School, and Treasurer from 1965 to 1970.
Sisson was the author of Country Cottages (London: Methuen, 1949).
Sisson's address was given as 3 Staple Inn, Holborn, London in 1928 and 1936; Sherman's, Dedham, near Colchester, Essex in 1939; Farm Hall, Godmanchester, Huntingdonshire in 1951 and 1970
He died on 26 January 1978. His death was registered in Cambridge
The papers of Marshall Arnot Sisson are kept at the Royal Institute of British Architects Library, London
A house in Newnham, Cambridgeshire (1934) for the then Laurence Professor of Classical Archaeology and his wife; Gull Rock House in Portreath, Redruth, Cornwall (1933-34); public library in Colchester, Essex (1937); restoration of Thorington Hall, Suffolk (1937); conversion of St. George's Hall, King's Lynn into an Arts Centre (1951); Orchard Building, Pembroke College, Cambridge (1957); buildings for the University of Durham (1960–62). During the post-Second World War years Sissons was engaged in the restoration and conservation of war-damaged buildings. In the late 1950s he was engaged on the rebuilding of Okeover Hall, a Grade II* listed country house in Okeover, Staffordshire
Bettley, James. ‘Marshall Sisson 1897-1978’. Royal Institute of British Architects. Transactions vol. 1, no. 2, 1982, pp. 93-100.
Musson, Jeremy. ‘Thorington Hall, Suffolk’. [Restoration of Thorington Hall, Suffolk by Marshall Sisson in 1937] Country Life vol. 193, no. 5, 4 February 1999 pp. 38-41
Powers, Alan. Modern. The Modern Movement in Britain. London: Merrell, 2005
Walker, L. E. ‘St. George's Hall, King's Lynn, converted as Arts Centre’. [Architect: Marshall Sisson] Country Life 118 November 949 phouse in Newnham, Cambridgep. 1521-1524.
Walker, L. E. ‘St. George's Hall, King's Lynn, converted as Arts Centre’. [Architect: Marshall Sisson] The Builder 31 August 1951 pp. 290-293
‘Marshall Arnott Sisson (1897-1978)’. RIBA journal vol. 85, no. 4, April 1978, p. 154.
‘Marshall Sisson dies on 26th January 1978, aged 80’ Building vol. 234, no. 7022, 3 February 1978 p. 36
'Obituary: Mr Marshall Sisson’. Royal Society of Arts. Journal vol. 126, no. 5260, March 1978 p. 240
‘St. John's, Smith Square, London borough of Westminster’ [Architect: M. Sisson]. Architectural Review May 1972 pp. 278-280