John William Southall [commonly known as William Southall] was born in Barnet, Hertfordshire, England in 1870. He was articled to C. Greenhalgh in 1884 and remained with him as his assistant until 1890. He also worked as an assistant in architectural offices in Manchester, Dorchester, and to William Eyre (1865-1957) in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. He commenced independent practice as an architect in Gainsborough in 1894. He was in partnership with Eyre from 1894 to 1899 following which he practised alone in Retford, Nottinghamshire. He was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911. His address was given as 81 Wentworth Lane, Hallam, Sheffield in 1871; 19 Prospect Terrace, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in 1881; 84 Trinity Street, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire in 1891; Bridgegate, Retford, Nottinghamshire in 1901 and 1910; and Chapelgate, Retford, Nottinghamshire in 1910 and 1933. He died in East Retford, Nottinghamshire in 1936.
Architectural projects by John William Southall and Eyre and Southall included numerous private houses in Retford; Beckingham Methodist Chapel in Beckingham cum Saundby, Nottinghamshire (1895); the Post Office in Gaionsborough, Lincolnshire (1904); John Coupland Hospital in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire (1913); Mason’s Arms, Spital Hill, Retford, Nottinghamshire (1925); and Half Moon Public House in Retford, Nottinghamshire (1928)
Other architectural projects by Jouhn William Southall: Workhouse Infirmary, Retford: Wesleyan church, and board schools, ai Beckingham; Stockwith board schools; Fanny Marshall memorial hall; hotels in Retford, Gainsboro, Worksop and Bawtry: secondary school; Notts Bank: National Provincial Bank; restoration of E. Retford Church; Ordsall Hall and grounds, for L. J. Firth, Esq.; business premises for Messrs. Fletchers; Bancroft Dye Works, Retford; motor works and garage, for Clark and Sons; furniture warehouse and factory, offices, sale room, and ball room; Housing scheme, Retford, Rural District Council. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1923]
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