William Henry Syme was born in Edinburgh, Midlothian, Scotland on 15 April 1845 and was articled to John Dick Peddie (1824-1891) and George Hood Kinnear (1830-1894) in Edinburgh from 1859 to 1864. He then moved to the office of David Bryce (1803-1876) as an improver in London from 1864 to 1867. From 1867 to 1869 he worked as an assistant to Benjamin Ferrey (1810-1880) and Edward Cookworthy Robins (1830-1918). From 1869 he was responsible for the design and superintending of all buildings on a number of estates.
Syme commenced independent practice as an architect in Watford, Hertfordshire in 1876. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1875 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1889
His address was given as 52 High Street, Watford in 1886; High Street, Chesham, Buckinghamshire (1886); 4 High Street, Watford, Hertfordshire in 1894 and 1910; 58a, Vicarage Road, Watford, Hertfordshire in 1914. He died in Tonbridge, Kent on 7 July 1926.
St. Matthew's Church, and Chalk Hill Baptist Chapel, both near Bushey Station: Watford Tabernacle; Watford Public Library and Technical School: St. Alban's Public Library and School of Science and Art; Watford Conservative Club: "Alexandra" Board School; "Chater" County Council School and others in Watford; Whitehill Board School, Chesham; "Reveley" Almshouses, and several schools In Bushey; work for Watford Board of Guardians and Urban District Council; also many houses, shops, and factories, and additions to Penn House, Bucks, for Lord Howe
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