Frederick Thorpe [also known as Fred Thorpe] was born in Oldham, Lancashire, England on 16 March 1880. He was articled to Thomas Taylor in Oldham from 1896- to 1901 and remained as his assistant until 1906. Thorpe commenced practice in Oldham in 1906 and in Uppermill in 1909. From 1939 to 1964 he was in partnership with Gordon Philip Whyman (1909-2013) as Thorpe & Whyman in Oldham. In c.1945 Harry Briggs joined the partnership which was renamed Thorpe Whyman and Briggs.
Thorpe was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911 and was admitted a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1925.
His address was given as 7 Clegg Street, Oldham and Manor House, Grasscroft, Greenfield, Oldham in 1911; Morlands, Greenfield, Oldham in 1914; Union Bank Chambers, Church Lane, Oldham in 1914 and 1939; and 138 Oldham Road, Grasscroft, Saddlesworth, Yorkshire in 1939. Thorpe died in Garstang, Lancashire on 9 January 1971
Co-operative Stores, Oldham; Garden Suburb Greenfield; private residences, Greenfield and Shaw; dyeworks, English Velvet and Cord Dyers' Association, Ltd; Y.M.C.A., Oldham; Lydgate Church, Yorks; business premises, Manchester Street, Oldham; housing scheme, Oldham Co-operative Society: Mission Church, Oldham; lay-out of lands, Vancouver, Canada. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
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