Arthur Frederick Usher was born in Whitechapel, Middlesex [now London], England in 1867 and was baptised on 27 November 1867. He was articled to Thomas Goodchild (1831?-1885) in 1884 and to Arthur Billing (1824-1896) from 1885 to 1888. He then worked as an assistant to William Muskett Yetts (1859-1924) and Francis John Sturdy (1853-1942) of Yetts & Sturdy from 1888 to 1897. He also attended the Royal Academy Schools in London.
Usher commenced independent practice in London in 1897 and was in partnership with Yetts and Sturdy as Yetts, Sturdy & Usher from that year. The partnership was dissolved in May 1932
Usher was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1907. His address was given Newlands Knolly's Road, Streatham, Surrey in 1891; 29 Clyde Road, Wallington, Surrey in 1907; 45 Finsbury Pavement, London in 1907 and 1914; Branscombe, Woodcote Park Road Woodcote Side Park, Epsom in 1911; 115, Moorgate, London in 1923 and 1926; 34 Gordon Square, London in 1930; and Penang, Guildford Road, Great Bookham, Surrey in 1932. He died in Leatherhead, Surrey on 21 August 1932.
Houses at Wallington, Nunhead, and Esher; Premises, West Smithfield; cottages. Bat and Ball Station, Sevenoaks; depository. City Road; factory, Harlesden; Green Arbour House, Old Bailey, EC.; alterations: — The Priory, Pembury; Holborn Viaduct Hotel; York Terrace, Regent's Park. Foundations over Fleet Sewer, New Bridge Street; additions, alterations, and extensions, shop fronts, etc., for Thomas Wallis and Co.; decorations, etc., Sandown Lodge, Esher; additions Walpole Home, Wallington.
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