Robert Walker was born in Crosthwaite, Westmorland or Wythburn Cumberland, England in in September 1841 and was articled to John Cunningham in Liverpool, England in 1862. He was subsequently clerk to the County Surveyor of Westmorland and clerk of of works to a builder.
He commenced practice in Kendal and Windermere, Westmorland [now Cumbria] in 1877 and worked alone until 1903 when he formed a partnership with his son, Frank Hugh Walker (1882-1958) and James Carter (c.1876-?) as Walker, Carter & Walker.
Robert Walker was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1893. Within a week of forming a partnership with his son and Carter, he died in Windermere, Cumbria on 10 June 1903.
Despite the death of Walker senior, the title of the firm was retained and remained unchanged until at least 1939
Architectural work by Robert Walker included the Carver Memorial Congregational Church in Windermere, Westmorland (1879); Baptist Chapel and School in Kirkby Stephen, Westmorland (1890-91); Masonic Temple in Windermere, Westmorland (1893); the Parish Room in Carnforth, Lancashire (1893); branch of the Liverpool Bank in Bowness, Windermere, Westmorland (1893); Board School in Marsh, Lancaster, Lancashire (1895); Board School no 2 in Lancaster, Lancashire (1896); Laundry at The Crosses in Windermere, Westmorland (1896); the Hospital in Windermere, Westmorland (1896); Victoria Mills in Kendal, Westmorland for E. W. Thomson & Co. (1897); 7 cottages in Little Langdale, Westmorland for Buttermere Green Slate Co. (1897); Girls' and Infants' Schools in Castle Street, Kendal, Westmorland (1898); Billiard Room and Library in Loughrigg, Ambleside, Westmorland (1898); and Post Office in Windermere, Westmorland (1900).
Architectural projects by Walker, Carter & Walker included Grizedale Hall in Hawkeshead in Westmorland (1905-07); Kelsick Grammar School in Ambleside in Westmorland (1907-08); Bank Premises in Windermere in Westmorland (1909); house near Lake Windermere, Westmorland (1912); war memorial in Windermere, Westmorland (1922-23); Royalty Cinema in Bowness-on-Windermere, Westmorland (1925); police station in Windermere, Westmorland (1927).
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
'Obituary'. Royal Institute of British Architects Journal vol. 10, 1903 p. 460