Waterhouse, Percy Leslie 1864 - 1932

Percy Leslie Waterhouse was born in Hobart, Tasmania, Australia on 15 January 1864. He subsequently moved to the England where between 1883 and 1886 he studied mathematics at Christ College, Cambridge, and attended Professor James Stuart workshop in engineering and mechanical science in Cambridge. He then worked as an assistant in the office of the architect Joseph Gibbons Sankey (1860-1898) in Cambridge in 1887. Following which he moved to London and attended South Kensington School of Art. He worked in the offices of Ernest George (1839-1922) and Harold Ainsworth Peto (1854-1933) in 1888-89; and James Osborne-Smith (1847-1928) in 1890-91.

Waterhouse qualified as an architect in 1892 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1893. He commenced practice as an independent architect in London in 1894, and in 1902 formed a partnership, Hart & Waterhouse, with Alfred Henry Hart (1866-1953). Projects by the practice included offices for the Canada Emigration Department at 9 Charing Cross, London in 1902; Parkside at Albert Gate, London in 1908; additions to Cuddesden College, Oxford in 1909; and an office building for Willing Advertising at 356 Gray's Inn Road, London in 1909.

Waterhouse was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1900.   He was the author of The Story of Architecture (London: Hodder & Stoughton, 1901).  

His address was given as Leonard House, Upper Tulse Hill, London in 1892; 9 Staple Inn, Holborn, London in 1900; 1 Verulam Buildings, Grays Inn, London in 1904 and 1932; and Shotover College Avenue, Epsom, Surrey in 1909 and 1922.  He died in Epsom, Surrey, England on 29 October 1932. Following his death Hart became the sole partner of Hart & Waterhouse which he continued to run until 1938, retaining the original title of the business.