Ernest Tellwright Watkin was born in Stone, Staffordshire, England on 5 April 1876 and was articled to Elijah Jones (1855-1937) in Hanley, Staffordshire from 1891 to 1896. He also attended the Wedgwood Institute [later renamed Burslem School of Art] in Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire]. He commenced independent practice as an architect in Burslem in 1907 and was in partnership with John Brittain Adams (1887-1954) from 1910 to 1921; with Frank Morrall Maddox (1889-1964) from 1923 to 1937; with R. J. Wills from 1945; and with George Cooper (1913-?) from 1948.
Watkin was elected a Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (LRIBA) in 1911 and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1931. He was also a member of the Staffordshire Architectural Association and its President.
His address was given as Swan Chambers, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent in 1911 and 1926; Old Bank Chambers, Stoke-on-Trent in 1914; Elmwood, Cobridge, Stoke-on-Trent in 1914 and 1920; National Provincial Bank Chambers, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent in 1930 and 1939; Grange Cottage, Waterloo Road, Burslem, Stoke-on-Trent in 1930; and "The White House", Whitmore, North Staffordshire in 1939. He died in Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire on 13 July 1955
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32 branch shops (Including two large emporiums) for the Burslem Cooperative Society; English Church, Medicine Hat, Canada; warehouse and factory buildings, Stoke-on-Trent; large block of shop premises, Queen Street, Burslem; football ground, Hanley, for Port Vale Football Club, Ltd.; Church and Sunday School, Newcastle, Staffs; Cripples' Orthopaedic Hospital, Hartshlll, Stoke-on-Trent; Cripples' Orthopaedic Hospital, Biddulph. N. Staffs; colour works, Burslem, and Stoke-on-Trent; Mines Rescue Station, Stoke-on-Trent: new offices for the N. Staffs Colliery Owners Association; large number of country and town residences
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