William Ernest Watson [also known as Wally Watson] was born in Sheffield, Yorkshire, England in 1880. From 1893 to 1897 he worked in the office of Sir M.R. Shaw-Stewart on the Ardgowan Estate in Greenock, Scotland where he trained as a surveyor. From 1898 to 1901, he was articled to John James Burnet (1857-1938) of Burnet & Son in Glasgow during which time he attended classes at Glasgow School of Art. and the Royal Technical College in Glasgow. He then worked as an assistant to William Douglas Caröe (1857-1938) in London from 1901 to 1905. Watson qualified as an architect in 1905 and later that year was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA).
From 1905 to 1911 he was employed as head draughtsman in the office of William James Ancell (1852-1913) in London. In 1911 [or 1908 - sources differ] he commenced independent practice at 53 Chancery Lane, London.
Watson was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1913. He was also an Associate of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors (ARICS), and an Associate Member of the Town Planning Institute (AMTPI). He was sub-editor of 'The Hospital', for which he wrote several articles on hospital construction and decoration. He also wrote a number of books and articles on building contracts, practice and arbitration.
His address was given as Linthwaite, Laleham, Staines, Middlesex in 1909; 37 Norfolk Street, Strand, London in 1919; and 5 Paper Buildings, Temple, London, and 6 Gray's Inn Place, London in 1939. He died on 12 January 1950.
Cresswell, H. B. ‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal RIBA Journal vol. 57, April 1950 p. 245
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’. RIBA Journal vol. 57, February 1950 p.160