Herbert Winkler Wills was born in London, England on 6 June 1863. He was articled to Henry Cowell Boys (1846?-1900) in 1882 and remained with him as his assistant. He also studied at South Kensington School of Art, University College, London, and attended classes at the Architectural Association in London. He was awarded the Donaldson Silver Medal for 1884-85. He worked in the office of Ernest George (1839-1922) and Harold Ainsworth Peto (1854-1933) of Ernest George & Peto, and Charles Follen McKim (1847-1909), William Rutherford Mead (1846-1928) and Stanford White (1853-1906) of McKim, Mead & White in New York; and Henry Vaughan (1845-1917) in Boston, Massachusetts. Wills qualified as an architect in 1887 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) later that year.
In early 1892 he moved to Vancouver, British Columbia where he formed a partnership with Robert Mackay Fripp (1858-1917) as Fripp & Wills. The partnership was dissolved later that year and Wills returned to London. He then opened an office in Swansea, Wales in 1892. In 1898 he formed a partnership with John Anderson (1872-1962) in London as Wills & Anderson. The partnership was dissolved in 1913. He then moved back to London where he formed a partnership with William Kaula (1886-1972) in late 1913.
Wills was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1913. In addition to his work as an architect, Wills was editor of 'The Builder from 1913 to 1918, and 'The Architect & Contract Reporter' from 1918 to 1926.
His address was given as Wylde Gardens, Sutton Coldfield, Warwickshire in 1871; 9 Eaton Crescent, Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales in 1901; Southside, Austen Wood Common, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire in 1911 and 1923; and 3, Southampton Street, Bloomsbury Square, London in 1914 and 1926. He died in London on 1 February 1937.
A Biographical file on Herbert Winkler Wills is available on request from the Enquiry Desk, Royal Institute of British Architects Library, London
With Robert Mackay Fripp (Fripp & Wills): Commercial block for J.M. Spinks, R.G. McKay and Dr. Powell, on Pender Street, Vancouver (1892-93); Delmonico Hotel, Pender Street at Seymour Street, Vancouver (1892); residence of Judge William W. Spink, Sechelt, British Columbia (1892); Vancouver Athletic Societies Building, Pender Street at Howe Street, Vancouver (1892); British Columbia Land & Investment Co. block, Hastings Street at Homer Street, Vancouver (1892).
With John Anderson (Wills & Anderson): Town Hall, Sunderland (1902) and extension to Town Hall (1904); Public Baths, Chelsea, London (1907); and Public Library, London Road, Greenwich, London (1907);
With William Kaula (Wills & Kaula): Horticultural College in Swanley, Kent; "Townsend House, the headquarters of the Girl's Friendly Society in Westminster, London; the Howard de Walden Estate in Central London; "Abbey Lodge" in Regents Park, London; 48 Grosvenor Square, London; flats in Church Street, Kensington, London; housing schemes for Amersham Rural District Council; an exhibition stand for Siemens; 82 Portland Place, London; 2 Mansfield Street, London; . Newton House, Kensington, London; a new porch for the Carmelite Church in Kensington, London; 53 and 55 Harley Street, London; Great Cumberland Place, London; "Addison Cottage, Napier Road, London; 19 Weymouth Street, London; "Beachfield in Radlett, Hertfordshire; Maltmans Cottage in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire; house at Gold Hill Common in Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire; House in Harewood Downs, Buckinghamshire; Farmside Cottage in Northwood, London; "Windover" in Alfriston, Sussex; "Lower Laines in Alfriston, Sussex; workmen's cottages in Radlett, Hertfordshire; and the Registry Office for the University of Wales, Cardiff.
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
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
W. H. Wills. W. Kaula Architects. Geneva: Publishers “Masters of Architecture, 1930
‘Obituary’. The Builder, 5 February 1937, p. 305
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 44, 1937, pp. 517-518