Percy Scott Worthington [also known as Sir Percy Worthington] was born in Crumpshall, near Manchester, England on 31 January 1864. His father, Thomas Worthington (1826-1909) was an architect, as was brother, John Hubert Worthington (1886-1963), his son, Thomas Shirley Scott Worthington (1900-81) and his cousin, Thomas Locke Worthington.
After studying at Corpus Christi College, Oxford, P.S. Worthington was articled to his father in Manchester during which time he studied at Manchester School of Art. He then moved to London where he worked as an assistant to John MacVicar Anderson (1886-1963). He also attended University College London and the Royal Academy Schools in London. He then returned to Manchester where, in 1889 [or 1891 - sources differ], he was made a partner in his father's firm, which became Thomas Worthington & Son. Following the death of Worthington senior, P.S. Worthington continued the practice with his brother, John Hubert Worthington as Thomas Worthington & Sons. Later, his son, Thomas Shirley Scott Worthington, also joined the partnership.
Photographs and a ground-floor plan of 'Barrows Green', near Kendal, oak chairs, and a hall fireplace designed by Worthington are featured in 'The Studio Yearbook of Decorative Art' 1908 (illustrations B74, B, B75, B107, B108, B115, B121, B129). Between 1889-1921 Worthington exhibited at the Royal Academy in London, the Scottish Royal Academy in Edinburgh, and at Manchester City Art Gallery.
He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1890, and a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA) in 1906. He was the recipient of the RIBA Silver Medal (Essays) in 1889, the Donaldson Medal from University College, and the RIBA Royal Gold Medal in 1930. He was appointed a member of the Royal Fine Art Commission in 1925 and in 1935 was knighted for services to architecture. He was also President of the Manchester Society of Architects.
In addition to his work as an architect, Worthington also designed furniture and fireplaces.
He died in Gorsey Brow in Mobberley, Cheshire, England, on 15 July 1939.
Halifax Royal Infirmary; Hull Royal Infirmary (additions); Prestwich Union Infirmary, Blackley; Manchester and Salford Hospital for Skin Diseases; Manchester Ear Hospital; Ancoats Hospital Convalescent Home, Warford, Cheshire; Cheadle Royal Asylum, chapel, lodges, cottages. &c.; Cheadle Royal Asylum Convalescent, Home at Colwyn Bay; Manchester Royal Infirmary, central receiving branch for accidents and outpatients. Stockport Infirmary, additions. Public Baths, Altringham ; Union Bank of Manchester Branches — Piccadilly branch Manchester, and Alderley Edge; Lloyds Bank — branches at Sale and Broadheath; Law Union and Crown Insurance Co. Head Office, Manchester; Hulme Hall — Men's Hall of Residence, Manchester University; Ashbourne Hall — Women's Hall of Residence, Manchester University; Arts Building, Manchester University; School at Petersfield, Hants. Additions to Manchester College, Oxford. Houses at Ambleside; Warford. Cheshire; Manchester (additions); Alderley Edge; Warford; Nr. Kendal; How Caple Court, Shropshire (additions); Colshaw Hall (additions); Gawsworth Hall, Cheshire (large alterations and additions); Radbroke Hall, Peover, Cheshire, Knutsford; Chester; &c. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1914]
___
Manchester University: — *Building for the Faculty of Arts; Hulme Hall residence for Men Students; *Ashburne Hall residence for Women Students. Offices for: — Liverpool, London and Globe Insurance Go.; Law Union and Crown Insurance Co., Manchester; Union Bank of Manchester, Piccadilly, Manchester; and at Alderley Edge; Lloyds Bank at Sale, and Broadheath, Cheshire. Ullet Road Church and Hall, Liverpool: the Arlosh Hall and Tower, Manchester College, Oxford; Hospitals: — Halifax Royal Infirmary; Hull Royal Infirmary (additions); Hinckley Infirmary, near Manchester; Manchester Royal Infirmary, Central Branch for Accidents and Out-Patients; Manchester and Salford Hospital for Skin Diseases; Manchester Ear Hospital; Barton-upon-Irwell Union Infirmary ; Ancoats Hospital — *Nurses' Home and Convalescent Home; Cheadle Royal Asylum — convalescent home, chapel, lodges and farm house; Stockport Infirmary — Out-Patients' Dept-, Nurses' Home, etc. Houses: — for George Wragge, Esq., Knutsford, Cheshire; L. B. Lee, Esq., How Caple Court, Herefordshire; J. G. Peel, Esq., Colshaw Hall, Cheshire: Prof. Sir Arthur Schuster, F.R.S., etc., alterations and additions, Yeldhall Manor; Ernest Frank, Esq., Prestbury, Cheshire; A. Bateson, Esq., Foxcomb Hill, near Oxford, etc. Village club and cottages. Cranage, Cheshire; War memorials : — Leek, *Alderley Edge; Tarporley, Mobberley, Cheshire; and Whalley, Lancashire.
* In conjunction with J. H. Worthington
[Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1923]
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
Hyde, Matthew and Whittaker, Esmé. Arts and Crafts houses in the Lake District. London: Francis Lincoln Limited, 2014
Newton, W. G. ‘Percy Scott Worthington’.. RIBA Journal vol. 46, 14 August 1939 pp. 950-952
'Obituary'. Architect & Building News vol. 159, 21 July 1939 p. 65
‘Obituary’. Architect’s Journal vol. 90, 20 July 1939 p. 91
‘Obituary’. Builder vol. 157, 21 July 1939 p. 100
‘Obituary’. RIBA Journal vol. 46, 18 September 1939 p. 983
‘The Royal Gold Mdal, presentation to Mr Percy Scott Worthington’. RIBA Journal vol. 37, 1929-30 pp. 359-368
Who's Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914
Who's Who in Architecture 1923. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1923