Martin & Martin originated as Martin & Chamberlain, an architectural partnership formed in Birmingham, England in 1864 by William Hippisley Martin (1828-1900) and John Henry Chamberlain (1831-1883). Following the death of Chamberlain in 1883, Martin's son Frederick William Martin (1859-1917) became a partner in the practice. His younger brother, Herbert Martin (1862-1946) later also joined the firm. The practice retained the title Martin & Chamberlain until 1901, however, after the death of William Hippisley Martin it was renamed Martin & Martin.
After Frederick William Martin's death in 1917 his son, Cyril Frederick Martin (1887-1981) joined Herbert Martin as a partner together with together with William Henry Ward (1878-?).
Between the early 1885 and 1901 Martin & Chamberlain designed, altered or worked on additions to numerous schools for the Birmingham School Board. Other works by the practice included St. John the Evangelist Church, Sparkhill, Birmingham (1888); Water Tower for Victoria Park, Small Heath, Birmingham (1888); Factory and warehouse for Southall Bros. and Barclay, Dalton Street, Birmingham (1889); Electricity Sub Station, Bristol Road, Selly Oak, Birmingham (1890); Stabling and mess rooms for Small Arms Co., Golden Hillock Road, Small Heath, Birmingham (1890); Pumping Station, Longrodge (1890-91); Small Heath Free Library and Public Baths, Green Lane, Small Heath, Birmingham (1894); Offices and Exchange for National Telephone Co., 17-19, Newhall Steet, Birmingham (1896); Hollymoor Mental Hospital for Birmingham Corporation (1896-1905); Stores, Fleet Street, Birmingham for National Telephone Co. (1899); Shop, Oliver Street, Birmingham for Brampton Bros. (1899); New baths and engineer's house, Green Lane, Bordesley for Birmingham Parks and Baths Department (1900).
Shackley, Barbara. ‘Frederick William’ in Birmingham’s Victorian and Edwardian Architects, edited by Phillada Ballard. Wetherby, Yorkshire: Oblong Creative for the Birmingham and West Midlands Group of the Victorian Society, 2009 pp. 338-363