Archive of the Liverpool University educated architect, academic architect at the university and town-planner, Wesley Dougill, who died suddenly at the age of 50 in 1943 while working as Chief Town Planning Assistant for the London County Council, planning post-war reconstruction. Dougill (1893 -1943) was a much admired draughtsman, architect and town planner who having survived World War 1 was preparing at his death to take on the challenges of the post WW2 period to build a better England.
Wesley Dougill was born in Aysgarth, Yorkshire, England on 6 March 1893. In 1919 he entered the University of Liverpool School of Architecture where he was awarded a B.Arch. and Certificate in Civic Design in 1922, and an M.A. in 1924. He was also awarded the RIBA Measured Drawing Medal in 1923, was a finalist in the Prix de Rome Scholarship in Architecture, coming second and winner of the Godwin and Wimperis Bursary in 1935. This award allowed him to travel in Italy from 1919-1921 (sketchbooks below) He was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) and returned to the University of Liverpool to take up the dual posts of senior lecturer and research fellow. He was an active member of the Town Planning Institute and extensively researched town planning schemes both in Britain and abroad. He wrote about the English village and became the recognised authority on English coastal preservation and development. He was co-editor of Town Planning from 1926 and editor from 1935. In 1940 he was appointed Chief Town Planning Assistant for London County Council and in the early 1940s was asked by John Henry Forshaw, Chief Architect and Planning Officer to the LCC to work with Patrick Abercrombie on the development of the London Plan. Although he didn't live to see the publication of the report, Dougill saw through the preparation of the completed plan before suddenly passing away. Provenance: widow Ileene Dougill and daughter Patricia Dougill.
3 SKETCHBOOKS from Dougill’s time in Italy as a Prix de Rome recipient dated 1919-1921 which bring together his continental inspirations with his passion for English vernacular architecture. Two oblong 12mo containing personal sketches full of small portraits, silhouettes, landscapes. caricatures, floor plans, architectural details and facades. One oblong 4to containing detailed measured architectural drawings. Drawings include ‘Pattern of floor tiling from St Maria, Rome’, ‘Church at Tre Fontane, Rome’, ‘Fountain in Piazza near S.P in Vincolo Rome’, ‘Giardino del Lago Villa Borglet, Rome’ and ‘San Georgio Maggiore, Venice’. Ownership signature to front paste down reads ‘W Dougill, British School, Valle Giulia, Rome’.
c50 small format photographs by Dougill of the Palazzo Uffizi, Florence and Milan from the highest point of the cathedral.
Two ACADEMIC CERTIFICATES awarded in respect of Dougill's achievement at The University of Liverpool. One certificate marks a first class certificate in Civic Design and another a first class degree of Bachelor of Architecture in Architectural Design. Both signed by department staff and dated 1922.
Three original TYPESCRIPT articles by Dougill including ‘The Countryside After the War’ 10 pp. and ‘The Recent Planning and Buildings of Italy’ 2 pp. Plus one untitled. 17 professionally taken large format b/w photographs (measuring 34cm x 24cm) of Italian architecture, facades and interiors. In good condition.
17 professionally taken large format b/w PHOTOGRAPHS (measuring 25.5 cm x 20 cm) of statues and buildings found in Rome, Milan, Venice and Florence. Several with detailed hand written descriptions and thoughts written by Dougill on reverse.
39 LETTERS OF CONDOLENCE overflowing with affection, sadness and praise for Dougill written to Ileene following his death including those from The Liverpool Architectural Society, the Liverpool School of Architecture, The Town Planning Institute, The Universities of Liverpool and Durham and numerous colleagues and friends.
49 PHOTOGRAPHIC POSTCARDS collected by Dougill comprising views of Scandinavian cities and their architecture.
11 OFFPRINTS, by W. Dougill, from The Town Planning Review published by The University Press of Liverpool Ltd spanning 1926-1935. Quarto plates. Stapled into thin card wrappers. Patricia Dougill’s signature in four of the 11 offprints. In good condition.
ond prize in the Prix de Rome Scholarship in Architecture, 1920.
Mounted magazine cuttings showing the plans of designs submitted by the final students in the Rome scholarship competition including those by A Koerner, DW Thomas, ER Arthur and FL Lawrence. Also 3 designs by W Dougill on thick card of a university assembly hall.
Country Life Magazine dated September 5th 1941, ‘Ileene M Dougill’ written in pencil to top edge. The Derbyshire Countryside Magazine dated October 1941, ‘IM Dougill, 38 Trent Rd, Sussex’ written to front including article titled ‘The Countryside After the War’ by W Dougill. Card bound copy of The English Coast Its Development and Preservation by Wesley Dougill, signed with the author’s compliments October 1936.
A collection of several facsimiles and paper cuttings of obituaries amassed following Dougill’s death and a typed 2 leaf letter celebrating Dougill’s life and achievements written by a close colleague, possible Professor Reilly of Liverpool School of Architecture.
4 copies of ‘The Town Planning Review War Time Series’ Volume XIX Autumn 1943 Number 1 including article titled, ‘Wesley Dougill – An Appreciation by Patrick Abercrombie’. In good condition, a little frayed to wrapper edges.
3 copies of ‘Journal of the Royal Institute of British Architects’ dated March 1943 including an obituary written by JH Forshaw.
2 copies of ‘The Architects’ Journa’l dated February 1943 containing an obituary. ‘Ileene Dougill’ written to front of one copy and ‘38 Trent Rd’ to front of other.
