Oswald Milne (1881-1968)

Oswald Partridge Milne (1881-1968) Born in Balham in Surrey, his father was William Oswald Milne, an architect who was the pupil of Sir Arthur William Blomfield. At the age of 21 Milne followed his father in to the profession and became a student of architecture. From 1898 to 1901 he was articled to Sir Arthur William Blomfield and until 1902 worked as his assistant. Milne then had the opportunity to work as the assistant to Edwin Lutyens for two years. He then made the decision to start his own practice in 1904 in London. 1906 - 1910 was an exciting time for Milne as he joined his fathers practice and during this time designed some of the main interiors of Claridge's Hotel, London. In 1911 Milne completed works on Drakestone House in Gloucestershire first started by Ernest Gimson in 1908. By 1919 he had formed a partnership with Paul Phipps (Phipps & Milne) concentrating mainly on designing country houses. In 1923 Milne designed Coleton Fishacre a house inspired by the Arts and Crafts Movement with clean lines and of simple design. A later partnership saw him working with Alfred Underhill in 1927.

Milne was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a chairman of Council in 1959 - 1961 and Vice President.