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William Crabtree

1905 – 1991

British architect

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About William Crabtree

Lived 1905 – 1991 (aged 85–86). William Crabtree was a British architect.

William Crabtree (1905–1991) was an English architect. His reputation rests mainly on his Peter Jones department store, Sloane Square and King's Road, Chelsea, London (1932–37), designed for John Spedan Lewis (1885–1963), the founder of the John Lewis Partnership.

Other works Crabtree worked in collaboration with Slater & Moberly, with Professor Sir Charles Herbert Reilly (1874−1948), Crabtree's former mentor at Liverpool University, as a consultant. It was one of the first 20th century uses of the glass curtain-wall in England, and was influenced by the work of Erich Mendelsohn, the Prussian architect, who lectured twice at Liverpool University. Reilly and Crabtree also collaborated on the John Lewis department store in Oxford Street, London.

He subsequently worked with Sir (Leslie) Patrick Abercrombie on the reconstruction of Plymouth and Southampton after the 1939–45 war, and designed several buildings in the new post-war town of Basildon, and Spring Hills Tower (and surrounding houses) in Harlow, Essex (1964).

Crabtree's other work in London included an extension to Sir William Collins Comprehensive School (named after William Job Collins) in Charrington Street, Somers Town, Camden, NW1, later renamed South Camden Community School (SCCS), which was officially opened in 1961. The school was re-developed in 2012 and renamed Regent High School.

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Important facts

Born
1905
Birth century
Died
1991
Occupation

People in William Crabtree's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped William Crabtree's

Frequently asked questions

Who was William Crabtree?

British architect (1905–1991)

When was William Crabtree born?

William Crabtree was born in 1905.

When did William Crabtree die?

William Crabtree died in 1991.

What was William Crabtree's occupation?

William Crabtree was an architect.

What nationality was William Crabtree?

William Crabtree was British.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: William Crabtree

· Wikidata: Q8007218

· DBpedia: William Crabtree (architect)

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). William Crabtree. https://biography.guide/william-crabtree-architect/

MLA: "William Crabtree." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/william-crabtree-architect/.

Chicago: "William Crabtree." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/william-crabtree-architect/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

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