Nat Gould

Oswald Partridge Milne 1881-1968

Oswald Partridge Milne was born in February 1881 at Balham in Surrey, the son of William Oswald Milne 1847-1927 and his wife nee Louisa Katherine Partridge. He was baptised on 18 March 1881 at St Luke's church in Battersea, London.

In 1891 the family were living at 4 Wyndcroft, Old Park, Enfield in Middlesex. With them was Harriet Annie Partridge aged 45, unmarried sister of Louisa Katherine Milne.

In 1901 the family had moved to 3 Dynevor Road, Bedford. Still at home were Edward aged 23 pupil to a quantity surveyor, Oswald 21 pupil to an architect, and Margaret Milne.

Oswald Partridge Milne was educated at Bedford School, and followed his father into the architectural profession. He was articled to Sir Arthur William Blomfield from 1898 to 1901, and remained as his assistant until 1902 when he joined the office of Edwin Landseer Lutyens as his assistant. He left in 1904 to commence practice on his own account in London. He went into partnership with the Hon. Paul Phipps in 1919. Their practice chiefly involved country houses. He joined his father's practice Milne and Hall in 1906, which he continued until until 1916. His work included some of the main interiors of Claridge's Hotel in London. He was later in partnership with Alfred Underhill. In 1927 he was in practice at 64 Wigmore Street in London. His work includes the Eleventh Church of Christ Scientist in London, Hunterscombe Place in Oxfordshire, Sprowston Court in Norwich, Coleton Fishacre in South Devon, Tirinie in Perthshire, and the War Memorial Building at Bedford School (1). He was also the architect of Nuffield Place near Henley-on-Thames, the home William Morris, founder of Morris Motors in Oxford, later Lord Nuffield (2).

He was a leading Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, a Chairman of Council in 1959-61 and Vice-President.

Oswald Partidge Milne died on 15 January 1968 at Hampstead in London aged 86 years.

(1) Notable Personalities (1927) page 286.
(2) England's Thousand Best Houses S. Jenkins (2004).