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Military ideas of the status of an architect

In April 1914, this magazine (still called The Builder then) carried a column entitled Fifty Years Ago. Great idea. It was a look back at what The Builder was publishing way back then.

The 3 April 1914 edition carried a piece from the 2 April 1864 edition about the War Office calling for 鈥渁 few young men of good character鈥� to serve in her Majesty鈥檚 Royal Engineers. Carpenters, bricklayers, blacksmiths are all needed. It is suggested that the young men 鈥渟hould be able to read and write鈥�. Men of other trades are required 鈥渙nly in limited numbers鈥� such as clerks, draughtsmen, architects, collar-makers, tailors, etc.

These trades are offered a bounty of 拢2 and a free kit. 鈥淗ere is encouragement to the rising young men of the architectural profession,鈥� reads the 1864 edition, with no little irony. 鈥淥nly a limited number is required, so 鈥榖e in time!鈥欌�� What the architect鈥檚 kit is to consist of we are not informed.

We hope, however, there will be no mistake as to allotting their 鈥渒its鈥� among the 鈥渢rades鈥� or the tailor may get a T-square, while the architect may receive a pair of shears and a goose.

No bad premium, by the way, this last would be for men who go in for those swindles facetiously called 鈥榗ompetitions鈥�.鈥� Such 鈥榮windles鈥� remained rampant in 1914.