John Quail

• Born                      16 February 1875 at Leamington Spa
• Died                       February 1936 at Cape Town, South Africa

John Quail was born in Leamington Spa, the son of George A and Eliza Quail and educated at Leamington College School, after which he was articled to Frederick Foster of Leamington Spa from 29 June 1891 for four years. In 1895 he was employed by E Salomons and S Steinthal, Manchester for over five years, leaving this office in 1900 to work for John Brooke, also in Manchester, where he remained for about a year. Elected Associate of the RIBA in 18 February 1901, proposed by E Salomons, P Ogden, C Holden.

John Quail emigrated to South Africa in 1902 where he entered the office of Herbert Baker in Johannesburg, employed as a quantity surveyor and before establishing his own practice as a quantity surveyor in Johannesburg. In 1919 he moved to Cape Town where he joined Babbs and Labdon, quantity surveyors as a partner. Although Quail had trained as both an architect and surveyor, he worked only as a quantity surveyor in South Africa.

 Address/Residence
1891: 105 Warwick Street, Leamington Spa, Warwickshire
1895: Manchester
1901: c/o John Brooke 18 Exchange Street, Manchester
1902: Johannesburg South Africa
1918: Cape Town, South Africa

Obituary: RIBA Journal volume 44, 20 Feb 1937, page 414
Reference: www.artifacts.co.za