For centuries the education or, rather, training of architects was by apprenticeship or pupillage. Logically it would seem to be have been specific to the market in which the individual worked. In some parts of the world training may have been closer to a master mason, and in others it may have been a liberal arts education with a grounding in the classical orders. However, as Europe industrialised and a greater standardisation of process became desirable, architects also began to pursue standardisation, seeking a formal definition of the profession in law (as I discussed last month). Part of this standardisation was the acknowledgement of a formal education process.

As far back as 1860 the RIBA Council began considering the idea of an examination in architecture, seeking a consistent level of education alongside their protected legal status. The RIBA exams were first held in 1863 and remained voluntary until 1887. It should be noted that they were not a great success, with only 43 people passing the exam during this time.

Dr Patrick Zamarian of Liverpool University told me: “Until the mid-1930s clients were usually wealthy individuals, construction was done by small building firms and there were a handful of specialist subcontractors at most. To be in charge of the building process was not too demanding and did not require any type of advanced knowledge – experience and some social capital would do, and that is what pupillage offered.”

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