Career
Fred was a scholar at Bootham School in York, and was articled to Charles Augustus Bury of Scarborough from 1876 to 1880. He became an assistant to Edward Burgess in London and was appointed a clerk of works in Leicestershire, ending in 1885 when joined Charles Edeson of Scarborough, the company name changing to Edeson & Rowntree. They raised a family of 5 children.
Stark had consequently succumbed to alcoholism and Rowntree relocated his practice to Hammersmith.
The bid of Fred Rowntree & Sons of London was successful and the firm was appointed architect to the University. The Rowntrees had connections in Glasgow through the Henderson family.