William Assheton, Partner at GSSArchitecture, retired from the partnership at the end of June, following an impressive 26 years at the Practice.

Teams from across the Practice’s five offices joined William for a celebration of his work at a special event last week, held on a replica 1890s Mississippi paddle steamer named The Elizabethan. The Practice enjoyed fantastic views of London from the River Thames, followed by lunch, speeches and the annual GSS Oscars ceremony, which recognises and rewards the Team’s achievements over the past 12 months.

William has been involved in the conservation, repair, and alteration of historic buildings since 1980. He originally joined GSS in 1996 as a chartered Architect, became an associate in 1998, and, in 2001, became only the 17th person in 142 years to become Partner at the Practice. Other than his architectural work, he has also been very committed to the Practice’s day to day operations and became an Integrated Management System and Investors in People Partner, helping the Practice achieve Investors in People Gold standard in 2021. Since he joined, the Practice has gone from strength to strength, with four more offices opening across the UK in Gloucester, Harrogate, Newcastle, and Milton Keynes.

As an Architect Accredited in Building Conservation (AABC), William has worked on over 800 projects, including over 100 church schemes where his work has made significant impact on local communities. William attended Rugby School as a student, and was invited back to work on various projects, including a new boarding house.

Other notable works include Bradwell Abbey, where a medieval stone carving from the 12th century was discovered, and Northampton Gallery and Museum, which involved the construction of an extension into the former Gaol. William’s work at Laxton Junior School won a regional RIBA award and one of his biggest achievements is the Kings Ely Grade I listed building conversion and extension in Cambridgeshire.

Speaking of his retirement, William said, “It is with great pleasure and pride that I look back on twenty-six years of being involved in designing, building and repairing buildings in Northamptonshire and further afield and I look forward to still doing so into the future, albeit to a lesser degree. The opportunities presented by GSSArchitecture have enabled me to work on many fascinating projects with many diverse and interesting people. I feel very fortunate to have had exposure to the many organisations who contribute to making this part of the country so special.”

Senior Partner, Tom Lyons, commented, “We are so grateful for the contribution William has made to GSS and the wider community over the past three decades. During his time here as a Partner, the Practice has developed and grown significantly. It has been a privilege to work together with William and we are looking forward to continuing to benefit from his unique knowledge and skills on a select number of projects as a consultant going forward.”