The first twenty formative years Lethaby spent in Barnstaple where his father was a skilled craftsman, active Liberal and loading Bible Christian and there he served his apprenticeship to a local architect. Then for a decade from 1879, when he won the RIBA Soane Medallion, the Pugin studentship and other prizes, he worked as chief clerk for Norman Shaw, making an elegant and learned contribution to his principal's mature style. Later in practice on his own, he produced many fresh and original designs includtn6 half a dozen executed buildings.