After leaving school in 1877, he was articled to his father's firm, Paley and Austin.
In 1881 he went on to the London office of T. E. Collcutt for 18 months to broaden his experience.
After that he mainly worked alone, or with associates rather than partners, designing some more churches, and also hospitals, schools and houses.
Initially they lived at Dallas Court in Lancaster, then moved to the Manor House in Halton.
They later moved to Escowbeck Cottage, Caton, to the northeast of Lancaster, and finally, after his father's death, moved into his house, Moorgarth, at Brookhouse, near Caton.