Elspeth trained as an architect, the only female student among 600 men at the Polytechnic Architectural School in London, and has been described as the first woman to practice as an architect, although this is unlikely to be quite accurate.
Elspeth blev uddannet som arkitekt, den eneste kvindelige studerende blandt 600 mænd på den Polytechnic Architectural School i London, og er blevet beskrevet som den første kvinde til at praktisere som arkitekt.