 Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details | Name: | Andrew Danskine Aitken | | Designation: | Architect | | Born: | 15 July 1882 | | Died: | 4 August 1916 | | Bio Notes: | Andrew Danskine Aitken was born in Glasgow on 15 July 1882, the son of John Aitken, grocer, who was also a town councillor, and his wife Janet Danskine. He was articled to John Scotland from 1897 and then moved to become assistant to Thomas Dykes & Robertson from 1900, and to James Miller (1861-1947) from 1904, attending the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. He commenced independent practice in Airdrie in 1906 and taught architecture at some point prior to 1906 at Coatbridge Technical Institute and later at Airdrie High School. He passed the qualifying exam and was elected ARIBA on 5 March 1906, his proposers being James Miller, Thomas Lennox Watson and John Keppie. He practised briefly in Airdrie but joined up in January 1915 being posted initially in the Dardanelles where he received his commission. He was killed in action in Egypt in 1916 while serving as Second Lieutenant with the Royal Engineers, Lowland Field Company. It is not yet clear if J M Aitken of Airdrie who practised in the 1920s was related to him as he did not have a brother with these initials. | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 2, Forsyth Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private/business | 1906 * | | | | 86, South Bridge Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 1911 * | | | | 16, Bank Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | 1914 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | John Scotland | 17 September 1897 | 1900 | Apprentice | | | T Dykes & Robertson | 1900 | 1904 | Assistant | | | James Miller | 1904 | 1906 | Assistant | |
RIBARIBA Proposers| The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Keppie | 5 March 1906 | for Associateship | | James Miller | 5 March 1906 | for Associateship | | Thomas Lennox Watson | 5 March 1906 | for Associateship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and Designs| This architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1910 | Sir John Wilson Town Hall | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Competition design - placed third |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this architect: | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Measurers\' Companion | 1911 | The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | 26 August 1916 | v23 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary, p309 | | RIBA Journal | 3 September 1916 | v23 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary, pp324, 328. Picture page 324 |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v16 p103 (microfilm reel 19) |
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