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:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 32, Forsyth Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate/business1906 *  
Item 2 of 386, South Bridge Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness1911 *  
Item 3 of 316, Bank Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate1914 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John Scotland17 September 18971900Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3T Dykes & Robertson19001904Assistant 
Item 3 of 3James Miller19041906Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Keppie5 March 1906for Associateship
Item 2 of 3James Miller5 March 1906for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Thomas Lennox Watson5 March 1906for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2Thomas Martin18 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 2Alexander McGregor Mitchell (junior)20 July 1911for Licentiateship

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 startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 11910Sir John Wilson Town HallAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandCompetition design - placed third

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA Journal26 August 1916v23London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary, p309
Item 2 of 2RIBA Journal3 September 1916v23London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary, pp324, 328. Picture page 324

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v16 p103 (microfilm reel 19)

Images

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© All rights reserved. © Trustees of the National Library of Scotland