Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Robertson Adamson
Designation:  
Born: 7 September 1883
Died: 9 September 1943
Bio Notes: James Robertson Adamson was born on 7 September 1883 and educated at Galashiels High School and George Watson's College, Edinburgh, served his articles with Sir John Burnet in his Glasgow office from 1901 and studied at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Technical College.

Between 1910 and 1913 he was chief assistant to Graham & Hill, Newcastle upon Tyne, and in 1913 moved to Bolton as chief assistant to Bradshaw Gass & Hope, becoming a partner in 1920.

Bradshaw Gass & Hope had a very large practice, partly obtained through competitions. Among the principal works for which it was responsible are the following: Stretford, Lancs, Municipal Offices; Leith Town Hall and Library, Padiham Town Hall, Lancs; General Hospitals at Church Village, Glamorgan, and at Chorley, Lancs; extensions to the Bolton Royal Infirmary; Congregational churches at Rhos-on-Sea, North Wales, Moss Side, Withington and Alkrington. During the Second World War his firm undertook many schemes for Government Departments

Adamson was elected FRIBA in early 1930, his proposers being John Bradshaw Gass, Arthur John Hope and Richard Hermon Crook. He took a prominent part in RIBA and Allied Society affairs and was President of the Manchester Society of Architects, 1933-5, and Vice-President of the RIBA, 1937-9. He was Chairman of the Allied Societies' Conference from 1937 to 1939 and a member of the Manchester Civic Advisory Committee.

He died on 9 September 1943.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 2Boulton, Lancashire, ScotlandBusiness1913  

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 4John Burnet & Son19011905Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Graham & Hill19101913Chief Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Bradshaw Gass & Hope19131920Chief Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 4Bradshaw Gass & Hope1920After 1930Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Richard Hermon CrookEarly 1930for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3John Bradshaw GassEarly 1930for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Arthur John HopeEarly 1930for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2Robert Norman Houghton MacKellar22 June 1936for Fellowship
Item 2 of 2Colin Macaulay Middleton12 April 1937for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This 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 3 General Hospital  GlamorganWalesDate unknown
Item 2 of 3c. 1906St Thomas's Episcopal ChurchAboyne AberdeenshireScotlandAs assistant to Fryers & Penman
Item 3 of 31926Leith Town Hall and Public LibraryLeith EdinburghScotlandWon competition to secure job - as partner with Bradshaw Gass & Hope

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder1943v165 p246 - obituary
Item 2 of 2RIBA JournalOctober 1943 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p294

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no2760 (box 11)