Basic Biographical Details

Name: Harold Ogle Tarbolton
Designation:  
Born: 1869
Died: 31 July 1947
Bio Notes: Harold Ogle Tarbolton ('Tarrybreeks') was born in 1869 in Nottingham, the son of Marriot Ogle Tarbolton, civil engineer. He was educated at Chigwell, Essex. He was articled to George Thomas Hine who then ran offices both in Nottingham and London, and at the end of his articles became assistant to Gerald Callcott Horsley in London, enabling him to study at the Royal Academy Schools in 1893-95. He then travelled abroad and either then or earlier studied at the University of Bonn, Germany. He commenced independent practice at 7 Frederick Street, Edinburgh (the 'Builder' obituary says that he commenced independent practice in 1892 though RIBAJ obituary says 1895). This was in partnership with a fellow student at the RA School and a colleague at Horsley's, Sydney Tugwell, also born in 1869 and previously articled to Edward John May from 1885 to 1889. At that date Tugwell was already in Edinburgh living with Hamilton More Nisbet in Riddle's Court following a period with Ernest Newton.

In 1896 Tarbolton married Beatrice Dudgeon Gulland, daughter of Charles Gulland of Falkland, but his partnership with Tugwell proved brief. By 1897 Tugwell had left to re-commence practice first at Scarborough and then at Bournemouth from 1900. Soon after the dissolution of the partnership, John Kinross, heavily over-committed on Manderston and The Peel, asked Tarbolton to join him in a short-term partnership.

In 1907 Tarbolton took over the practice of Hay & Henderson: the surviving partner, George Henderson, having died in March 1905. He took an active part in professional and public life. He was admitted FRIBA in 1904 under Bylaw 9 and was President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association in 1904-06. He was elected to Edinburgh Parish Council, was convener of the Building Committee of Edinburgh Royal Hospital, and a member of the board of governors for both Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt.

In January 1923 Tarbolton took on Lawrence Harrower Smart (born 1896) - who had trained with Christie & Davidson of Dunblane and in Rosyth Dockyard before working as assistant to Leadbetter, Fairley & Reid - as a draughtsman. Smart acted as his representative on the works at Bermuda Cathedral from November 1926 until September 1927 and at the beginning of the following month Tarbolton took him into partnership. The firm of Tarbolton & Smart, with offices in Hamilton, Bermuda, continued until the beginning of the 1930s.

In late 1932 Tarbolton merged his practice with that of Sir Matthew Montgomerie Ochterlony, Bt, a friend from his work with Kinross. Tarbolton was elected ARSA in 1931 and RSA in 1934, Ochterlony ARSA in 1939.

In 1938 Tarbolton succeeded Sir George Washington Browne as a Royal Fine Art Commissioner, serving for ten years. He was also a member of the Amenity Committee which considered the work carried out under the Galloway Water Power Act of 1929. He acted as advisory architect and designed the housing schemes. This appointment led to him becoming an advisory architect to the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board in 1944, and to commissions for the power stations at Loch Sloy and Pitlochry on the Tummel-Garry scheme. he also held the positions of consulting architect to the Deans and Chapters of St Ninian's Cathedral Perth and of Oban Cathedral.

Tarbolton died of cerebral thrombosis at 3 East Castle Road, Edinburgh on 31 July of the following year while these schemes were still under construction. He was a widower. The practice continued under the existing name of Tarbolton & Ochterlony.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 87, Frederick Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1895 With Tugwell from about 1895
Item 2 of 82, Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness18981905 
Item 3 of 839, Northumberland Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1903  
Item 4 of 812, Queen Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1905c. 1911 
Item 5 of 8117, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1912c. 1924 
Item 6 of 84, St Colme Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1926c. 1940 
Item 7 of 8Hamilton, Bermuda, West IndiesBusiness1927After 1930Office whilst working on Bermuda Cathedral, and in partnership with Lawrence Harrower Smart
Item 8 of 83, Queensferry Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1947 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 7Gerald Callcott Horsley  Assistant 
Item 2 of 7George Thomas Hine Before 1893Apprentice 
Item 3 of 7Tarbolton & TugwellAfter 18951897Partner 
Item 4 of 7Kinross & Tarboltonc. 18971905Partner 
Item 5 of 7Hay Henderson & Tarboltonc. 1905c. 1917Partner 
Item 6 of 7Tarbolton & SmartOctober 1927c. 1931Partner 
Item 7 of 7Tarbolton & OchterlonyLate 19321946Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 10Alan Lawrie Goodwin (or Alan Laurie Goodwin, or Alexander Lawrie Goodwin, or Allan L Goodwin)1905Before 1914Assistant 
Item 2 of 10Edwin Herbert Horsley Williamsc. 19171921Apprenticeinterrupted by war service, presumably until 1918
Item 3 of 10Lawrence Harrower SmartJanuary 1923November 1926Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 10George Arthur Cassellsc. 1924(?)c. 1928(?)Apprentice 
Item 5 of 10Alexander Steelec. 1925(?)c. 1928(?)Apprentice 
Item 6 of 10Thomas Arnold Jeffryes (sometimes misspelt Jeffreys)19261928Apprentice 
Item 7 of 10Lawrence Harrower SmartNovember 1926September 1926 Tarbolton's representative in charge of Bermuda Cathedral works
Item 8 of 10George Arthur Cassellsc. 1928(?)c. 1930(?)Draughtsman 
Item 9 of 10Leslie Howard HillOctober 1929March 1932Junior Assistant 
Item 10 of 10William John Urquhart19311936Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 25Joseph Saunders Addenbrooke19 March 1928for Fellowship
Item 2 of 25James Pearson Alison2 December 1907for Fellowship
Item 3 of 25James Alexander Mawson Baxter4 March 1912for Associateship
Item 4 of 25James Spalding BennetMid 1921for Associateship
Item 5 of 25James BrodieMid 1921for Associateship
Item 6 of 25Alexander Lorne Campbell4 March 1907for Fellowship
Item 7 of 25Francis William Deas4 March 1907for Fellowship
Item 8 of 25Martin Gardner3 December 1942for Associateship
Item 9 of 25James (or Hamish) Ponton Hastie30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 10 of 25Leslie Howard Hill21 October 1935for Associateship
Item 11 of 25Thomas Arnold Jeffryes (sometimes misspelt Jeffreys)Early 1932for Associateship
Item 12 of 25Reginald William Johnston24 October 1938for Associateship
Item 13 of 25Stewart KayeMarch 1921For Associateship
Item 14 of 25Alexander Hay Lamont5 March 1906for Associateship
Item 15 of 25(Sir) Matthew Montgomerie OchterlonyLate 1932 or early 1933for Fellowship
Item 16 of 25(Sir) Matthew Montgomerie OchterlonyMid 1932for Licentiateship
Item 17 of 25John Nichol Scott4 March 1907for Fellowship
Item 18 of 25Lawrence Harrower Smart10 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 19 of 25Alexander SteeleEarly 1929for Associateship
Item 20 of 25John Stevenson junior21 October 1941for Associateship
Item 21 of 25Thomas Aikman Swan19 June 1939for Fellowship
Item 22 of 25Henry ('Harry') Ramsay Taylor3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 23 of 25William John Urquhart9 July 1946For Associateship
Item 24 of 25William Thomas Christie Walker10 January 1938for Associateship
Item 25 of 25Edwin Herbert Horsley Williams6 April 1940for 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 741895Bank buildings for the Halifax & Huddersfield Banking Co   England(Competition?) design
Item 2 of 741895House for H Mansfield Robinson  SurreyEngland 
Item 3 of 741897St James the Less Episcopal RectoryPenicuik MidlothianScotlandAttribution by D C Mays
Item 4 of 741897St Peter's Episcopal ChurchTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 5 of 741898Villas, Mortonhall Road  EdinburghScotlandHS suggests he may have designed the plasterwork in no 33
Item 6 of 741899St James the Less Episcopal ChurchPenicuik MidlothianScotlandCompleted the work - consists of chancel with Perp windows and furnishings
Item 7 of 741899Straiton Parish ChurchStraiton AyrshireScotlandAddition of porch, belfry and tower, and restoration of church - perhaps in fact John Murdoch responsible
Item 8 of 741900British Linen Bank and Town Clerk's officeFalkland FifeScotlandAdditions to bank and new office
Item 9 of 741900Ingliston House Stable Block and Cottage (gardener's house)Kirkliston West LothianScotlandRestoration and reconstruction
Item 10 of 741900Manderston House, including service court and motor houseDuns BerwickshireScotlandRefurbishment and major extension of late 18th century house, new entrance front, lavish interior decoration
Item 11 of 741901Fairfield  EdinburghScotlandMainly responsible
Item 12 of 74c. 1902Altyre House, generator houseAltyre MorayshireScotland 
Item 13 of 741904Penicuik Co-operative emporiumPenicuik MidlothianScotlandMainly responsible
Item 14 of 741904The PeelClovenfords SelkirkshireScotlandWith George Beattie & Son as builders and Arnott McLeod as contractor
Item 15 of 74After 1905Buckhaven Co-operative StoresBuckhaven FifeScotlandWork carried out by his assistant, A L Goodwin
Item 16 of 74After 1905KingsknowesGalashiels SelkirkshireScotlandUnspecified work, carried out by his assistant A L Goodwin
Item 17 of 74After 1905Residence, Randolph Court for William Hunter Esq  EdinburghScotlandCarried out by his assistant, A L Goodwin
Item 18 of 741906Holy Trinity CathedralHamiltonBermudaBermudaWest IndiesRebuilding of choir. Pulpit - copy of that in St giles, Edinburgh
Item 19 of 741907Kincardine-in-Menteith Parish ChurchBlair Drummond PerthshireScotlandAlterations
Item 20 of 74Before 19073 Randolph Crescent  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 21 of 741908Burgh ChambersDalkeith MidlothianScotlandEnlargement - unsuccessful competition designs for extension?
Item 22 of 741910Gardyne CastleKirkden AngusScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 23 of 741910Pattishall House  NorthamptonshireEnglandHouse and stables
Item 24 of 741910Ravelston, Great Western Road  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 25 of 741910Usan HouseMontrose AngusScotlandPossibly responsible for alterations - with A L Goodwin as assistant
Item 26 of 74c. 1910St Baldred's Episcopal ChurchNorth Berwick East LothianScotlandChoirstalls and panels over pulpit
Item 27 of 741912St James the Less Episcopal ChurchPenicuik MidlothianScotlandRood screen
Item 28 of 741913St Michael's and All Angels Church, Memorial to David LivingstoneBlantyre  Malawi 
Item 29 of 741915St Bride's Episcopal Church  GlasgowScotlandWest end reconstructed, tower, proposed double aisles, north side; porch; stair from cloisters to tower; organ loft; nave roof, marble floor to sanctuary and lady chapel, rood beam figures - decoration in conjunction with Andrew Watson Turnbull
Item 30 of 741919Western HouseAyr AyrshireScotlandDesigned & built house
Item 31 of 741922Paisley War MemorialPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandThird premiated competition design (with Mrs Meredith Williams)
Item 32 of 741922St John's Episcopal ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandMemorial screen
Item 33 of 741922St Paul's Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotlandMemorial Chapel of the Resurrection and altarpiece
Item 34 of 741923Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital  EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 741924Bangour Village ChurchUphall West LothianScotlandChurch plus woodwork, pulpit, font cover, reredos canopy and organ case
Item 36 of 741924Old St Paul's Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotlandWarriors' Chapel, entrance and Calvary Stair and other alterations. This conflicts with the information given in 'Buildings of Scotland' and HS lists which give Matthew Montgonerie Ochterlony as architect. However the drawings for the work bear the address 117 Hanover Street wich was Tarbolton's address from 1912-24.
Item 37 of 74192512 Garages forThomas Ferguson, Colinton Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 38 of 741925Church of the Ascension (Episcopal)  GlasgowScotlandChurch
Item 39 of 741926British Linen Bank  EdinburghScotland'Buildings of Scotland' attributes it to Tarbolton
Item 40 of 741926Holy Trinity CathedralHamiltonBermudaBermudaWest IndiesSurvey followed by alterations - tiled roof replaced in copper, work supervised by Lawrence Harrower Smart
Item 41 of 741926St Peter's Episcopal Church and RectoryMontrose AngusScotlandChancel and side chapel and design of triptych(triptych painted by Morris & Alice Meredith Williams) and altar in Lady Chapel and reredos (carved by John Sime)
Item 42 of 741927CraigiehallCramond EdinburghScotlandFurther work planned - unclear if executed
Item 43 of 741928Bank of ScotlandDuns BerwickshireScotland 
Item 44 of 741928Dalmeny KirkDalmeny West LothianScotlandPulpit
Item 45 of 741930Oban Episcopal Cathedral of St John the DivineOban ArgyllScotlandProposed reconstruction - not executed
Item 46 of 7419339 Easter Belmont Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 47 of 741933British Linen BankDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 48 of 741933Chalmers Hospital  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 49 of 741933Harmony CottageLongniddry East LothianScotland 
Item 50 of 741933St Salvador's Episcopal Church and hallsStenhouse EdinburghScotlandSuite of halls
Item 51 of 741934BowmoreColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 52 of 741934Old Sailor's Ark  EdinburghScotland 
Item 53 of 741934 or 1935Kelso Union PoorhouseKelso RoxburghshireScotlandReconstruction after fire
Item 54 of 741935Dalzell HouseMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandAlterations and gazebo
Item 55 of 741935St Cuthbert's Episcopal ChurchColinton EdinburghScotlandAdditions and alterations to hall
Item 56 of 741936Inverewe HousePoolewe Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 57 of 741936Kelso Union PoorhouseKelso RoxburghshireScotlandFurther extensions
Item 58 of 741936Melrose District Asylum, Nurses' HomeMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 59 of 741936St John's Episcopal ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandOak parclose screen (in memory of Sir John Henry Kerr)
Item 60 of 741936St Ninian's Episcopal CathedralPerth PerthshireScotlandCloister, entrance and recreation hall; school also added
Item 61 of 741937House for Mr and Mrs Hughes  EdinburghScotland 
Item 62 of 741937St Columba's Episcopal ChurchGruline/Salen/DruimlangMullArgyllScotlandLectern, chair and desk
Item 63 of 741937St Peter's Episcopal Church and RectoryMontrose AngusScotlandAddition of porch and general refurbishing
Item 64 of 741938Commercial Bank and Caledonian United Services Club Building (Mather's Bar part of scheme))  EdinburghScotlandRemodelling of ground floor of Caledonian United Services Club (Commercial Bank)
Item 65 of 741938St John the EvangelistDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandOrgan case (executed by Scott Morton)
Item 66 of 741939Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital  EdinburghScotlandMain gateway - built as memorial to Maud Chalmers Watson
Item 67 of 741939Oban Episcopal Cathedral of St John the DivineOban ArgyllScotlandAltar in Lady Chapel
Item 68 of 741939St David of Scotland Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 69 of 741939St Salvador's Episcopal Church and hallsStenhouse EdinburghScotland 
Item 70 of 741939WesteringInverleith EdinburghScotland 
Item 71 of 741945Proposed Episcopal ChurchSt Fillans PerthshireScotlandUnclear if the St Fillans that he designed was actually in Edinburgh (Glendinning ) or in Perthshire.
Item 72 of 741947(?)Sloy Awe Hydro Electric Scheme, Sloy Power StationLoch Sloy ArgyllScotlandAs architect for the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board architectural panel
Item 73 of 741947Tummel Garry Hydro Electric Scheme, Pitlochry Dam and Power StationPitlochry PerthshireScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 74 of 741949Clunie Power StationLoch Faskally PerthshireScotlandAs architect for the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board Architectural Panel.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp7 Sloy Awe Hydro Electric Power Station;
Tummel Garry Hydro Electric scheme
Item 2 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4Scottish Biographies1938  E J Thurston (pub.) 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Builder15 August 1947  Obituary p 175
Item 2 of 3RIBA JournalOctober 1947v54London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp619 - obituary
Item 3 of 3Scotsman2 August 1947  Obituary p3

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Death details from research by Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F v15 p41 no959 (microfilm reel 11)