Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Charles Campbell
Designation:  
Born: 21 April 1882
Died: 29 April 1932
Bio Notes: George Charles Campbell, who practised under the name of G Charles Campbell, was born on 21 April 1882. He was educated at the Higher Grade School in Buckhaven, Fife, where he excelled academically and was a model student, his headmaster James A Ross stating that 'his whole conduct and bearing were characterised by a natural refinement of tone and disposition', and adding, 'he has very high ideals and in addition to unflagging perseverance his artistic taste and strong feeling for work of genuine merit are such as to warrant the very highest expectations in regard to his future career.'

He served his articles under Alexander Tod on the Wemyss and Torrie Estates, commencing in July 1898 and remaining as Junior and Senior Draughtsman after completing his apprenticeship. During this period he continued his studies, first at the evening science and art classes at Sinclairtown Public School (1898-1900) and then at Kirkcaldy School of Science and Art (1901-4), where one of his masters described him as 'one of the most enthusiastic and successful students … very willing, active, energetic and trustworthy'. Having obtained a bursary from Fife County Council, he completed his training in 1904-5 at Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, where he was Gold Medallist in the Building Construction class and received various other awards.

Campbell left the Wemyss office in late 1905, much to the dismay of Tod, who had been delighted with his work and saw no reason for his leaving except for his 'craving … for further progress and advancement'. This he achieved in 1906 when he secured the commission for Wemyss Public School in an open competition which attracted a total of twnety-five entries. He was appointed Architect to the Wemyss School Board and gained a reputation as a school architect, Buckhaven and Aberhill Schools being considered the most successful examples of his work in this field; drawings for the latter were submitted by the Scottish Education Department to the London County Council as a new model for school planning. He became an Ordained Surveyor in 1908.

During the First World War Campbell worked as architect and chief clerk of works to the Royal Engineers and was mainly concerned with the planning and erection of aerodromes at Turnhouse, Penston and Whiteburn in the Edinburgh area. After the war he turned his attention to town planning and the provision of working-class housing schemes. His proposals were placed on a shortlist of 34 schemes selected from 259 entries to the 1919 Local Government Board competition for the design of houses for the working classes. His plans for the Buckhaven and Methil and Burntisland housing schemes were requested by the Scottish Board of Health for exhibition purposes before the Edinburgh Housing Committee.

Campbell was admitted FIAS on 6 May 1922 and was admitted LRIBA in 1931, his proposers being Donald Alexander Stewart, Charles Geddes Soutar and William Salmond. He was still working on the development of part of the Methil Housing Scheme at the time of his death on 29 April 1932.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Buckhaven, Fife, ScotlandPrivate 1898 
Item 2 of 4East Wemyss 1909  
Item 3 of 4Methil Brae, Methil, Fife, ScotlandBusiness1931 *  
Item 4 of 4Beechwood, Methil, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1931 *  

* 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 4Alexander TodJuly 1898c. 1903Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Alexander TodAfter 1903(?)1905Senior Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 4Alexander Todc. 1903(?)Before 1905Junior Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 4Royal Engineers Officec. 19141918Architect 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3William Salmond1931for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Charles Geddes Soutar1931for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Donald Alexander Stewart1931for Licentiateship

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 71After 1898Wemyss and Torrie Estates  FifeScotlandGeneral estate works - villas, farmhouses, steadings, cottages, hall, tenements - as apprentice/draughtsman to Alexander Tod
Item 2 of 711900Wemyss Public HallEast Wemyss FifeScotlandAs apprentice to Alexander Tod
Item 3 of 711906Wemyss Public SchoolEast Wemyss FifeScotlandWon competition for alterations and additions to school (perhaps major rebuilding)
Item 4 of 71After 1906Buckhaven Co-operative Society premisesBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 5 of 71After 1906Buckhaven Higher Grade SchoolBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 71After 1906Denbeath School HouseBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 71After 1906East Wemyss Co-operative Society premisesWemyss FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 71After 1906Farm buildings and/or cottages, East HallCupar FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 71After 1906Farm buildings and/or cottages, Falkland WoodFalkland FifeScotland 
Item 10 of 71After 1906Farm buildings and/or cottages, Kiers FarmLargo FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 71After 1906Farm buildings and/or cottages, LangsideKennoway FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 71After 1906Farm buildings and/or cottages, LordscairnieCupar FifeScotland 
Item 13 of 71After 1906Farm buildings and/or cottages, MawcarseMilnathort Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 14 of 71After 1906Glencraig Public SchoolGlencraig FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 71After 1906Housing scheme for Distillery CompanyWindygates FifeScotland 
Item 16 of 71After 1906Janitor's HouseAberhill FifeScotland 
Item 17 of 71After 1906Janitor's House, DenbeathBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotland 
Item 18 of 71After 1906Kennoway Public SchoolKennoway FifeScotland 
Item 19 of 71After 1906Lochgelly Public SchoolLochgelly FifeScotland 
Item 20 of 71After 1906Manual Instruction and Cookery CentreAnstruther FifeScotland 
Item 21 of 71After 1906Masonic TempleEast Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 22 of 71After 1906Methil Co-operative Society PremisesWemyss FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 23 of 71After 1906Miners' InstituteWemyss FifeScotland 
Item 24 of 71After 1906Miners' Welfare InstituteMilton of Balgonie FifeScotland 
Item 25 of 71After 1906Moss-side SchoolCowdenbeath FifeScotlandAs architect only (executed by someone else?)
Item 26 of 71After 1906RC Presbytery, CrossroadsBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotland 
Item 27 of 71After 1906RC SchoolBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotland 
Item 28 of 71After 1906Recabite HallBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 29 of 71After 1906School HouseAberhill FifeScotland 
Item 30 of 71After 1906Star Public SchoolStar FifeScotland 
Item 31 of 711907Board SchoolBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 32 of 711907Buckhaven Infant SchoolBuckhaven FifeScotland'Buildings of Scotland' research notes imply that first part built 1914-1915
Item 33 of 711907Denbeath Public SchoolBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotland 
Item 34 of 711908Wemyss Parish Council OfficesBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 35 of 711909Workman's homeLeven FifeScotland 
Item 36 of 711910Aberhill Public School, Bayview ParkAberhill, Methil FifeScotland 
Item 37 of 711910Shepherds Hall and housesWindygates FifeScotlandThe distinct roles of George Charles Campbell and A D Haxton/Haxton & Walker on these building are unclear - perhaps the Haxton plans were a competition design?
Item 38 of 711911Infant SchoolLochgelly FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 39 of 711911School HouseAuchterderran FifeScotland 
Item 40 of 711912Kinglassie Public SchoolKinglassie FifeScotland 
Item 41 of 711912Methil Co-operative Society Premises, Harbour WyndMethil FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 42 of 711913Kilrenny centre for manual instruction, cookery and laundry workKilrenny FifeScotland 
Item 43 of 711914Buckhaven Baptist ChurchBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 44 of 711914Shop and houses for Buckhaven Co-operative SocietyDenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 45 of 71After 1914Glencorse Hutted CampsGlencorse MidlothianScotland 
Item 46 of 71c. 1914Globe Picture HouseBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 47 of 71c. 1914Palace Picture HouseMethil FifeScotland 
Item 48 of 71c. 1914Penston AerodromePenston East LothianScotland 
Item 49 of 71c. 1914Regent Cinema Leven FifeScotlandProject perhaps conceived at this time
Item 50 of 71c. 1914Turnhouse Aerodrome and Landing GroundsTurnhouse EdinburghScotland 
Item 51 of 71c. 1914Whitburn AerodromeWhitburn West LothianEngland 
Item 52 of 711915St Bride's SchoolCowdenbeath FifeScotlandConstruction delayed by war.
Item 53 of 71After 1918Ladybank War MemorialLadybank FifeScotland 
Item 54 of 711919Bayview Housing EstateMethil FifeScotland 
Item 55 of 711919Housing scheme for Buckhaven and Methil Town CouncilBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotlandAppointed as architect - 250 houses contemplated
Item 56 of 711919Scheme for Local Authority HousingBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotland 
Item 57 of 71c. 1919(?)Masonic TempleBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotland 
Item 58 of 711920Housing Estate, Wellesley Road, Omar Crescent, Burns Avenue and Sandwell StreetBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 59 of 711920Local Authority Housing, Rossend SiteBurntisland FifeScotland32 houses
Item 60 of 711920Local Authority Housing, unspecified sitesBurntisland FifeScotland12 blocks each of two houses
Item 61 of 71c. 1920Buckhaven and Methil War MemorialBuckhaven and Methil FifeScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 62 of 711921Kennoway War MemorialKennoway FifeScotland 
Item 63 of 711921Local Authority Housing, The HaughBurntisland FifeScotland44 houses built in several stages
Item 64 of 711921Local Authority Housing, unspecified sitesBurntisland FifeScotland24 houses
Item 65 of 711924Local Authority Housing, Water Tower siteLadybank FifeScotland 
Item 66 of 71c. 1924Kirkcaldy High School, Technical and Elementary SchoolsKirkcaldy FifeScotlandTechnical School - measurer only
Item 67 of 711925Three double villas  EdinburghScotland 
Item 68 of 711926Local Authority Housing, The HaughBurntisland FifeScotland20 houses - designs (with quantities by George Charles Campbell
Item 69 of 711927Palace Picture HouseBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 70 of 711932Church HallMethil FifeScotland 
Item 71 of 711932Thirty-two houses for the Town Council of Buckhaven and MethilBucKhaven and Methil FifeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal9 July 1932 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p722

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSHaxton & Watson Collection  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no3928 (box 18)