Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Baillie Pratt
Designation: Architect
Born: 4 September 1864
Died: 12 April 1937
Bio Notes: Robert Baillie Pratt was born in Macduff on 4 April 1864, the son of William Pratt, railway locomotive superintendent at Elgin and Ann Gammack. He was articled to Alexander Marshall Mackenzie in 1881-85 and remained as assistant until 1887. During that period he won the Gold Medal for architectural drawing at 'the Aberdeen and Northern Section of Industry and Art' (the Department of Science and Art?). He moved to London in 1888 to become assistant to Edwin Thomas Hall, having won a place at the Royal Academy Schools. Thereafter he worked for the Catholic Church architect Frederick Arthur Walters and William Edward and Frank Brown. He passed the qualifying exam in 1890 and was admitted ARIBA on 12 January 1891, his proposers being Hall, Arthur Cates and Edward John May.

Pratt returned to Elgin and commenced independent practice in 1892. In 1910-1914 his address was County Bank House, and during the war years he did Government work in Stromness, Orkney but in the 1930s he was at 110 High Street. His main clients were the Gordon Duffs of Drummuir and the Episcopal Church of which he was a member. He died in Elgin on 12 April 1937.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2County Bank House, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate19101914 
Item 2 of 2110, High Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivateBetween 1930 and 1939  

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 5Matthews & Mackenzie18811885Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Matthews & Mackenzie18861887Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Edwin Thomas Hall1888 Assistant 
Item 4 of 5William Edward & Frank BrownAfter 1888 Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Frederick Arthur WaltersAfter 1888 Assistant 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5Charles Ogilvie CampbellApril 1896April 1900Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Charles Ogilvie Campbell1901May 1902Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Cameron Macdonald1904Early 1906Assistant 
Item 4 of 5James Wattie1912 Apprentice 
Item 5 of 5William James Geddes19331933AssistantFor 9 months

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Arthur Cates12 January 1891for Associateship
Item 2 of 3Edwin Thomas Hall12 January 1891for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Edward John May12 January 1891for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2James Cobban20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 2Cameron Macdonald24 July 1912for 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 211894Stotfield HotelLossiemouth MorayshireScotland 
Item 2 of 211899Botriphnie Free Church ManseMulben BanffshireScotland 
Item 3 of 211899Drummuir Village HallDrummuir BanffshireScotland 
Item 4 of 211899Free Church, LongmornElgin (near) MorayshireScotland 
Item 5 of 211901Botriphnie Parish ChurchBotriphnie BanffshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 6 of 211901Cainfield Farmhouse  Morayshire/BanffshireScotlandAdditions
Item 7 of 211901New HotelStornowayIsle of LewisRoss & CromartyScotland 
Item 8 of 211901Residence in Fortreath AvenueElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 9 of 211901Stotfield HotelLossiemouth MorayshireScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 211904Manchester HouseElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 11 of 211904St Giles BuildingElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 12 of 2119071,3 Duff AvenueElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 13 of 211908Board School, FindochtyBuckie BanffshireScotland 
Item 14 of 211909Lossiemouth Public SchoolLossiemouth  Scotlandextension
Item 15 of 211909Skating Rink, Cumming StreetElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 16 of 211911Episcopal RectoryElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 17 of 211911Hopeman LodgeDuffus MorayshireScotlandRaised from single storey to two storeys and other alterations
Item 18 of 211912Palace HotelGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotlandAdditions
Item 19 of 211922Moray Golf Club clubhouseLossiemouth MorayshireScotland 
Item 20 of 21c. 1930Cairnfield HouseBuckie BanffshireScotlandAddition - probably library
Item 21 of 211935Bishopmill Primary SchoolElgin MorayshireScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Builder23 April 1937  Obituary
Item 2 of 5Elgin Courier16 April 1937  Obituary
Item 3 of 5Moray and Nairn Gazette (or Express?)12 January 1888  For admission to RA Schools
Item 4 of 5Northern Scot17 April 1937  Obituary
Item 5 of 5RIBA Journal14 August 1937v44London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp968 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research by Elizabeth Beaton.
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v11 p63 (microfiche 47/G6)