Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Constable
Designation: Architect
Born: 16 August 1863
Died:  
Bio Notes: William Constable was born at Hill-of-Errol on 16 August 1863, son of Andrew Constable, farmer. He was educated privately and at Strathmore House School, Southport, Lancashire. He was articled to John Melvin & Son of Alloa from 1879 to 1883 and then worked as assistant to Alexander Johnston of Dundee for two years, spending some time on sketching tours of the Borders including Jedburgh Abbey. From 1886 to 1892 he was assistant to George Craig, architect to Leith School Board.

Constable commenced independent practice in Edinburgh in 1893 and by 1895 had formed a partnership with George Lyle, who had succeeded to Robert Raeburn's practice. Lyle did not appear with Constable in 'Who's Who in Architecture 1914' but the practice title of Lyle & Constable was retained until the 1930s.

Constable was architect for the Superior of Grange Estate, Edinburgh; for the Superior of Mortonhall, Blackford and Greenbank Estates; and for the Superiors of Ranfurly Estate, Bridge-of-Weir. He was elected LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association. He was treasurer of the Musselburgh Fair Day Association, Ltd.; treasurer of Musselburgh Burns' Club, and of St John's Lodge, Fisherrow, No112; a member of the Union Club, Edinburgh, Royal Musselburgh and New Luffness Golf Clubs; and provost of Musselburgh. He campaigned unsuccessfully to have Musselburgh brought within the City of edinburgh boundary.

His practice seems to have been taken over by his son, Graham, who joined his father at some point in the 1930s.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 7ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 7ScotlandBusiness   
Item 3 of 730, Raeburn Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness18911893 
Item 4 of 720, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness18941898 
Item 5 of 73, Hill Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1899After 1939Does the date of the formation of the practice of Lyle & Constable is unclear as the date at which Constable moved to 3 Hill Street. Does this move to Hill Street pre-date the practice?
Item 6 of 71, Inveresk Terrace, Musselburgh, East Lothian, ScotlandBusiness1903 *  
Item 7 of 784, Inveresk Road, Musselburgh, East Lothian, ScotlandPrivate1907After 1914 

* 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 4John Melvin & Son18791883Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Alexander Johnston18831885Assistant 
Item 3 of 4George Craig18861892Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Lyle & ConstableBefore 1895(?)1933Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1James Bow Dunn20 July 1911for Licentiateship - as President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association

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 701855Market Inn  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 2 of 701863Slaughter Houses, Market Street  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 3 of 701886Crookston School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 701890Auchterderran Parish ChurchAuchterderran FifeScotlandAddition of south 'nave', replaced windows etc
Item 5 of 701893Greenside Parish Church  EdinburghScotlandChurch officer's house added
Item 6 of 701893Houses for Inveresk Paper CompanyInveresk MidlothianScotland 
Item 7 of 701893Millhill ChurchMusselburgh? Midlothian?Scotland 
Item 8 of 701894Board SchoolInveresk MidlothianScotland 
Item 9 of 701894Braid Hills Hotel  EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 701894St BrycedaleKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 701895(?)Barnton Hotel  EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 701895Buildings, Traquair EstateTraquair PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 13 of 701895StablesLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 701896ChurchGlencraig FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 701896Inveresk Union PoorhouseInveresk MidlothianScotlandSick wards
Item 16 of 701897Fisherrow BreweryMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 17 of 701897Pentland Terrace, southern houses  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 701897Traquair Parish ChurchTraquair PeeblesshireScotlandAlterations
Item 19 of 701898(?)Braid Hills Hotel  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 20 of 701898Business premisesMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 21 of 701898Co-operative Society PremisesBroxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 22 of 701899Auchtergaven Parish ChurchAuchtergaven PerthshireScotlandRemodelling of Georgian church - vestries flanking tower added
Item 23 of 701900Cardenden School and schoolhouseCardenden FifeScotland 
Item 24 of 701900Musselburgh TolboothMusselburgh MidlothianScotlandAlterations, including new clock in tower
Item 25 of 701900Musselburgh Town HouseMusselburgh MidlothianScotlandWon competition for hall at rear (£25 premium) and secured job
Item 26 of 701900SchoolTranent East LothianScotland 
Item 27 of 70c. 1900Terraced houses, Eskside WestMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 28 of 701901Buildings for Sir Alexander Hope  East Lothian?Scotland 
Item 29 of 701901RC SchoolBroxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 30 of 701902Crookston SchoolInveresk MidlothianScotland 
Item 31 of 701902Tenement  EdinburghScotland 
Item 32 of 701902Tower InnTranent MidlothianScotland 
Item 33 of 701903Buildings for Sir Alexander Hope  East Lothian?Scotland 
Item 34 of 701903Inveresk Union PoorhouseInveresk MidlothianScotlandFurther work?
Item 35 of 701904Houses, RanfurlyBridge of Weir RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 36 of 701904SchoolsMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 37 of 701905Braid Hills Road, houses on south side and 168-172 Braid RoadGreenbank EdinburghScotland 
Item 38 of 701905HouseColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 39 of 701905House for General Cockburn   Scotland 
Item 40 of 701905Pentland Terrace, houses between Braid Hills Road and Riselaw RoadGreenbank EdinburghScotland 
Item 41 of 70c. 1905Riselaw Road, houses on north sideGreenbank EdinburghScotland 
Item 42 of 701906Cockenzie School and SchoolhouseCockenzie East LothianScotlandFurther work - or another school?
Item 43 of 701906House(s)Grange EdinburghScotland 
Item 44 of 701906House(s), Greenbank  EdinburghScotland 
Item 45 of 701906Marshall's Bar  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 46 of 701907Broxburn SchoolBroxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 47 of 701907Farm house and steadingHuntlywood BerwickshireScotland 
Item 48 of 701908Fisherrow SchoolMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 49 of 701908Pencaitland SchoolPencaitland East LothianScotland 
Item 50 of 701908Tranent SchoolTranent East LothianScotland 
Item 51 of 701909HousesGrange EdinburghScotland 
Item 52 of 701909St Fothad's ChurchCardenden FifeScotland 
Item 53 of 70191057-67 and 68-104 West Holmes GardensMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 54 of 701910Crossroads School   Scotland 
Item 55 of 701910HousePencaitland East LothianScotland 
Item 56 of 701910Humbie SchoolHumbie East LothianScotland 
Item 57 of 70c. 1910Terraced houses, Campie RoadMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 58 of 701911Infant SchoolBroxburn West LothianScotland 
Item 59 of 701914Cambie SchoolMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 60 of 701916Campie SchoolMusselburgh MidlothianScotland 
Item 61 of 701922Musselburgh & Inveresk War MemorialMusselburgh/Inveresk MidlothianScotland 
Item 62 of 70192530 Houses for G Graham  EdinburghScotland 
Item 63 of 701925Cox House, LothianburnLothianburn EdinburghScotland 
Item 64 of 701930Burntisland Established Church HallBurntisland FifeScotlandNew hall
Item 65 of 701930Windy Mains Cottages  East LothianScotland 
Item 66 of 701931University of Edinburgh, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons  EdinburghScotlandExtension
Item 67 of 701931Windy Mains Cottages  East LothianScotland 
Item 68 of 7019331-8 SwanstonSwanston EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 69 of 701933108-122 Grange Loan  EdinburghScotland 
Item 70 of 70c. 1936Grange Crescent  EdinburghScotlandResponsible for the plan of Grange Crescent.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 4Eddington, A1904Contemporary BiographiesEdinburgh and the LothiansWT Pike and Co., Pike's New Century Series, no. 12 
Item 3 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 4 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Courtesy of Crichton WoodTypescript memoirs and collection of drawings  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v10 no1190

Images

© All rights reserved. Edinburgh and the Lothians at the opening of the twentieth century / by A. Eddington. Contemporary biographies / edited by W.T. Pike 

© All rights reserved. Edinburgh and the Lothians at the opening of the twentieth century / by A. Eddington. Contemporary biographies / edited by W.T. Pike