Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Smart
Designation:  
Born: 1824
Died: 13 October 1914
Bio Notes: David Smart was born in Alyth in 1824. It is not known where he was first apprenticed but 'for many years' he worked in the office of David Bryce. The office legend was that they quarrelled, resulting in Smart leaving to buy William Macdonald Mackenzie's Perth practice from his widow in 1858, and that the quarrel was quickly regretted and made up; Bryce presented Smart with a plaster copy of his bust by George McCallum, which was still in the entrance hall of their office in the 1960s.

Smart's early Scots baronial and Italian Renaissance work is indistinguishable from Bryce's. By the late 1870s his public and commercial buildings had become Victorian late classic with French roofs, a development perhaps associated with James Smart, who was either his nephew or his son and was his partner from at least 1887 as D & J Smart. This partnership was dissolved in 1895, probably due to a family disagreement relating to the readmission of John Walker Smart, James's son (born 1872), to the practice. John had been articled to his father in 1888 and had subsequent experience with Kinnear & Peddie in Edinburgh in 1892, with McLuckie & Walker in Stirling in 1893 and with Thomas Martin Cappon in Dundee in 1894. David retained the existing office at 42 Tay Street, Perth and James opened his own office at 28 York Place in the same town with his son as chief assistant, entering into partnership with him in 1900 as James Smart & Son.

On 1 January 1907 David Smart took into partnership his senior assistant Donald Alexander Stewart, born 1876, educated at Sharp's Institution, Perth, and articled to Smart from 1892 to 1896. The firm became known as Smart & Stewart.

Smart retired in or about 1911 at the age of 86 and died on 13 October 1914 at the age of ninety. He was then living at Rockbank, Kinnoull, and left a widow, Margaret Morrison, and three daughters. He left a moveable estate of £8589 13s 4d, comparable with the most successful Glasgow practitioners, suggesting a large domestic practice or perhaps inheritance. Stewart continued the practice alone under the same name and later took Robert Matthew Mitchell (born 1874) into partnership.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Rockbank, Kinnoull, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate 13 October 1914 
Item 2 of 38, High Street, Perth, Perthshire, ScotlandBusiness1868 *  
Item 3 of 342, Tay Street, Perth, Perthshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1895After 1911 

* 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 3David BryceAfter 18391858Assistant'for many years'
Item 2 of 3D & J Smartc. 1887(?)1895Senior Partner 
Item 3 of 3Smart & Stewart1 January 1907c. 1911Partner 

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 6James Lawson StewartBefore 1864Before 1868Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6John Wittet18821888Apprentice(?) 
Item 3 of 6James SmartBefore 1887Before 1887Apprentice(?) 
Item 4 of 6Donald Alexander Stewart18951896Apprentice 
Item 5 of 6John Stirling Jarvie18961900 or 1901Apprentice 
Item 6 of 6Donald Alexander Stewart18961 January 1907Assistant 

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 70 AshmoreBridge of Cally PerthshireScotlandDate unknown - for further work?
Item 2 of 70 Butterglen House   ScotlandDate unknown
Item 3 of 70 Loch Garry House  Perthshire?ScotlandDate unknown
Item 4 of 70 Rosebank House and FernhillPerth PerthshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 5 of 701859Forfar PoorhouseForfar AngusScotland 
Item 6 of 701859Perth PoorhousePerth PerthshireScotlandCompetition design - unplaced
Item 7 of 701859Sharp's Educational InstitutionPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 8 of 701860Rio VillaPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 9 of 70c. 1860Villa, 6 Kinnoull TerracePerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 10 of 70c. 1860Witch-hillBridgend, Perth PerthshireScotland 
Item 11 of 701861Battleby HouseRedgorton PerthshireScotland 
Item 12 of 701862Balhousie CastlePerth PerthshireScotlandRestoration and enlargement 'to improve the amenity of the adjoining feuing grounds'
Item 13 of 701862ErigmoreTorr Hill, Birnam PerthshireScotland 
Item 14 of 701863Forteviot Old SchoolForteviot PerthshireScotlandFurther reconstruction
Item 15 of 701863Sheriff Clerk and Procurator Fiscal's OfficesPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 16 of 701864Central Bank of ScotlandCrieff PerthshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 17 of 701864Fechney Industrial School for BoysPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 18 of 701866Perth County BuildingsPerth PerthshireScotlandRebuilding of courtroom section of Sir Robert Smirke's building on square plan; internal remodelling and new buildings on South Street.
Item 19 of 701866Perth Station HotelPerth PerthshireScotlandWon competition and secured job but carried out to 'modified and reduced' designs
Item 20 of 701867City and County InfirmaryPerth PerthshireScotlandResiting and reconstruction of Mackenzie's lodge in different form
Item 21 of 701867Parish Church of ForteviotForteviot PerthshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 22 of 701870Strathmore Primary School (and Schoolhouse)Forfar AngusScotland 
Item 23 of 70c. 1870Wellshill Industrial School for GirlsPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 24 of 701871Methven Parish ChurchMethven PerthshireScotlandTracery of windows and other alterations
Item 25 of 701871Perth District AsylumMurthly PerthshireScotlandAdministrative block
Item 26 of 701872Kilgraston HouseBridge of Earn PerthshireScotlandReconstruction after fire - executed by John Watherston & Sons, builders
Item 27 of 701874Dunkeld Free ChurchPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 28 of 701877Bridgend HallPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 29 of 701877Kinloch Parish ChurchKinloch PerthshireScotlandWindows inserted in gallery
Item 30 of 701879Balhousie Estate and houses in Balhousie StreetPerth PerthshireScotlandLayout of estate and elevation for houses in Balhousie Street
Item 31 of 7018814-8 Princes StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 32 of 701887Blairgowrie Methodist ChurchBlairgowrie PerthshireScotlandMay be David Smart on his own and not in partnership
Item 33 of 701887Coupar Angus Public HallCoupar Angus Perthshire/AngusScotlandMay be David Smart on his own and not in partnership
Item 34 of 701889Fechney Industrial School for BoysPerth PerthshireScotlandFurther work
Item 35 of 70Early 1880sLignwoodScone PerthshireScotlandHouse is 'of recent contruction' in 1888
Item 36 of 70189151 WatergatePerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 37 of 701891St Leonard's ChurchPerth PerthshireScotlandApse at W added
Item 38 of 701892St Maddoes SchoolSt Maddoes PerthshireScotland 
Item 39 of 70After 1894Pumping StationPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 40 of 701894 or 1895Perth District Asylum, Pinel House and Tuke HouseMurthly PerthshireScotland 
Item 41 of 701895193-195 High Street and 1-5 Kinnoull StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 42 of 7018956-12 Kinnoull Street and High StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 43 of 701895Premises for Mr Stewart, Kinnoull StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 44 of 70c. 18957-9 Kinnoull StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 45 of 70189626-28 Scott StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 46 of 70189737-43 Scott Street and 141-143 South StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 47 of 701897Grand Temperance Hotel and Associated BuildingsPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 48 of 7018996-12 Kinnoull Street and High StreetPerth PerthshireScotlandNew shopfront at no 12
Item 49 of 701899Brand's BuildingsPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 50 of 701899Glenfarg HotelGlenfarg PerthshireScotland 
Item 51 of 701899Royal Bank of Scotland BuildingsPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 52 of 701900House, Perth District AsylumMurthly PerthshireScotland 
Item 53 of 701900Police BuildingsCrieff PerthshireScotland 
Item 54 of 701900Royal Bank of ScotlandKinross Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 55 of 70190122-28 King Edward StreetPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 56 of 701901House of Falkland, Stable BlockFalkland FifeScotlandAlterations - octagonal wooden clock turret
Item 57 of 701901Kinnoull Church HallKinnoull PerthshireScotland 
Item 58 of 701901Villa for Mr BoydPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 59 of 701902Perth Night Shelter for FemalesPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 60 of 70Before 1907Ledlanet House and StablesMilnathort Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 61 of 701907 or 1908Premises for John Dewar & SonPerth PerthshireScotlandDuty Free warehouse and extension of offices
Item 62 of 701908Police BuildingsBlairgowrie PerthshireScotland 
Item 63 of 701909St Andrew's Parish ChurchPerth PerthshireScotlandAdditions
Item 64 of 701910Kinross Parish Church ManseKinross Kinross-shireScotlandAdditions and alterations including enlargement of windows
Item 65 of 701911Fechney Industrial School for BoysPerth PerthshireScotlandAlterations and additions, including laundry
Item 66 of 70Before 1914Auchterarder Glass WorksAuchterarder PerthshireScotland 
Item 67 of 70Before 1914Buildings for John Moncrieff Ltd at Perth harbourPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 68 of 70Before 1914Freeland House  PerthshireScotlandRedecoration
Item 69 of 70Before 1914Kinnoull Parish ChurchKinnoull PerthshireScotlandStone restoration
Item 70 of 70Before 1914Scones of Lethendy HousePerth PerthshireScotlandStone restoration

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Blairgowrie Advertiser17 October 1914  Obituary
Item 2 of 2Perthshire Advertiser14 October 1914  p5 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from J Morrison and H C Miller in 1962