Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Jerdan | Designation: | | Born: | 21 May 1839 | Died: | 16 November 1913 | Bio Notes: | James Jerdan was born at Greenlees Farm near Yetholm on 21 May 1839, the son of a tenant farmer, Robert Jerdan, and Helen Brunton. He was apprenticed as a joiner and was described as a journeyman joiner when he married nineteen-year-old Helen Watson, a Melrose-born power-loom weaver, in Galashiels in 1868.
Around 1875 he joined Wardrop & Reid in Edinburgh, probably as a clerk-of-works. Around 1885 he set up practice on his own account at 74 George Street with the gift of office equipment surplus to requirements following the merger of the Wardrop & Reid practice with Rowand Anderson's. Soon afterward Jerdan moved office to 12 Castle Street, where the practice remained for the rest of its existence.
The Jerdans first lived in Tynecastle, later moving to Dundee Street which was listed as their address in the census of 1901, and finally to 5 Craiglockhart Terrace shortly thereafter. They had nine children. The eldest son, Robert, became a chartered surveyor in North Castle Street and did the survey work for the practice. Thomas, born 1873, died at the age of twenty. John, born 1875, and James Watson, born 1882, became architects. The fifth and youngest son, George L, born c.1884, was listed as a joiner in the 1901 census, and seems to have been briefly in the family office, but emigrated to Australia before the First World War to join his brothers-in-law in their building contractors' business. The daughters were Janet (born c.1870), Elizabeth S (born c.1880 and working as a photographer's assistant in 1901) and Jane (born 15 and listed in 1901 as a typist).
Of the two architect sons, John was the more gifted and continued the practice. He was educated at the Edinburgh Institution and articled to his father. During that period he attended the classes at Heriot-Watt - where his father taught architecture and building construction - and won the free-hand drawing medal during the 1892-3 session: he also attended the Trustees classes at the Royal Scottish Academy.
In 1897 John made a study tour of France, and in 1899 another of Britain. In that year he obtained a place in the office of Aston Webb, where he met Ralph Knott. They became close friends, attending the drawing classes at the Slade together. A partnership was planned but abandoned in 1903 or 1904, as James Jerdan was by then suffering from diabetes and John had to return home to take over the business, which does not seem to have had enough work to support three partners. James Junior (who hyphenated his name as James Watson-Jerdan) obtained a post with Fife County Council in Kirkcaldy and set up a separate practice just before the First World War at Ivy College, Barnes, London, moving later to Croydon, where he died in 1932. The elder Jerdans retired to Warden House, Coldingham, where Helen died in 1909. James died in Edinburgh on 16 November 1913. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Tynecastle, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1885 | | | | 74, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1885 | c. 1892 | | | 19, Dundee Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1887 | c. 1901 | In 1887 business and home and thereafter home. | | 29, Frederick Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1888 | | | | 12, Castle Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Late 1880s | c. 1940 | | | Warden House, Coldingham, Berwickshire, Scotland | Private | c. 1902 | 1913 | | | 5, Craiglockhart Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Early 1900s | 1913 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Wardrop & Reid | 1875 | c. 1885 | Clerk of Works | | | James Jerdan & Son | 1903 or 1904 | Before 1909 | Partner | |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | John Jerdan | 1893 | 1898 | Apprentice | | | George Angus Sutherland | 19 February 1900 | 1904 | Apprentice | |
RIBARIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | George Angus Sutherland | 20 March 1911 | for Licentiateship |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1881 | 89 Marchmont Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1881 | Tenements, 37-39 Marchmont Crescent | Marchmont | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1885 | Double Villa | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1885 | St James' Episcopal Church | Goldenacre | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Acted as Clerk of Works | | 1889 | Tenement and shop, Grassmarket | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion to lodging house | | 1889 | Whitehorse Close (Bishop Paterson's House) | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration as working class housing | | 1890 | Bathgate Manse | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | Additions | | 1890 | Benreoch House | Arrochar? | | Dunbartonshire? | Scotland | Alterations and new stair | | 1890 | Blackshiels farm buildings | Pathhead | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1890 | Kirkwood Villa | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1890 | Loanhead Farm buildings | Loanhead | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1890 | Newtonloan Fever Hospital | Cockpen | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1891 | 3-7 James Court | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original drawings by J Jordan, 13 Castle Street, of reconstruction of Nos 3-7, for the Edinburgh Social Union (Patrick Geddes, etc) in the Dean of Guild records, City Chambers, 1891 | | 1891 | Bathgate Academy, Chemistry Laboratory | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1891 | Currie & Co's offices | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1891 | East Linton Parish Church | East Linton | | East Lothian | Scotland | Recasting of Georgian church | | 1891 | Linburn House and other buildings on site | Wilkieston | | Midlothian | Scotland | Additions | | 1891 | Lochgelly feuing | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1891 | Monument at McFie's grave | Gogarburn | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1891 | Newtonloan Fever Hospital | Cockpen | | Midlothian | Scotland | Alterations and new smallpox ward | | 1891 | Sauchenside Cottages | Sauchenside | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1891 | Surgeons' Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations to principal stair and new stair | | 1891 | Tillicoultry House | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1892 | Caledonia Mills | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1892 | Gogarburn House | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Boudoir added | | 1892 | Sheriff Court | Duns | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1892 | Stenton Parish Church | Stenton | | East Lothian | Scotland | Alterations and re-seating | | 1892 | Tenements | Galashiels | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | 1893 | 72 George Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1893 | Abbey Park Cottage | Coldingham | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1893 | Children's Shelter | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1893 | Clarence Lodging House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1893 | Edinburgh and District Water Trust Offices | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1893 | Guthrie Street Lodging House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1894 | Cockenzie Hall | Cockenzie | | East Lothian | Scotland | Alterations | | 1894 | Police Station | Duns | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1895 | 50 Frederick Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1895 | Hall at Drem | | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1895 | House for Henry Steel | Coldingham | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Designs only - not built | | 1895 | Mission Hall | Tranent | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1895 | Murano Place Woollen Mills | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1895 | Temple Hall | Coldingham | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Including stable offices | | 1896 | Gogarburn House | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Other additions | | 1896 | Prestonkirk Parish Church | East Linton | | East Lothian | Scotland | Reredos and interior refurbishment | | 1897 | Buglass Cottage | Coldingham | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1897 | Houses, Blackfriars Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1897 | Houses, Dean Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Probably alterations | | 1897 | Houses, Drumdryan Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Probably alterations | | 1897 | Villa, 66 Polwarth Terrace | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1897 | Villas, 76-78 Polwarth Terrace | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1898 | 30 and 31 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New premises at rear | | 1899 | Children's Home | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1899 | Kirkliston Parish Church | Kirkliston | | West Lothian | Scotland | Alterations to church and hall | | 1899 | Office and tenement, Grove Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations to no 72 | | 1899 | Waverley Court | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1900 | 7 Ainslie Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1900 | Border Mansion | | | | Scotland | | | 1900 | St Giles Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1901 | David Chalmers Memorial Hall | Slateford | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1902 | Warden House | Coldingham | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1902 | Winchburgh School | Winchburgh | | West Lothian | Scotland | Substantial extension | | 1903 | Kirna | Walkerburn | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1904 | Braidwood House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1904 | Donaldson & Co Motor Car Works | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1904 | House for Professor F G Bailey | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1905 | Ardlaggan | New Galloway | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | | 1905 | Balnowart | Ballantrae | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1906 | Monkwood | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1906 | Newbury | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1907 | Davaar | Earlsferry | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1907 | Villa, 7 Spylaw Park | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1907 | Winchburgh School | Winchburgh | | West Lothian | Scotland | Senior school addition to NW | | 1908 | 30 Gillespie Road | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1908 | Athelstaneford | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1908 | House for J MacLeod | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1908 | House for James Milne | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1909 | Chisholme House | | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Additions and reconstruction |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Adam, Shona | 1991 | James Jerdan & Son, Architects, Memoir by Shona Adam, Granddaughter of John Jerdan | | Exhibition Catalogue, RIAS Gallery, January-February 1991 | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 21 November 1913 | | | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Shona Adam, Granddaughter of John Jerdan | James Jerdan & Son Office Ledger | | |
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