Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Arthur Forman Balfour Paul | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 7 August 1875 | Died: | 3 June 1938 | Bio Notes: | Arthur Forman Balfour Paul ('Baffy' to his friends and to his staff) was born in Edinburgh on 7 August 1875, the son of Sir James Balfour Paul, Lyon King of Arms. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy from 1885 to 1892 and was articled to Sir Robert Rowand Anderson from 1892 to 1896, remaining as a draughtsman until 1897 and studying at the School of Applied Art under Frank Worthington Simon and Stewart Henbest Capper. His travels in these early years included a short sketching tour in Belgium and Holland in 1895 and a three-month tour of England in 1897. In 1898 he obtained a place in John Belcher's office in London, staying there for a year and studying at the LCC School of Art before returning to Edinburgh to commence practice on his own account from home at 30 Heriot Row. Following the dissolution of the Anderson, Simon & Crawford partnership Sir Rowand Anderson invited him to return to his practice as partner in 1903. Paul joined the Edinburgh Architectural Association in the same year and it was on the recommendation of that association and of its President, James Bow Dunn, that he was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911.
The partnership was interrupted by the First World War. Paul was a keen territorial who had joined the London Scottish as a piper when with Belcher. He was commissioned as a major in the Royal Engineers and served with distinction in France, being awarded the MC and the Croix de Guerre with Gold Star. Anderson continued the practice, albeit in failing health, with some help from Alexander Lorne Campbell.
Paul resumed partnership in 1919 and became sole partner, Anderson having finally retired: Lorne Campbell was Anderson's executor and he, not Paul, as has been stated, designed the memorial cottage to Lady Anderson at Colinton. Crucially for the practice Paul retained the feuing of the Fettes Trust and Braid estates, providing a flow of business which saw it through a lean period. In 1931 Paul, whose office was managed by John McClure Anderson, offered his former assistant William Kininmonth a rrom I his office as he could not afford to re-employ him on his return from Lutyens's office. It had only a drawings board and a telephone, but it enabled Kininmonth to take into partnership his friend Basil Urwin Spence, recently returned from Lutyens's office in London. Supplemented by presentation work for other practices and by teaching at Edinburgh College of Art the partnership of Kininmonth & Spence had some success. In 1934 Paul offered Kininmonth a partnership but Kininmonth felt that he had to decline unless Spence was taken into partnership as well. Paul accepted this proposal, the recovery of the practice enabling them to take on as an assistant Alan Reiach, previously of Lorimer and Matthews' office. The name of the practice then became became Rowand Anderson & Paul & Partners and remained so until 1946 when Spence left to set up his own practice.
Paul was active in professional matters, serving on the RIBA Council after his election as FRIBA in 1933, for which he was proposed by John Begg, James Alexander Arnott and John Wilson. He was President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association 1934-36, and was President elect of the RIAS when he died on 3 June 1938, leaving a widow Jane Prichard Montgomerie Fleming. In his later years he had moved from his original marital home at 32 Ormidale Terrace to Peffermill House, Craigmillar. His estate amounted to £24,365 18s 10d. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Scotland | Business | | | |  | 30, Heriot Row, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1899(?) | | |  | 21, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1899 | c. 1903 | |  | 16, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1903 | 1938 | In partnership with R R Anderson |  | 32, Ormidale Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1907 | c. 1926 | |  | Peffermill House, Craigmillar, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1933 * | 1938 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | James Maxwell Scott | 1899 | 1903 | Apprentice | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | James Alexander Arnott | Mid 1933 | for Fellowship |  | John Begg | Mid 1933 | for Fellowship |  | James Bow Dunn | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship - as president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association |  | John Wilson | Mid 1933 | for Fellowship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | | Killellan Parish Church | Houston | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Instructed Scott Morton & Co for interior work - date unknown |  | | Newliston | Kirkliston | | West Lothian | Scotland | Instructed Scott Morton & Co for interior work - date unknown |  | 1877 | St Columba's Parish Church | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | Restoration |  | 1898 | Sir William Fraser Homes | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | After 1899 | Country house | Dunblane | | Perthshire | Scotland | May have been done in partnership with Robert Rowand Anderson |  | After 1899 | Country house | Davidson's Mains | | Edinburgh | Scotland | May have been done in partnership with Robert Rowand Anderson |  | After 1899 | Country house | Grantown-on-Spey (near) | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | May have been done in partnership with Robert Rowand Anderson |  | 1900 | Archers' Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Began job - reconstruction and enlargement |  | 1900 | Dean Cemetery, Monument to Sir William Fraser | Dean | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1901 | Housing | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1902 | Dunblane Cathedral Halls | Dunblane | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1903 | 5 Charlotte Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal remodelling |  | 1903 | Culross Abbey Church | Culross | | Fife | Scotland | Restoration |  | After 1903 | Edinburgh Royal Infirmary | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions |  | After 1903 | University of Edinburgh, Medical School and McEwan Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction of Medical School |  | c. 1903 | University College, main block | | | Dundee | Scotland | Design for the new main block - not built |  | 1904 | Keir House | Dunblane | | Perthshire | Scotland | Garden house (building dated 1904) and sundial (dated 1906) |  | 1904 | Pollok House, including lodges | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1905 | Archers' Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Work continued in partnership |  | 1905 | Edinburgh Royal Infirmary, Old Surgical Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Remodelling for the University of Edinburgh |  | 1905 | University College, Engineering and Physics buildings | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1906 | Cottage for the Rev Robert Weir | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1906 | Music Hall and Assembly Rooms | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions |  | 1906 | Newtyle Parish Church, Earl of Wharncliffe Memorial | Newtyle | | Angus | Scotland | |  | 1907 | St Cuthbert's Parish Church, Alexander Ballantine memorial tablet | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1908 | Surgeons' Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions, including West Museum (a.k.a. Barclay Museum, now Fellows' Hall) |  | 1910 | Govan Old Parish Church | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Lengthening of chancel |  | 1910 | Greenhill Cottage | Bruntsfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New ward block added |  | 1911 | 4 Heriot Row | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1911 | Edinburgh Academy, dining hall block | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Edinburgh Academy, Main Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal alterations - addition of columns in hall |  | 1911 | Fettes College, new sanatorium | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1912 | Keir House | Dunblane | | Perthshire | Scotland | Chapel (mosaics by Boris Anrep) |  | 1912 | St George's School for Girls | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1912 | St Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church Hall | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | New hall |  | 1913 | McNeil House, Kinellan Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1913 | University College, Engineering and Physics buildings | | | Dundee | Scotland | Harris Building (Engineering laboratory) |  | 1914 | Broomhill House | | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | |  | 1915 | 31 and 33 Westgate | North Berwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | Additions |  | 1915 | St Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Wooden porch - Balfour supervised installation |  | After 1918 | Donaldson's Hospital, War Memorial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1919 | SS Ascania, ship interior | | | | | |  | 1919 | SS Ausonia, ship interior | | | | | |  | 1919 | University of Edinburgh, King's Buildings, Chemistry Building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans prepared by Balfour Paul by October 1919 |  | After 1919(?) | Grey House | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1920s | Northfield | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations? (Plans including electrics, lighting and gas points.) |  | 1920 | War Memorial | Loanhead | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | Before 1920(?) | 3 Montrose Terrace | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal alterations to form public house |  | c. 1920 | Kilellan (or Killellan) Old Manse | Kirkton Farm (near) | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Extensive restoration |  | c. 1920 | Ladies Caledonian Club, Charlotte Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |  | c. 1920 | Scottish Rugby Union War memorial | | | | Scotland | |  | 1921 | War Memorial | Irvine | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1923 | Culross Abbey Church | Culross | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations to pulpit |  | 1923 | Rankine House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1924 | 6 Charlotte Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and restoration |  | 1926 | 7 Charlotte Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1926 | Bowland House | Whitehill | | Midlothian | Scotland | Further extensions to east |  | 1926 | Cakemuir Castle | Crichton | | Midlothian | Scotland | Modernisation |  | 1927 | Wester Finlarig and lodge | Dulnain Bridge | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | |  | 1928 | 22 Kinnear Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1928 | Fettes College, Kimmerghame House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1929 | Murrayfield Parish Church | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | North transept and chancel completed to Crawford's design but with addition of organ chamber |  | 1930 | St Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Heightening of tower |  | 1931 | Eigg Lodge | | Eigg | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Rebuilding after fire |  | 1932 | Mayfield Free Church | Mayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Pulpit |  | 1934 | 22 Frogston Road West | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Church of Scotland, Chalmers Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Deaconess Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction, addition of a floor to the original block, and Lord Sands Memorial Wing |  | 1934 | Dumfries House | Cumnock (near) | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Chapel dismantled and space in basement converted to library and on first floor into dining room |  | 1934 | Murrayfield Golf Clubhouse | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion of clubhouse into dwelling house |  | 1935 | Broomhill House | | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Addition |  | 1935 | Dunedin House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | L'Aperitif Restaurant | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Liberton House | Liberton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Removal of later additions and restoration |  | 1935 | Timber Houses | Forth | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Upton, 141 Corsebar Road | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Broughton Place, including summer house, tennis court, walled garden, gatepiers, and stableblock | | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Church and Suite of Church Halls | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Edinburgh Sports Club | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | May not have been involved. Original design - amended design the following year. |  | 1936 | Fettes College | Comely Bank | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Interior renovation |  | 1936 | Fettes College, Dalmeny House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Interior renovation of passages, changing rooms and study area |  | 1936 | Fettes College, new hall and new chapel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposed new hall |  | 1936 | Garth of Finlarig | Dulnain Bridge | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Salvation Army Headquarters and Home | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In conjunction with Oswald Archer |  | 1936 | St Mary's Episcopal Church | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | Memorial tablet to the 7th Duke of Buccleuch |  | 1937 | Corstorphine Parish Church | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration and alterations - assisted by Spence and Kininmonth |  | 1937 | Edinburgh Dental Hospital and school | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposed extension (executed 1952-54. The 1950s drawings differ from the pre-war appeal brochure) |  | 1937 | Gribloch House | Kippen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Worked in association with Perry Duncan |  | 1937 | Quothquhan | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Duddingston Parish Church, hall | Duddingston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Falkirk Royal Infirmary Nurses' Home | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Won competition but not built |  | Before 1938 | Cowan House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1939 | Hospital | Lochart | | | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Edwards, Brian | 1995 | Basil Spence 1907-1976 | | | |  | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p12 Site plan and perspective of Timber Housing, Lanarkshire p94 Aperitif Restaurant |  | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | |  | Pike | | Edinburgh and the Lothians at the turn of the 20th century | | | |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p82 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 10 June 1938 | | | Obituary |  | RIAS Quarterly | 1938 | Autumn/Winter | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary p31 |  | RIBA Journal | 12 September 1938 | v45 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p993 - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v20 no1511; F no3134 (box 17) |
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 |