Basic Biographical Details

Name: Allan & Friskin
Designation:  
Born: 1920
Died: After 1964
Bio Notes: William Wallace Friskin was born in 1889 and educated at Albert Road School, Pollokshields, and Allan Glen's School. In 1905 he was articled to John McKissack & Son, attending the Glasgow School of Architecture at Glasgow and West of Glasgow Technical College and Glasgow School of Art where he won a travelling scholarship 1906-07 and Professor's prize in 1908-09. Material seen at his house in 1972 indicated that there was also a link of some kind with Campbell and Hislop, although this is not mentioned in his nomination paper. In 1910 he moved to London to gain experience into Vincent Harris and Thomas Anderson Moodie from which office he moved to that of Arthur Bidlake Mitchell where he worked on designs for a block of flats in Montevideo. He gained an honourable mention in the Soane Medallion competition of 1912, passed the qualifying exam in 1913, and was admitted ARIBA, his proposers being Arnold Mitchell, John Campbell Turner Murray who had been in McKissack's office, and a J Thomson, presumably John Thomson of Thomson & Sandilands or possibly John Stewart Thomson of Wimbledon. He was awarded the Ashpitel Prize in 1914.

After wartime army service, in 1920 Friskin entered into partnership with William Allan in Dundee as Allan & Friskin, although no previous connection with Dundee is known. In the inter-war years he was an extremely skilful classical and Art Deco designer in both ashlar stone and brick, but in the more difficult post-war years quality proved difficult to maintain. In person he was short but always very neat, with a tendency to terseness of manner: just occasionally he could be more expansive. His wife Lily was a designer who worked for Thomas Justice & Sons, and their house at Arnhall Drive was an expression of their personal tastes in the decorative arts.

Allan died in December 1945, whereafter Friskin practised alone in Castle Street under the same practice title. He was for many years chairman of the Governors of Dundee College of Art.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 126, Castle Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1930After 1964The practice remained at this address until its closure

Employment and Training

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 5William Allan1920December 1945Partner 
Item 2 of 5William Wallace Friskin1920After 1964Partner 
Item 3 of 5James CairncrossNovember 1925After 1938Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Sydney ZimmermannAfter 1934Before 1937Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Alexander Brunton Taylor19371942Apprentice 

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 33After 1920Astoria CinemaLochee DundeeScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 331922Craigie Garden Suburb  DundeeScotlandDesigned houses
Item 3 of 331923Club, Kemback Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 4 of 33c. 1925Dronley HouseDronley AngusScotlandHS attribution
Item 5 of 331926Rialto CinemaLochee DundeeScotlandDesigned by Friskin but in partnership
Item 6 of 331926St Mary's RC SchoolLochee DundeeScotlandor 1936?
Item 7 of 331927Broadway Cinema  DundeeScotlandDesigned by Friskin
Item 8 of 331927St Mary's RC Church and PresbyteryLochee DundeeScotlandPlans lodged for additions for Rev Bishop Toner (sp?)
Item 9 of 331927Villas, Adelaide Place  DundeeScotlandDesigned by Allan but in partnership
Item 10 of 331929Lord Roberts workshops and warehouse  DundeeScotlandDesigned by Friskin but in partnership
Item 11 of 331929Rockwell Central School  DundeeScotlandDesigned by Friskin but in partnership
Item 12 of 331929SS Peter and Paul Primary School  DundeeScotlandDesigned by Friskin but in partnership
Item 13 of 331930Cinema, South Row  DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 14 of 331930Empire Cinema  DundeeScotland 
Item 15 of 331931Belmont CastleMeigle PerthshireScotlandConversion to Eventide Home
Item 16 of 331931UF Church  DundeeScotlandDesigned by Allan, according to Friskin
Item 17 of 33September 1932Clock over doorway of shop of William Millar & Sons, grocers and Italian warehouseman  DundeeScotlandModel prepared
Item 18 of 331933St Joseph's RC Schools  DundeeScotlandLarge addition - designed by Friskin but in partnership
Item 19 of 331933Tivoli Cinema  DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 20 of 331934Clement ParkLochee DundeeScotlandNW wing added as a maternity block when the building was used as a Salvation Army hostel.
Item 21 of 331934Concert HallCarnoustie AngusScotlandDesigned hall
Item 22 of 331934St Mary's Church HallLochee DundeeScotlandDesigned by Friskin but in partnership
Item 23 of 33c. 1935Villa, Arnhall Drive  DundeeScotland 
Item 24 of 331936Dundee High School, gymnasium block  DundeeScotlandE side, two storey and basement block
Item 25 of 331936Forty-four houses for Tayport Town CouncilTayport FifeScotland 
Item 26 of 331937Thomas Justice & Sons premises  DundeeScotlandInternal refitting - designed by Friskin in association with his wife
Item 27 of 331938St Teresa's Church  DundeeScotlandDesigned by Friskin but in partnership
Item 28 of 331950St Vincent's RC Church and HallLinlathen DundeeScotland 
Item 29 of 331956St Columba RC Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 30 of 331959St Mungo's RC Church and PresbyteryAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 31 of 331961St Pius X RC Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 32 of 331962St Clement's RC Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 33 of 331967Our Lady of Sorrows RC ChurchFintry DundeeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965