Basic Biographical Details Name: | J D Cairns & Ford | Designation: | | Born: | June 1928 | Died: | | Bio Notes: | James Davidson Cairns was born on 26 December 1866 and educated at George Watson's Boys' College. He served his apprenticeship from 1882 in the office of Charles Stewart Still Johnston and then in the office of Robert Morham, who worked both in private practice and as architect to the City of Edinburgh. He attended the Edinburgh School of Art and on completion of his apprenticeship became a draughtsman in the office of Rowand Anderson, remaining there for four and a half years. He then moved to the office of Francis Edward Ward in Belfast for two years, finally becoming chief assistant to Hippolyte Jean Blanc where he remained for fourteen and half years and had full charge of the staff of 12 to 14 people. Having won the competition for Crail United Free Church, he commenced independent practice in 1908. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, his proposers being James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association; and was admitted FRIBA early in 1929, his proposers being James Alexander Arnott, John Begg and John Wilson.
In 1928 he took his then chief draughtsman James Fulton Ford into partnership. Ford had been born on 31 October 1889, the son of William Ford, police sergeant, and had been educated at Leith Public School and from 29 September 1903 until 19 July 1905 at George Heriot's School. He had served his articles with Thomas Duncan Rhind from 1906, attending classes at Edinburgh College of Art and taking study tours of Scotland in his spare time. On completing his apprenticeship in 1911 he had remained as draughtsman, and had been promoted to chief draughtsman by the time he commenced war service with the Royal Scots in 1914. At the end of the war in 1919 he had spent a short period as draughtsman in the office of David McArthy of Edinburgh before obtaining the appointment of chief draughtsman with James Davidson Cairns in 1920.
The office of J D Cairns & Ford was at 63 George Street, Edinburgh. From 1938 Arthur Bain Morrison entered the partnership, the practice title remaining unchanged. Ford was admitted LRIBA on 15 February 1944, his proposers being Cairns, Thomas Forbes Maclennan and John Ross McKay. He was also an Associate of the Edinburgh Architectural Association.
Cairns designed a wide range of buildings including churches, hotels, restaurants, houses and schools. He was architect to the Peeblesshire Education Committee for many years (from 1914 he resided in Peebles) and the experience he gained from this led to his appointment as advisory architect to the Scottish Education Department from 1925, an appointment which he held until his resignation in 1944. He was concerned during this period with the improvement of planning in school buildings throughout Scotland. Later when he was a member of the committee which undertook the preparation of the new School Building Regulations, his knowledge and experience was of great assistance. He acted as Assessor for the competitions for Greenock High School, Perth Academy and Alloa Public School.
Cairns was particularly interested in church architecture, and following the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act 1925 was appointed by the Church's General Trustees to report on the condition of the fabrics of the parish churches and manses within the presbytery of Peebles, subsequently supervising the consequent restoration work. In addition, as Architect to the Comiston and Colinton House Estates near Edinburgh and the Haystoun Estate in Peebles, he had control of the development of land in these areas.
Cairns made various study tours both in Britain - including every cathedral city in England - and on the Continent, travelling in Belgium, Holland, Germany, France and Italy. He revised several textbooks for the International Correspondence Schools, including those for Specification Writing, Specification Memoranda, Stair Building and Joinery.
When fellow Edinburgh architect Charles Edward Tweedie Junior died on 11 February 1947, J D Cairns & Ford temporarily took over his business whilst his two sons completed their architectural training. Cairns died on 25 November that year, aged 81; he was then one of the oldest members of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, having joined prior to 1887. He had also been a Fellow of the RIAS since its inception. He was a fine draughtsman and took great pleasure in working out in detail a complicated plan. His obituarist describes him as 'kindly, considerate and upright'. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Meadowbank Building/67, Marionville Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | | | | | 63, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | June 1928 | After 1947 | | | 116, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1964 | After 1970 | | | 48, Melville Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | | Before March 1950 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
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 | | 1928 | Premises for Messrs Peter Allan Ltd | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction | | After 1928 | Two-storey cottages, Edinburgh Road | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1930 | Bakery for McVitie & Guest | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1931 | Eastwark House | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Shopfront | | After 1932(?) | Caretaker's cottage | | | Edinburgh? | Scotland | Probably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant | | After 1932 | Edinburgh College of Domestic Science, 1-2 Drumsheugh Gardens | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Probably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant | | After 1932(?) | House, Oxgangs Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Probably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant | | After 1932(?) | Nurses' cottage | | | Edinburgh? | Scotland | Probably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant | | After 1932(?) | Road widening, Comiston Estate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Probably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant | | 1933 | New warehouse premises | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1933 | Medical Hall | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | College of Domestic Science | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions and reconstruction | | 1935 | Dunalistair | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1935 | Macvitties Guest & Co / McVities Guest & Co shop and tea room | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition on South Charlotte Street | | c. 1935 | Bank of Scotland | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | New bank on old site | | 1937 | Heriot Brewery premises | Roseburn | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1938 | Queen's District Nurses premises, Castle Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1950 | Fountain Brewery for William McEwan & Co | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Architects for new tun room | | 1950 | Hostel, Walker Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | December 1950 | College of Domestic Science | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Warrant granted by Dean of Guild Court for the reconstruction and alterations of its premises. The cost of reconstruction of £11,300 | | 1951 | Rialto Picture House | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Stalls, Screen, Toilets, modernisation | | 1951 | Tron Moredun | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | The names of the partners at this date are not yet known | | 1964 | Royal High School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Cairns & Ford who took over the Forbes & Reid practice and were mainly responsible. | | 1970s | Caravan Park | Mortonhall | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1970s | Castle warehouse | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1970s | Factory for Rowntree Mackintosh | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1970s | George Stewart & Co Factory | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1970s | H Ballantyne & Sons textile mill | Walkerburn | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1970s | Housing for Comben Homes Ltd | Newburgh | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1970s | Martin & Frost's premises | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1970s | Royal Bank branches | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1970s | Shell Bay Caravan Park | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1970s | Waren Mill Caravan Park | Belford | | Northumberland | England | | | 1972 | Holy Trinity Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | The names of the partners at this date are not yet known | | 1972 | Holy Trinity Church of Scotland | Wester Hailes | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1973 | Royal High School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions | | Before 1975 | Forrester High School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Games complex added | | Before 1975 | George Heriot's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Refectory and kitchen | | Before 1975 | Housing for Comben Homes Ltd | Alness | | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | Old People's Home | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1976 | Royal Bank, Cramond | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Dairy complex for Murchies Creamery | Loanhead | | Midlothian | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Municipal Annual | 1964 | Scottish Municipal Annual | 1964-1965 | | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 1 December 1950 | | | p582 | | Builder | 3 February 1950 | | | p181 | | Builder | 3 March 1950 | | | p309 | | RIAS Quarterly | May 1948 | | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary of James Davidson Cairns |
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