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Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Fulton Ford
Designation: Architect
Born: 31 October 1889
Died: 19 April 1961
Bio Notes: James Fulton Ford was born on 31 October 1889, the son of William Ford, police sergeant and his wife Barbara Fulton. He was educated at Leith Public School and from 29 September 1903 until 19 July 1905 at George Watson's College and seems to have also spent some time at George Heriot's School, as he is listed on George Heriot's Roll of Honour in 1921. He 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 remained as draughtsman, and had been promoted to chief draughtsman by the time he commenced war service with the 9th Royal Scots in 1914. (Ford enrolled as a member of the Royal Scots Club in Edinburgh in 1933-34 but whether he remained a member is yet not known).

At the end of the war in 1919 he 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. Cairns took Ford into partnership in June 1928, their office being 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.

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. Ford died at the Eastern General Hospital, Edinburgh, on 19 April 1961, survived by his wife Isabella Cowie Mortimer and at least one daughter.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 363, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1919After 1947(?) 
Item 2 of 388, Grange Loan, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 19331961 
Item 3 of 348, Melville Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1950 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6(Sir) Thomas Duncan Rhind19061911Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6(Sir) Thomas Duncan Rhind1911Before 1914Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 6(Sir) Thomas Duncan RhindAfter 19111914Chief Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 6David McArthy19191920Draughtsman 
Item 5 of 6James Davidson Cairns1919June 1928Senior Assistant 
Item 6 of 6J D Cairns & FordJune 1928 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3James Davidson Cairns15 February 1944for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Thomas Forbes Maclennan15 February 1944for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3John Ross McKay15 February 1944for Licentiateship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 181928Premises for Messrs Peter Allan Ltd  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction
Item 2 of 18After 1928Two-storey cottages, Edinburgh RoadPeebles PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 3 of 181930Bakery for McVitie & Guest  EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 181931Eastwark HousePeebles PeeblesshireScotlandShopfront
Item 5 of 18After 1932(?)Caretaker's cottage  Edinburgh?ScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Item 6 of 18After 1932Edinburgh College of Domestic Science, 1-2 Drumsheugh Gardens  EdinburghScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Item 7 of 18After 1932(?)House, Oxgangs Road  EdinburghScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Item 8 of 18After 1932(?)Nurses' cottage  Edinburgh?ScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Item 9 of 18After 1932(?)Road widening, Comiston Estate  EdinburghScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Item 10 of 181933New warehouse premises  EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 18c. 1933Medical HallPeebles PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 12 of 181934College of Domestic Science  EdinburghScotlandAdditions and reconstruction
Item 13 of 181935DunalistairColinton EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 14 of 181935Macvitties Guest & Co / McVities Guest & Co shop and tea room  EdinburghScotlandAddition on South Charlotte Street
Item 15 of 18c. 1935Bank of ScotlandPeebles PeeblesshireScotlandNew bank on old site
Item 16 of 181937Heriot Brewery premisesRoseburn EdinburghScotland 
Item 17 of 181938Queen's District Nurses premises, Castle Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 18December 1950College of Domestic Science  EdinburghScotlandWarrant granted by Dean of Guild Court for the reconstruction and alterations of its premises. The cost of reconstruction of £11,300

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 4Courtesy of Neill GilhooleyInformation sent to Dictionary Sent November 2015.
Item 2 of 4H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 3 of 4Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information courtesy of Neil Brown
Item 4 of 4RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no5558 (combined box 87)

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