Basic Biographical Details Name: | Brown & Watt | Designation: | | Born: | 1891 | Died: | 1928 or 1929 | Bio Notes: | Alexander Brown was born in Aberdeen in 1853, the son of a shoemaker and became a Burgess of Trade at the age of twenty in September 1873. It is not clear to whom he was articled, if indeed to anyone, but by Christmas Eve 1880, the date of his marriage, he was described as an 'architectural surveyor' with Matthews & Mackenzie. Shortly thereafter, Brown set up practice on his own account at 7 Belmont Street. Thomas Watson and others who remembered him described him as more chartered surveyor, quantity surveyor and valuer than architect, and his early practice consisted solely of housing of a mundane kind.
Nevertheless Brown had ambitions for his practice. In 1887 he took as assistant George Watt. George Watt was born in 1865, the son of William Watt, senior partner in the firm of G Fordyce & Co, Builders, Aberdeen. He was articled in 1879 to Matthews & Mackenzie where he worked alongside Brown. He remained with them for a year as an assistant before obtaining a place in the office of Campbell Douglas & Sellars in 1885-87, where he worked closely with Sellars and Keppie and absorbed their style. He returned to Aberdeen in 1887 as assistant to Alexander Brown with a view to taking Brown's firm more upmarket. Early in his career he was entrusted with additions and alterations at Crathes and in 1889 he won the local competition for Aberdeen Public Library with a Sellars-inspired design, Matthews and Mackenzie coming second and Pirie & Clyne third, his contribution being recognised with a partnership in 1891.
By 1893 Brown was sufficiently confident of the future of the practice to build himself a sizable villa at 10 Fountainhall Road, the practice having already moved to more prestigious premises at 17 Union Terrace. Watt was responsible for nearly all the design work thereafter. His style remained strongly influenced by that of Sellars, most notably at the spire of his Beechgrove Church which was modelled on Sellars' unbuilt scheme for Anderston Church in Glasgow.
Although very much the business partner of the practice Brown's name appears among those who petitioned against the destruction of Greyfriars Church in 1896 and in 1897-98 was one of the founders of Aberdeen Society of Architects. He died of a seizure in a tramcar when returning to his home at 101 Fountainhall Road for lunch on 22 April 1925, by which date the practice appears to have been at a low ebb in terms of actual building. He left the substantial moveable estate of £8,561 13s 7d and was survived by his ailing widow, his son Dr A Middleton Brown (d.1959) of Hereford and two daughters, Margaret who worked in the University Library and Emily, a teacher in Elgin who made a late marriage to the Rev Angus Mackay of Whalsay in 1928 but died in the following year.
Brown never sought membership of the RIBA but Watt was admitted FRIBA on 4 March 1907, his proposers being Robert Gordon Wilson, Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon and Arthur Clyne. Watt retired in or about 1928: he died suddenly on 18 December 1931 at Bieldside House, a single storey and basement late Georgian villa which he had remodelled for his own occupation in 1903. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 7, Belmont street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | c. 1880 | | | | 17, Union Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1891 | After 1907 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
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 | | | Aberdeen Ice Factory | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Date unknown | | | School | Rhynie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Date unknown | | | School at Dyce | Dyce | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Date unknown | | 1891 | Central Public Library | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Competition won by Alexander Brown and job completed in partnership | | 1891 | Springbank Cemetery Lodge | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1891 | Three cottages, Holburn Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1892 | House, Poynernook | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1892 | House, Queen's Road West | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1892 | Old Machar Poorhouse | Old Machar | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Hospital buildings | | 1892 | Store, Market Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1892 | Two cottages, Blanheim Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | George Street Baptist Church | Gilcomston Park | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | Holburn Free Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | House and shops, Huntly Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | House, Fountainhall Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | House, Menzies Road | Torry | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | House, Mount Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | House, Summer Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | Shops and hall, Windmill Brae | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | Trinity Hall | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Addition | | 1893 | Two houses, Gladstone Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | Two houses, Hamilton Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1893 | Two houses, Mile End Avenue | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | Four houses, Hamilton Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | House and shop, Rose Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | House, Beaconsfield Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | House, Forest Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | House, Hamilton Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | House, Roslin Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | House, Stanley Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | Two houses, Clifton Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | Two houses, Fonthill Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1894 | Two houses, Holburn Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1895 | Atholl Hotel | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Addition | | 1895 | Four houses, Hamilton Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1895 | Peterculter Church | Peterculter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Central south projection and T-plan north aisle | | 1895 | Saltoun Arms Public House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1895 | Sandeman Public Library | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Competition design - placed equal second | | 1895 | Two houses, Western Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1895 | James Fleming Monument, Aberlour Churchyard | Aberlour | | Banffshire | Scotland | | | 1896 | 33-35 Miller Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | Aberlour Primary School | Aberlour | | Banffshire | Scotland | | | 1896 | Beechwood House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | Crathes Castle | Crathes | | Aberdeenshire/Kincardineshire | Scotland | Large family wing added, gallery restored | | 1896 | Four cottages, Belvidere Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | Four houses, Hamilton Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | Gilcomston Mills | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions | | 1896 | House, Broomhill Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | House, Rubislaw Den South | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | Hutcheon Street and Fraser Road corner | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | Primary School | Craigellachie | | Banffshire | Scotland | | | 1896 | Six houses, Rosebery Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1896 | Two cottages, Mile End Avenue | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | 33 Albyn Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations | | 1897 | Beechgrove Free Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1897 | Eight houses, Carlton Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Great Northern Road School | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Her Majesty's Theatre | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Supervised reconstruction of interior for Frank Matcham | | 1897 | House, Beechgrove Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | House, Redgrove Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | House, Rubislaw Den South | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Houses and shops, Rosemount Viaduct | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Kittybrewster Primary School | Kittybrewster | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1897 | Kittybrewster Public School | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Mercantile Marine Offices | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Mission Hall for Belmont Street Congregational Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Property, Chapel Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Property, Huntly Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Six houses, Hamilton Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Two houses, Belvidere Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Two houses, Gray Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Aberdeen Steam Trawling Company | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Five houses, Thomson Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Four houses, Seaforth Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Grantown Free Church | Grantown-on-Spey | | Morayshire | Scotland | | | 1898 | House | Bridge of Balgonie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1898 | House, Fraser Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | School | Raemoir | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1898 | Six houses, Carlton Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Three houses, King Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Two houses with shops, Belvidere Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Two houses, Bedford Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1898 | Two houses, St Andrew Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1899 | Central Bakery | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1899 | Drapery warehouse | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1899 | House and shop, Skene Square | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Four houses, Forest Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Ingleside, Rubislaw Den South | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Lewis Shaw's premises, Forest Avenue | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Northern Co-operative Buldings | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Oldmill Poorhouse | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Ruthrieston UF Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Villa, 66 Forest Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Villa, Rubislaw Den South | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1900 | Whinhill, Fonthill Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | Before 1900 | Glenrinnes | Dufftown | | Banffshire | Scotland | HS attribution | | 1901 | Butchers Arms public house | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1901 | Forsyth Hotel | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations? New build? | | 1901 | Four houses, Bedford Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1901 | Kincardine County Hospital | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Won competition to secure job. | | 1901 | Melville UF Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1901 | Premises, King Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1901 | Public School | Balmedie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1901 | Torphins UF Church | Torphins | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1901 | Bon Accord Bar | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | Branch Library | Torry | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | Central Public Library | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Plans for new wing and reading room drawn up | | 1902 | House, Bon Accord Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | House, Braemar Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | House, Fonthill Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | House, Fonthill Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | House, Fonthill Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | House, Fonthill Terrace | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | Premises for Great Grimsby Company | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | Two houses, Alburg Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | Two houses, Cornhill Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | Two houses, Richmondhill Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Five houses, Bedford Place | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Four houses, Hutcheon Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Grantown Grammar School | Grantown-on-Spey | | Morayshire | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1903 | House and stables, Central Carriage Hiring Establishment | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Parish Manse | Kirkton of Glenbuchat | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1903 | Six houses, Forest Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Three houses, Albury Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Two houses, Albury Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Two houses, King Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1904 | His Majesty's Theatre | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Supervised construction for Frank Matcham | | 1904 | School | New Deer | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1904 | Two houses, Abergeldie Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1904 | Two houses, Abergeldie Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1904 | Two houses, Fraser Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1905 | House and shops, George Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1905 | House, King Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1905 | Two houses, Holburn Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1906 | Nigg Parish Church Hall | Nigg | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | | | 1907 | Oldmill Poorhouse, Nurses' Home | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1908 | Burnett Arms Hotel | Banchory | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Wing to right added - perhaps by Brown & Watt | | 1909 | Aberdeen Provincial Committee Training College | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Competition design | | 1909 | Her Majesty’s Theatre | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations | | 1909 | North Eastern Ice Company, Commercial Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations | | 1909 | Northern Co-operative Memorial Fountain | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1909 | Premises 57-59 St Nicholas Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1909 | Preserved Provisions Factory, North Esplanade | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1909 | Scots Church | | | Rawalpindi | India | Design made - execution suprvised by engineers of the Military Works Department | | 1913 | Craigellie House | Alyth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Rebuilding (modelled on Craigellie house, Aberdeenshire, by John Smith) | | 1924 | Ballyrashane War Memorial Tower | Coleraine | | Derry | Northern Ireland | | | 1924 | Villa, 84 Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Remodelling | | 1925 | Shop, Hardgate | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Album of newscuttings on the work of Alexander Brown of Brown and Watt | | | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Brown and Watt Scrapbook | | |
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