Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Watt
Designation:  
Born: 1865
Died: 18 December 1931
Bio Notes: George Watt was born in 1865, the son of William Watt (incorrectly given as George Watt in the Builder obituary), senior partner in the firm of G Fordyce & Co, Builders, Aberdeen and his wife Christine Mitchell. He attended classes in building construction at Gray's School of Art from 1887-89. He served his articles from 1879 with Matthews & Mackenzie where he worked alongside Alexander Brown (born 1853). He remained with them for a year as an assistant before obtaining a place in the office of Campbell Douglas & Sellars in 1885, where he worked closely with Sellars and Keppie and absorbed their style. He returned to Aberdeen in 1887 as assistant to Brown, who had left Matthews & Mackenzie to commence independent practice in c.1880. The aim appears to have been to take Brown's somewhat mundane housing-based 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 & Mackenzie coming second and Pirie & Clyne third, his contribution being recognised with a partnership in 1891. The influence of Sellars remained strong as can be seen at Watt's splendid Beechgrove Free Church, the spire of which challenges comparison with those of William Leiper.

Watt was admitted FRIBA on 4 March 1907, his proposers being Robert Gordon Wilson Junior, Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon and Arthur Clyne. His nomination papers state that he had spent three weeks in France and Belgium in 1889.

Watt was married to Jean, a daughter of George Collie, a notable advocate in Aberdeen. Watt was JP for the County of the City of Aberdeen and served as Vice President of the Aberdeen Society of Architects. He retired in or about 1928. He died suddenly on 18 December 1931 at Bieldside house, an early 19th-century villa which he had remodelled for himself in an Arts and Crafts manner.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 54, Frederick Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivateAfter 1887  
Item 2 of 553, Jasmine Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivatec. 1887  
Item 3 of 517, Union Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1891After 1907 
Item 4 of 52, Ann Place, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate(?)1893  
Item 5 of 5Bieldside House, Bieldside, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1903After 1930 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5Matthews & Mackenzie18791884Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Matthews & Mackenzie18841885Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Campbell Douglas & Sellars18851887Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Alexander Brown18871891Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Brown & Watt18911928 or 1929Partner 

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 6James Milner FraserSeptember 1923June 1925Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6William Sherriffs Joss19241925Assistant 
Item 3 of 6John Phin Miller WrightJuly 1925July 1928Apprentice 
Item 4 of 6Lionel Ethelbert Knight19261929Apprentice 
Item 5 of 6William Sherriffs Joss19271929Assistant 
Item 6 of 6Lionel Ethelbert KnightAfter 1933Before 1935Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Arthur Clyne4 March 1907for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon4 March 1907for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)4 March 1907for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 43Richard Rennie Alexander29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 2 of 43Kenneth Henderson BrownEarly 1922for Associateship
Item 3 of 43James Charles Clark30 November 1925For Associateship
Item 4 of 43James Cobban20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 43William Alexander DavidsonEarly 1921For Associateship
Item 6 of 43James DonaldLate 1921for Associateship
Item 7 of 43Leo Durnin29 November 1926For Associateship
Item 8 of 43John Ellis20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 9 of 43Lake Falconer (junior)24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 10 of 43George Topham Forrest27 February 1911for Licentiateship
Item 11 of 43Clement George20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 12 of 43William Glashan2 November 1925For Associateship
Item 13 of 43Alexander GordonEarly 1921for Associateship
Item 14 of 43Frank Alexander Greig Inglis29 November 1926For Associateship
Item 15 of 43Robert Sorley Lawrie30 November 1925for Associateship
Item 16 of 43Peter Shearer Leask5 December 1927For Associateship
Item 17 of 43Simpson LowLate 1920 or early 1921for Associateship
Item 18 of 43John Charles McKenzie1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 19 of 43Ian Hastings McLarenEarly 1930for Associateship
Item 20 of 43George Angus MitchellLate 1921for Associateship
Item 21 of 43George Angus MitchellLate 1930for Fellowship
Item 22 of 43Ian Alexander Moodie8 January 1923For Associateship
Item 23 of 43Robert Primrose Morris5 December 1927for Associateship
Item 24 of 43Robert Horn Morrison30 November 1925For Associateship
Item 25 of 43James Brown Nicol5 July 1924for Fellowship
Item 26 of 43Herbert Henry ReidEarly 1921for Associateship
Item 27 of 43William James ReithLate 1930for Associateship
Item 28 of 43Robert Leslie RolloEarly 1930for Fellowship
Item 29 of 43David John Alexander RossLate 1922for Associateship
Item 30 of 43Dorothy Elizabeth Soper29 November 1926for Associateship
Item 31 of 43Alexander Malcolm Stewart14 June 1926For Associateship
Item 32 of 43John Stuart19 December 1910for Licentiateship
Item 33 of 43John StuartMid 1915for Fellowship
Item 34 of 43George Sutherland11 June 1923for Fellowship
Item 35 of 43William John TaylorLate 1922For Associateship
Item 36 of 43William Logan TaylorLate 1922For Associateship
Item 37 of 43William Tocher30 November 1925for Associateship
Item 38 of 43John Wilson WalkerEarly 1922for Fellowship
Item 39 of 43Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)Early 1922for Fellowship
Item 40 of 43William Alexander Wood5 December 1927For Associateship
Item 41 of 43John Phin Miller WrightEarly 1932for Associateship
Item 42 of 43[James] Fenton ('Tony') Wyness5 December 1927for Associateship
Item 43 of 43John YeatsLate 1921for Associateship

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 150 Aberdeen Ice Factory  AberdeenScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 150 SchoolRhynie AberdeenshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 3 of 150 School at DyceDyce AberdeenshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 4 of 1501889Central Public Library  AberdeenScotlandAs assistant and latterly partner of Alexander Brown on winning competition entry
Item 5 of 1501891Springbank Cemetery Lodge  AberdeenScotland 
Item 6 of 1501891Three cottages, Holburn Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 7 of 1501892House, Poynernook  AberdeenScotland 
Item 8 of 1501892House, Queen's Road West  AberdeenScotland 
Item 9 of 1501892Old Machar PoorhouseOld Machar AberdeenScotlandHospital buildings
Item 10 of 1501892Store, Market Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 1501892Two cottages, Blanheim Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 12 of 1501893George Street Baptist ChurchGilcomston Park AberdeenScotland 
Item 13 of 1501893Holburn Free Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 14 of 1501893House and shops, Huntly Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 15 of 1501893House, Fountainhall Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 16 of 1501893House, Menzies RoadTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 17 of 1501893House, Mount Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 1501893House, Summer Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 19 of 1501893Shops and hall, Windmill Brae  AberdeenScotland 
Item 20 of 1501893Trinity Hall  AberdeenScotlandAddition
Item 21 of 1501893Two houses, Gladstone Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 22 of 1501893Two houses, Hamilton Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 23 of 1501893Two houses, Mile End Avenue  AberdeenScotland 
Item 24 of 1501894Four houses, Hamilton Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 25 of 1501894House and shop, Rose Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 26 of 1501894House, Beaconsfield Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 27 of 1501894House, Forest Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 28 of 1501894House, Hamilton Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 29 of 1501894House, Roslin Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 30 of 1501894House, Stanley Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 31 of 1501894Two houses, Clifton Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 32 of 1501894Two houses, Fonthill Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 33 of 1501894Two houses, Holburn Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 34 of 1501895Atholl Hotel  AberdeenScotlandAddition
Item 35 of 1501895Four houses, Hamilton Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 36 of 1501895Peterculter ChurchPeterculter AberdeenshireScotlandCentral south projection and T-plan north aisle
Item 37 of 1501895Saltoun Arms Public House  AberdeenScotland 
Item 38 of 1501895Sandeman Public LibraryPerth PerthshireScotlandCompetition design - placed equal second
Item 39 of 1501895Two houses, Western Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 40 of 150c. 1895James Fleming Monument, Aberlour ChurchyardAberlour BanffshireScotland 
Item 41 of 150189633-35 Miller Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 42 of 1501896Aberlour Primary SchoolAberlour BanffshireScotland 
Item 43 of 1501896Beechwood House  AberdeenScotland 
Item 44 of 1501896Crathes CastleCrathes Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandLarge family wing added, gallery restored
Item 45 of 1501896Four cottages, Belvidere Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 46 of 1501896Four houses, Hamilton Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 47 of 1501896Gilcomston Mills  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 48 of 1501896House, Broomhill Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 49 of 1501896House, Rubislaw Den South  AberdeenScotland 
Item 50 of 1501896Hutcheon Street and Fraser Road corner  AberdeenScotland 
Item 51 of 1501896Primary SchoolCraigellachie BanffshireScotland 
Item 52 of 1501896Six houses, Rosebery Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 53 of 1501896Two cottages, Mile End Avenue  AberdeenScotland 
Item 54 of 150189733 Albyn Place  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 55 of 1501897Beechgrove Free Church  AberdeenScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 56 of 1501897Eight houses, Carlton Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 57 of 1501897Great Northern Road School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 58 of 1501897Her Majesty's Theatre  AberdeenScotlandSupervised reconstruction of interior for Frank Matcham
Item 59 of 1501897House, Beechgrove Terrace  AberdeenScotland 
Item 60 of 1501897House, Redgrove Terrace  AberdeenScotland 
Item 61 of 1501897House, Rubislaw Den South  AberdeenScotland 
Item 62 of 1501897Houses and shops, Rosemount Viaduct  AberdeenScotland 
Item 63 of 1501897Kittybrewster Primary SchoolKittybrewster AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 64 of 1501897Kittybrewster Public School  AberdeenScotland 
Item 65 of 1501897Mercantile Marine Offices  AberdeenScotland 
Item 66 of 1501897Mission Hall for Belmont Street Congregational Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 67 of 1501897Property, Chapel Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 68 of 1501897Property, Huntly Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 69 of 1501897Six houses, Hamilton Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 70 of 1501897Two houses, Belvidere Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 71 of 1501897Two houses, Gray Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 72 of 1501898Aberdeen Steam Trawling Company  AberdeenScotland 
Item 73 of 1501898Five houses, Thomson Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 74 of 1501898Four houses, Seaforth Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 75 of 1501898Grantown Free ChurchGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotland 
Item 76 of 1501898HouseBridge of Balgonie FifeScotland 
Item 77 of 1501898House, Fraser Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 78 of 1501898SchoolRaemoir AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 79 of 1501898Six houses, Carlton Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 80 of 1501898Three houses, King Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 81 of 1501898Two houses with shops, Belvidere Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 82 of 1501898Two houses, Bedford Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 83 of 1501898Two houses, St Andrew Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 84 of 1501899Central Bakery  AberdeenScotland 
Item 85 of 1501899Drapery warehouse  AberdeenScotland 
Item 86 of 1501899House and shop, Skene Square  AberdeenScotland 
Item 87 of 1501900Four houses, Forest Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 88 of 1501900Ingleside, Rubislaw Den South  AberdeenScotland 
Item 89 of 1501900Lewis Shaw's premises, Forest Avenue  AberdeenScotland 
Item 90 of 1501900Northern Co-operative Buldings  AberdeenScotland 
Item 91 of 1501900Oldmill Poorhouse  AberdeenScotland 
Item 92 of 1501900Ruthrieston UF Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 93 of 1501900Villa, 66 Forest Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 94 of 1501900Villa, Rubislaw Den South  AberdeenScotland 
Item 95 of 1501900Whinhill, Fonthill Terrace  AberdeenScotland 
Item 96 of 150Before 1900GlenrinnesDufftown BanffshireScotlandHS attribution
Item 97 of 1501901Butchers Arms public house  AberdeenScotland 
Item 98 of 1501901Forsyth Hotel  AberdeenScotlandAlterations? New build?
Item 99 of 1501901Four houses, Bedford Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 100 of 1501901Kincardine County HospitalStonehaven KincardineshireScotlandWon competition to secure job.
Item 101 of 1501901Melville UF Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 102 of 1501901Premises, King Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 103 of 1501901Public SchoolBalmedie AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 104 of 1501901Torphins UF ChurchTorphins AberdeenScotland 
Item 105 of 1501902Branch LibraryTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 106 of 1501902Central Public Library  AberdeenScotlandPlans for new wing and reading room drawn up
Item 107 of 1501902House, Bon Accord Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 108 of 1501902House, Braemar Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 109 of 1501902House, Fonthill Terrace  AberdeenScotland 
Item 110 of 1501902House, Fonthill Terrace  AberdeenScotland 
Item 111 of 1501902House, Fonthill Terrace  AberdeenScotland 
Item 112 of 1501902House, Fonthill Terrace  AberdeenScotland 
Item 113 of 1501902Premises for Great Grimsby Company  AberdeenScotland 
Item 114 of 1501902Two houses, Alburg Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 115 of 1501902Two houses, Cornhill Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 116 of 1501902Two houses, Richmondhill Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 117 of 1501903Bieldside HousePeterculter AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 118 of 1501903Five houses, Bedford Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 119 of 1501903Four houses, Hutcheon Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 120 of 1501903Grantown Grammar SchoolGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 121 of 1501903House and stables, Central Carriage Hiring Establishment  AberdeenScotland 
Item 122 of 1501903Parish ManseKirkton of Glenbuchat AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 123 of 1501903Six houses, Forest Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 124 of 1501903Three houses, Albury Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 125 of 1501903Two houses, Albury Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 126 of 1501903Two houses, King Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 127 of 1501904His Majesty's Theatre  AberdeenScotlandSupervised construction for Frank Matcham
Item 128 of 1501904SchoolNew Deer AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 129 of 1501904Two houses, Abergeldie Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 130 of 1501904Two houses, Abergeldie Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 131 of 1501904Two houses, Fraser Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 132 of 1501905House and shops, George Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 133 of 1501905House, King Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 134 of 1501905Two houses, Holburn Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 135 of 1501906Nigg Parish Church HallNigg KincardineshireScotland 
Item 136 of 1501907Oldmill Poorhouse, Nurses' Home  AberdeenScotland 
Item 137 of 1501908Burnett Arms HotelBanchory KincardineshireScotlandWing to right added - perhaps by Brown & Watt
Item 138 of 1501909Aberdeen Provincial Committee Training College  AberdeenScotlandCompetition design
Item 139 of 1501909Her Majesty’s Theatre  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 140 of 1501909Northern Co-operative Memorial Fountain  AberdeenScotland 
Item 141 of 1501909Premises 57-59 St Nicholas Street   AberdeenScotland 
Item 142 of 1501909Preserved Provisions Factory, North Esplanade  AberdeenScotland 
Item 143 of 1501909Scots Church  RawalpindiIndiaDesign made - execution suprvised by engineers of the Military Works Department
Item 144 of 1501910Morkeu HouseCults AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions and alterations- porte cochere, loggia etc
Item 145 of 1501913Craigellie HouseAlyth PerthshireScotlandRebuilding (modelled on Craigellie house, Aberdeenshire, by John Smith)
Item 146 of 1501918Fish Curing Premises  AberdeenScotland 
Item 147 of 1501918Fish Kiln and Store Sinclair Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 148 of 1501924Ballyrashane War Memorial TowerColeraine DerryNorthern Ireland 
Item 149 of 1501924Villa, 84 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandRemodelling
Item 150 of 1501925Shop, Hardgate  AberdeenScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Aberdeen Weekly Journal18 January 1893   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 5H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 5National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSAlbum of newscuttings on the work of Alexander Brown of Brown and Watt  
Item 3 of 5National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSBrown and Watt Scrapbook  
Item 4 of 5RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v17 no1224
Item 5 of 5Robert Gordon's University ArchiveCollection of plans, manuscripts etc Several magazine articles, illustrations and photos relating to Brown & Watt - they belonged to George Watt. Also some personal photographs and original plans