Basic Biographical Details

Name: Bruce, Son & Morton
Designation:  
Born: 1919
Died: 1953(?)
Bio Notes: The practice was founded by John Bruce, who commenced practice in Dundee in the later 1860s. He specialised in working-class housing, particularly in Hilltown, west of Main Street, and in terrace housing in Broughty Ferry. By the 1880s, the firm had become John Bruce and Son; of the three sons who survived until adulthood: John emigrated to Australia, George left for Cheshire and worked as a druggist and James Prain joined the family business. James Prain Bruce, born 29 April 1860, was articled to his father in 1877 and left for an unidentified office in London in 1881 to gain experience, remaining there for several years before rejoining his father as a partner. The practice thereafter went more up-market specialising in high quality tenement work and houses in Carnoustie where the Bruces had settled. He took an active interest in the Dundee Institute of Architects, being President 1900-02 and acting as Hon Secretary during the war years.

In 1919 George Christie Morton (born 1886) became a partner, the name of the firm becoming Bruce, Son & Morton. Douglas P Bruce of St Clair, Carnoustie, presumably James Prain's son, became an additional partner in the early 1930s.

James Prain Bruce became ill in 1933 and died at Carnoustie on 20 January 1935. At the outbreak of the Second World War Douglas P Bruce went into the army and subsequently gave up his partnership; Morton, a very able domestic architect thereafter gave most of his time to the family whisky firm of which he was latterly chairman. He died in August 1953.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 110, Whitehall Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1930 or 1931 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 4James Prain Bruce19191935Partner 
Item 2 of 4George Christie Morton19191953(?)Partner 
Item 3 of 4John Patterson19231926Apprentice 
Item 4 of 4Douglas Prain BruceAfter 19301939Partner 

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 391919Logie Housing Scheme  DundeeScotlandDesigned some areas within Logie.
Item 2 of 391919Synagogue  DundeeScotland 
Item 3 of 391920Burns and Harris shop, Nethergate  DundeeScotlandAlterations (drawing not signed)
Item 4 of 391920Stirling Park Housing Scheme  DundeeScotlandDesigned buildings; scheme planned by James Thomson, Dundee City Architect
Item 5 of 391921Dudhope Housing Scheme  DundeeScotland 
Item 6 of 391921Photographic Studio  DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 7 of 391921Victory Public Park, War Memorial ArchMeigle PerthshireScotland 
Item 8 of 391922Queen Street UP ChurchBroughty Ferry DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 9 of 391925Carnoustie War MemorialCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 10 of 391925Fairway GarageCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 11 of 391927Carnoustie Parish Church HallCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 12 of 391927New CemeteryPitskelly AngusScotland 
Item 13 of 391927Temporary Shed, East Dock Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 14 of 391928Cottage, Taymouth StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 15 of 391928Licensed premises, Wolseley Street and Tannadice StreetClepington DundeeScotland 
Item 16 of 391928West End GarageBroughty Ferry DundeeScotlandAlterations.
Item 17 of 39192933 Hermon Hill  DundeeScotlandAdditions
Item 18 of 391929Cottage at Bingham Terrace  DundeeScotland 
Item 19 of 391929MagdalaWest Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 20 of 391930sGreycroft  DundeeScotland 
Item 21 of 391930sMelfort  DundeeScotland 
Item 22 of 391930sRedholmeWest Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 23 of 391930Cottage at Dalhousie StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 24 of 391930George Morton's Bond  DundeeScotland 
Item 25 of 391931United Savings BankCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 26 of 391932Panbride Free ChurchCarnoustie AngusScotlandAdditions at North end of church
Item 27 of 391933Copper Works, 64 East Dock Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 28 of 391933Waverley Temperance Hotel  DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 29 of 391934Concert HallCarnoustie AngusScotlandScheme for hall - apparently not executed as job went to Allan & Friskin
Item 30 of 391934George Morton's Bond  DundeeScotlandFurther work
Item 31 of 391934Thistle Hall  DundeeScotlandReconstruction of interior
Item 32 of 391935Ravensby Feus WorksCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 33 of 391936Cottage at Carlogie RoadCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 34 of 391936Various licensed premises  DundeeScotland 
Item 35 of 391937Dalhousie WorksCarnoustie AngusScotlandAlterations
Item 36 of 391938Copper Works, 64 East Dock Street  DundeeScotlandFurther work (drawings signed by Morton)
Item 37 of 391939Copper Works, 64 East Dock Street  DundeeScotlandFurther work
Item 38 of 391939Housing schemeCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 39 of 391946West End GarageBroughty Ferry DundeeScotlandAlterations? Additions?

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Post Office Directories     

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Dundee Planning Department/NMRSDundee Approved Duplicate Plans (Originals in NMRS for dates 1867-1883; otherwise on microfilm)  
Item 2 of 2National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSInventory of office drawings Personal information from Mrs Fairweather (née Cowan), owner of the Castle, Alpha and Panmure Terrace properties, obtained in the 1950s.