Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Carver
Designation:  
Born: 11 November 1834
Died: 2 August 1896
Bio Notes: John Carver was born on 11 November 1834, the son of John Carver of Carverfield, Kinloch who died 27 February 1858 and the cousin of the much older David Carver (b 1803 or 1806, d 19 July 1878) who practised from Kinloch throughout his career (no work yet identified). His mother was Elizabeth Henderson. John was trained as an architect by his father but was also apprenticed as a joiner before entering the office of an Edinburgh architect: the style of his draughtsmanship suggests that of David Bryce. He returned to Meigle to take over his father's practice in the mid-1850s. Latterly he is described in census as an architect with two assistants and also as a farmer of 7 acres.

The parish church at Coupar Angus shows Carver to have been a very able Gothic designer while the City of Glasgow Bank at Kirriemuir showed an original if idiosyncratic approach to Scottish Baronial. Although he designed a few large houses his practice seems to have consisted mainly of secondary estate work.

In his later years Carver also had offices in Arbroath and Forfar, the latter becoming the main office. These were in partnership with Archibald Anderson Symon, born 1846 at Crathie who was articled to Carver 1866-71 and remained as assistant until he became a partner in 1888. John Carver died at his house, Kirkhill, Meigle on 2 August 1896 and was buried beside his cousin David in Meigle Churchyard, his wife, Ellen (Helen in death certificate) Binny Isles (25 December 1836-28 February 1894) having predeceased him.

Some biographical information from gravestones in Meigle Churchyard.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Arbroath, Angus, ScotlandBusiness  Branch office in later years
Item 2 of 4Forfar, Angus, ScotlandBusiness  Main office in later years
Item 3 of 4Kirkhill, Meigle, Perthshire, ScotlandBusiness Before 1896 
Item 4 of 4Meigle, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1855  

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 1Carver & Symon18881896Partner 

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 3Archibald Anderson Symon18661871Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Archibald Anderson Symon18711888Assistant 
Item 3 of 3William Henderson Duncan1874Before 1878Assistant 

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 401858Rattray Parish School and SchoolhouseRattray PerthshireScotland 
Item 2 of 401858Ruthven ChurchRuthven AngusScotland 
Item 3 of 401859Parish ChurchCoupar Angus AngusScotland 
Item 4 of 401860Town HallBlairgowrie PerthshireScotlandLesser hall at rear of old building
Item 5 of 401861St Mary's TowerBirnam PerthshireScotland 
Item 6 of 401862City of Glasgow BankKirriemuir AngusScotland 
Item 7 of 401862Town HouseKirriemuir AngusScotlandRemodelling
Item 8 of 401864Kinloch House (Kings of Kinloch)  PerthshireScotlandAdditions - new entrance tower- and alterations
Item 9 of 401865Central Bank of ScotlandCoupar Angus AngusScotland 
Item 10 of 401865Finavon Castle  AngusScotland 
Item 11 of 40c. 1865Dunmore Hall  DundeeScotland 
Item 12 of 401866Tannadice Parish ChurchTannadice AngusScotland 
Item 13 of 401868Old ManseKirkton of Auchterhouse AngusScotlandSouth west wing and porch
Item 14 of 401869Meigle Parish ChurchMeigle PerthshireScotlandRebuilding of Georgian church in gothic form after a fire
Item 15 of 401870Kettins Parish ChurchKettins AngusScotlandAddition of N jamb
Item 16 of 401873Cathedral ManseBrechin AngusScotlandAddition of bay window
Item 17 of 401873Dunmore Hall  DundeeScotlandAddition
Item 18 of 401873Kirriemuir Parish ChurchKirriemuir AngusScotlandReseating
Item 19 of 401873ManseRuthven AngusScotland 
Item 20 of 401876Meigle SchoolMeigle AngusScotland 
Item 21 of 401877Parish ManseMeigle AngusScotlandAddition
Item 22 of 401878Alyth Public SchoolAlyth PerthshireScotland 
Item 23 of 401878Bendochy Manse  PerthshireScotlandRepairs and new roof
Item 24 of 401878Kettins Parish ChurchKettins AngusScotlandRepairs to roof
Item 25 of 401879Blairgowrie Public SchoolBlairgowrie PerthshireScotland 
Item 26 of 401881Forfar Parish ChurchForfar AngusScotlandAdditions and alterations, including session room
Item 27 of 401881Oathlaw Parish ChurchOathlaw AngusScotlandE window remodelled
Item 28 of 401883Fern Parish ChurchFern AngusScotlandMainly responsible but with Symon as assistant?
Item 29 of 401884Forfar PrisonForfar AngusScotlandConversion from prison to county offices and gatehouse demolished
Item 30 of 401885Glenisla Parish ChurchKirkton of Glenisla AngusScotlandAlterations
Item 31 of 401889High SchoolArbroath AngusScotland 
Item 32 of 401890Inverbrothock Public SchoolInverbrothock AngusScotlandNew school
Item 33 of 401891Airlie ManseKirkton of Airlie AngusScotlandAdditions
Item 34 of 401892Parkhouse SchoolArbroath AngusScotland 
Item 35 of 401893Airlie KirkKirkton of Airlie AngusScotlandInterior recast
Item 36 of 401894Bruce HotelCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 37 of 401895Alyth Public SchoolAlyth PerthshireScotlandAddition
Item 38 of 401895High SchoolArbroath AngusScotlandSouth wing
Item 39 of 401896(?)Bruce HotelCarnoustie AngusScotlandAlterations?
Item 40 of 401907Rescobie Parish ChurchRescobie AngusScotlandInterior remodelled with new furnishings

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Perth Sheriff Court SC49/31/167 and Sc49/31/65 for the father who died in 1858.

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Census records onlineCensuses  
Item 2 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v14 p109 (microfiche 69/A7); F no1967 (Symon's paper)