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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Arbroath, Angus, Scotland | Business | | | Branch office in later years | | Forfar, Angus, Scotland | Business | | | Main office in later years | | Kirkhill, Meigle, Perthshire, Scotland | Business | | Before 1896 | | | Meigle, Perthshire, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1855 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Carver & Symon | 1888 | 1896 | Partner | |
Employees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Perth Sheriff Court SC49/31/167 and Sc49/31/65 for the father who died in 1858. |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Census records online | Censuses | | | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v14 p109 (microfiche 69/A7); F no1967 (Symon's paper) |
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