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Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Penrose Kennedy Young
Designation: Architect
Born: 1858
Died: 28 October 1933
Bio Notes: George Penrose Kennedy Young was born in 1858, the son of Perth architect John Young. He was articled to his father in 1875, and after a short period as his father's assistant he spent a year in London, studying architecture under Professor T Roger Smith at University College and drawing under Alphonse Legros at the Slade School. He was second prizeman in construction in 1881. He passed the qualifying exam in 1885 and in the same year was taken into partnership by his father. He was admitted ARIBA on 8 June of that year, his proposers being John Honeyman, Thomas Lennox Watson and John Burnet Senior; his nomination papers indicate that prior to that time he had spent several brief periods travelling and studying in Italy, France, Holland and Belgium. Shortly thereafter he married Charlotte Anne Conacher.

That Burnet Senior was a proposer for Young's Associateship of the RIBA, and that other signatories - who probably signed at Burnet's request - were Glaswegians was a measure of the friendship between the Burnets and the Youngs at that time. It is not yet known how this came about but from the late 1890s the more important works of the practice were almost indistinguishable from the work of John James Burnet. By that time George had become sole partner following his father's death in Perth on 2 December 1895.

In 1907 George's elder son Cedric John Mathison Young, born on 4 June 1890 and educated at Merchiston Castle School, commenced his apprenticeship in his father's office. Two years later he moved to Glasgow to study full-time at Glasgow School of Architecture, working in the office of John Burnet & Son during his holidays. Whilst there he married, his son Kenneth Mathison Young being born on 23 November 1910. In 1911 he returned to Perth to join his father's practice as an assistant, but the following year he went to Canada where he found employment in the offices of E & W S Maxwell and Nobbs & Hyde, both of Montreal. He joined the Territorial Army in 1908 and enlisted in the Black Watch in 1914.

Young's second son Graham Conacher Young, born on 29 March 1892 and educated at Merchiston like his brother, was articled to James Miller in 1909-13, studying at Glasgow School of Architecture. After a brief period with Peter Macgregor Chalmers he returned to his father's office in 1913.

George was admitted FRIBA in June 1914, proposed by the RIBA Council. Like his brother, Graham Conacher enlisted in that year; he had a distinguished war record and did not leave the army until 1923, rejoining his father in the following year, although an illness contracted during his military service forced him temporarily to withdraw from practice on various occasions over the course of the ensuing years.

Meanwhile Cedric was in active service until 1920 when he returned to Perth, and he was taken into partnership by his father in 1921, the firm becoming G P K Young & Son. He was admitted ARIBA under the war exemption scheme late that year. Four years later he returned to Canada and worked for McCarter & Nairne in Vancouver, designing the details and art work of the Medical-Dental Building and the Marine Building in Vancouver in 1928-30. McCarter & Nairne's design for the Vancouver Exhibition Association has marked Burnetian characteristics, suggesting that he had a hand in it. He appears to have returned by 1930 or 1931, however, as the RIBA Kalendars for those years give his address as 42 Tay Street, the office of the family firm. A year or two previously, in 1929, Graham Conacher had been taken into partnership, his health having recovered fully by that time.


George Penrose Kennedy Young was President of the RIAS 1926-28, and served on the Council of the Dundee Institute of Architects. He died on 28 October 1933 and was buried at Wellshill Cemetery. His wife had predeceased him on 13 December 1929. Graham Conacher continued the practice alone, under the existing name of G P K Young & Son. At the time of George's death, Cedric was again in Canada, but he later returned.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 324, Marshall Place, Perth, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate1885 *  
Item 2 of 342, Tay Street, Perth, Perthshire, ScotlandBusinessc. 18871933 
Item 3 of 3Union Mount, Perth, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19141933 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John Young18751881Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3John Young & Son18851895Partner 
Item 3 of 3G P K Young & Son1921(?)1933Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 10Thomas McLaren23 July 18941898Apprentice 
Item 2 of 10Thomas Morgan Forrest12 July 189510 July 1899Apprentice 
Item 3 of 10David Matheson Cuthbert18961900Apprentice 
Item 4 of 10David Matheson Cuthbert19001900Junior Assistant 
Item 5 of 10Alexander Smeaton Robertson19001904Apprentice 
Item 6 of 10David Thomson19011903Assistant 
Item 7 of 10John King1902Before 1905Assistant(?) 
Item 8 of 10Cedric John Mathison Young19071909Apprentice 
Item 9 of 10Cedric John Mathison Young19111912Assistant 
Item 10 of 10Graham Conacher Young19131914Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4John Burnet (senior)8 June 1885for Associateship
Item 2 of 4John Honeyman8 June 1885for Associateship
Item 3 of 4RIBA Council1914for Fellowship
Item 4 of 4Thomas Lennox Watson8 June 1885for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 8William Bell20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 8Thomas Morgan Forrest16 January 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 8David Wishart GallowayLate 1928 or early 1929for Fellowship
Item 4 of 8William SalmondLate 1929for Fellowship
Item 5 of 8John Walker Smart16 January 1911for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 8Donald Alexander StewartEarly 1911for Licentiateship
Item 7 of 8David ThomsonLate 1920for Fellowship
Item 8 of 8John Comrie Todd23 October 1933for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 53 Cameron's premisis, George streetPerth PerthshireScotlandRefitting and new shop front
Item 2 of 53 CleevePerth PerthshireScotlandInstructed Scott Morton & Co on interior design - date unknown
Item 3 of 531883Aberfeldy Parish ChurchAberfeldy PerthshireScotlandWorking as assistant with John Young
Item 4 of 531885Livingstone HallNewburgh FifeScotland 
Item 5 of 531886Dunnottar Mission ChurchBridgefield, Stonehaven KincardineshireScotland 
Item 6 of 531887Design for a hotel     
Item 7 of 531887Opera House, Moncrieff natural history museum, studio and boys and girls hallPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 8 of 531887Wood Memorial Free ChurchElie FifeScotlandUnsucessful competition design - placed 2nd( or third?)
Item 9 of 531888Dunbog Parish ChurchDunbog FifeScotlandReconstruction with tower and spire
Item 10 of 53c. 1890(?)Kinclaven Parish ChurchKinclaven PerthshireScotlandImprovements
Item 11 of 531891Loch Awe HotelLoch Awe ArgyllScotlandFour storey north east wing added
Item 12 of 531891Lochawe HotelLochawe ArgyllScotland 
Item 13 of 531892Crieff and Comrie Railway, including stations on the line  PerthshireScotland 
Item 14 of 531893Fair Maid's HousePerth PerthshireScotlandRestoration
Item 15 of 531894FerndalePerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 16 of 531894Perthshire County Cricket Club Pavilion  PerthshireScotland 
Item 17 of 531894St Stephen's Church, CraigiePerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 18 of 531895Opera House, Moncrieff natural history museum, studio and boys and girls hallPerth PerthshireScotlandExtension to museum
Item 19 of 53After 1895Northern Central MarketsPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 20 of 53After 1895St Stephen's Church HallPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 21 of 53Before 1895Aberdeen Town and County BankPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 22 of 53Before 1895Ardbrecknish House  ArgyllScotlandExtensive additions
Item 23 of 53Before 1895Easter Moncrieffe House  PerthshireScotland 
Item 24 of 53Before 1895Scottish Girls Friendly Society Institute and ClubPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 25 of 53c. 1895Dunblane Public HallDunblane PerthshireScotlandCompleted after the death of John Young
Item 26 of 531896Perth AcademyPerth PerthshireScotlandAdditions and alterations (laboratories, art room etc)
Item 27 of 531896Perth DeaneryPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 28 of 531897Craigie Public HallPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 29 of 531897Craigie Public SchoolPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 30 of 531898Head Office of the General Accident, Fire and Life Assurance Corporation LtdPerth PerthshireScotlandHigh Street frontage extended by 2 bays and made symmetrical
Item 31 of 531898Premises for W B & J B DeasPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 32 of 53c. 1898Public Swimming BathsPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 33 of 531899Southern District SchoolPerth PerthshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 34 of 531901House for Duncan FraserLoch Awe ArgyllScotland 
Item 35 of 53Before 1901(?)Central District SchoolPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 36 of 531902Methven BuildingsPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 37 of 531903Dunnottar Parish ChurchDunnottar KincardineshireScotlandRestoration and reconstruction turning 1782 church into transept
Item 38 of 531904City of Perth Fever Hospital, FriartonPerth PerthshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 39 of 531904Lochawe HotelLochawe ArgyllScotlandAdditions
Item 40 of 531905Exchange Coffee RoomsPerth PerthshireScotlandNew shopfronts
Item 41 of 531906'York Corner'Perth PerthshireScotland 
Item 42 of 531906Carraig ThuraLoch Awe ArgyllScotland 
Item 43 of 531908Balhousie SchoolPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 44 of 531908Bridge of Earn Village Hall and InstituteBridge of Earn PerthshireScotland 
Item 45 of 531908Northern District SchoolPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 46 of 531909Methven Parish Church HallMethven PerthshireScotland 
Item 47 of 531910Balbeggie Public HallBalbeggie PerthshireScotland 
Item 48 of 531910Methven Parish SchoolMethven PerthshireScotland 
Item 49 of 531911Perth Territorial Drill HallPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 50 of 531914Earl Marischal MausoleumDunnottar KincardineshireScotland 
Item 51 of 531924Fettercairn Parish Church and churchyardFettercairn KincardineshireScotlandRestoration and remodelling of interior
Item 52 of 531924Perth TheatrePerth PerthshireScotlandRestoration after fire
Item 53 of 531938ManderleyPerth PerthshireScotlandIn conjunction with Cecil Stewart

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIAS Quarterly1933no 44Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Obituary of G P K Young
Item 2 of 2RIBA Journal9 December 1933v41London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp153 - obituary of G P K Young

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSGPK Young newscutting file (copy of file comp. Mrs Elsie Young, Union Mount, Glasgow Rd, Perth)  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v9 p87 (microfiche 36/A7); F v22 no1541 (microfilm reel 13)

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© All rights reserved. Šand courtesy of RIAS 

© All rights reserved. Šand courtesy of RIAS