Basic Biographical Details

Name: Wilfrid Fitzalan Crombie
Designation:  
Born: 30 January 1882
Died: 8 October 1952
Bio Notes: Wilfrid Fitzalan Crombie was born on 30 January 1882 in Dumfries, into a long architectural lineage (see Alexander Crombie), the son of the Dumfries architect Alan Burgess Crombie and his second wife Elizabeth Jane McIlraith. He was articled to his father for two years from September 1896, leaving him to attend day classes with Charles Gourlay at Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College for eight months. In July 1899 he entered the office of Honeyman & Keppie (from 1901 Honeyman and Mackintosh), remaining there until 1903 when he returned to his father's practice as an assistant, having spent April and August of that year sketching in Holland and Belgium. On 29 November 1904 his father died, and at age twenty-two he took over the practice. In about 1905 he seems to have a formed a partnership with James Clark Mackenzie. However Mackenzie emigrated to Canada in late 1907.

Wilfrid Fitzalan Crombie was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, proposed by Alexander Nisbet Paterson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects, which Crombie had joined in 1907.

Crombie died aged 70 on 8 October 1952. He was survived by his wife, Charlotte Grierson.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Union Chambers/122, Irish Street (or Union Street?), Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1909After 1914Measurer's Companion gives Union Street in 1911
Item 2 of 3Beaumont, Edinburgh Road, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivate1912 *After 1950 
Item 3 of 3151, Irish Street, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandBusiness1931 *1939 or after 1940(?) 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 5Alan Burgess Crombie1 September 18961 September 1898Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Honeyman & Keppie1 July 18991 January 1901Apprentice(?) 
Item 3 of 5Honeyman, Keppie & Mackintosh1 January 19011 April 1903Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Alan Burgess Crombie1 September 190329 November 1904Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Crombie & Mackenziec. 1905c. 1907Partner 

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 2Robert Scott Skilling20 September 1909January 1914Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2Ambrose Martin Thomson19201925Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Alexander Nisbet Paterson24 June 1912for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects

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 18After 1893Woodbank HotelDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions

OS 25 inch map for 1899 shows building significantly extended from that shown on 1893 map, and renamed 'Woodbank Hotel' from Woodbank. There are no further extensions on the 1907 6 inch map so work must have taken place in this period.
Item 2 of 18Late 1800sVilla, Irish StreetDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandRebuilt incorporating 18th century house
Item 3 of 18After 1903(?)Benedictine Convent of the Perpetual Adoration, Corbelly HillDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions
Item 4 of 18After 1903(?)Kelton Mansion HouseDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 5 of 18After 1903(?)Maxwell Memorial HallKirkgunzeon KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 6 of 18After 1903(?)Mineral Water Factory for Armstrong & DickieDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 7 of 18After 1903(?)Various small villas, cottages, farm steadings and hotel alterations  DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 8 of 18After 1903(?)Villa for J S Reid EsqDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 9 of 18After 1903(?)Villa for J W Critchley EsqDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 10 of 18c. 1907(?)Dumfries AcademyDumfries DumfriesshireScotland(New school?) and additions and alterations to existing buildings (following competition) including lodge
Item 11 of 181909Drill Hall, 43 Newall TerraceDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 12 of 181910Main Street School, KirkconnelKirkconnel DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions
Item 13 of 181920Park TerraceDalbeattie KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 14 of 181921Eight blocks of houses for Kirkcudbright County CouncilNew Abbey KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 15 of 181921Haugh of Urr Council Housing (eight houses)Haugh of Urr KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 16 of 181923St John the EvangelistDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandHall addition
Item 17 of 181927BlackwoodAuldgirth DumfriesshireScotlandSmall addition
Item 18 of 181933Offices, Caledonian Bus and Motor Bus Hiring CompanyDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   
Item 2 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v23 no1893