Basic Biographical Details Name: | Duff & Cairns | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1919 | Died: | 1926 | Bio Notes: | Neil Campbell Duff was born on 27 May 1861 in Blythswood, Glasgow, the son of Mungo Campbell Duff IM, a quantity surveyor and his wife Janet Aitken. He was articled to his uncle James Thomson of Baird & Thomson from 1876 to 1881 and remained as an assistant until 1886, rejoining his father's firm in 1897 and remaining until 1893. During that period he spent one month each year on study tour, one month in London, Paris, Cambridge, Oxford and York and shorter periods in Liverpool, Manchester and Dublin.
Combining the business of architect with that of his brother Thomas's quantity surveying firm did not prove successful and in December 1893 he commenced business on his own account in Glasgow. He was admitted FRIBA on 11 June 1906, his proposers being Horatio Kelson Bromhead, David Barclay, Thomas Edward Collcutt and C J MacLean.
In 1919 Duff married Janet Helen McIntosh Robertson. About the same year he took Percival Cairns into partnership. Cairns had been born at 31 New Keppochhill Road, Glasgow on 22 August 1889, the son of James Cairns, police constable (later an inspector) and his wife Mary McKeown who came from Belfast. He had studied at Glasgow School of Architecture from 1905 to 1912 but it is not yet certain if it was to Neil Campbell Duff that he was originally articled: he was certainly his assistant in 1914 prior to being taken into partnership five years later.
Cairns died on 28 June 1926 of pulmonary tuberculosis. He was survived by his wife Christina Elliot McAllister. Duff continued to practise alone thereafter. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 187A, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | | 1934 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Neil Campbell Duff | c. 1919 | 1926 | Partner | | | Percival Cairns | c. 1919 | 1926 | Partner | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesCurrently, there are no references for this . The information has been derived from: the British Architectural Library / RIBA Directory of British Architects 1834-1914; Post Office Directories; and/or any sources listed under this individual's works. |