© All rights reserved. Roas Quarterly no 47 Autumn, 1934 

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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Frank James Connell
Designation: Architect
Born: 23 April 1910
Died: 19 October 1992
Bio Notes: Frank James Connell was born on 23 May 1910, the son of Ernest Oldham Connell, medical practitioner and his wife. He commenced his studies at Edinburgh University where he achieved first-class marks in the first year of the Fine Arts class in June 1928. He then proceeded to Cambridge University, where he graduated BA (Hons) in the Mechanical Sciences tripos in 1930 and BA in architectural subjects in 1932. He returned to Edinburgh thereafter, studying at the College of Art. In June 1934 he was awarded the RIAS Rutland Prize for working drawings and in August that year he visited Scandinavia, including Gothenburg, Stockholm, Helsinki, Paimio and Abo, as well as Copenhagen and Hamburg. In June 1935 he obtained his diploma and an exemption from the RIBA final exam, and the following month he passed the Professional Practice exam. He was admitted ARIBA on 2 December that year, his proposers being Arthur Forman Balfour Paul, John Begg of Edinburgh College of Art, and Harold Tomlinson of the University of Cambridge School of Architecture, who wrote in his supporting statement: 'He was supervised by me at Cambridge in Architecture, after taking a Tripos in Engineering. His earlier training in Engineering was of great assistance to a particularly apt pupil. I have watched his brilliant later career with interest.' By that time Connell had joined the practice of Leslie Grahame-Thomson, who took him into partnership in late 1937. He had a large hand in the Caledonian Insurance Building.

Connell was briefly the editor of the RIAS Quarterly from January 1939 but when he was called up this must have ended, as did the partnership with Grahame-Thomson. After the war Connell joined the staff of the Scottish Office as an architect-planner, ending his career as a Regional Planning Officer. He retired from this post on 28 February 1971 and resigned his RIBA membership in September that year, stating that he intended to devote his time to theological research rather than architecture.

He died in Queensberry House Hospital in Edinburgh on 19 October 1992, survived by his wife, Anne Regiaulde Forsyth, and at least one son.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 421, Warriston Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1935After 1939 
Item 2 of 46, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1937c. 1940 
Item 3 of 473, Trinity Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  
Item 4 of 45, Murrayfield Avenue, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1971 *  

* 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 3Leslie Grahame Thomson (or Leslie Grahame-Thomson; later Leslie Grahame MacDougall)19351937 or 1938Assistant 
Item 2 of 3Leslie Grahame Thomson & Connell1937 or 1938c. 1940Partner 
Item 3 of 3Department of Health for Scotland (Scottish Board of Health; later Scottish Development Department)After 194520 September 1971ArchitectArchitect-Planner

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Begg2 December 1935for Associateship
Item 2 of 3Arthur Forman Balfour Paul2 December 1935for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Harold Tomlinson2 December 1935for 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 161936National Bank of Scotland Head Office  EdinburghScotlandOriginal design and interior
Item 2 of 161937Caledonian Insurance Building  EdinburghScotland 
Item 3 of 161937Fairmilehead Parish ChurchFairmilehead EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 16Before 1937The Pantiles RoadhouseWest Linton PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 5 of 16c. 1937BecketsfieldBowden RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 6 of 161938Exhibition Halls, Waverley Market  EdinburghScotlandCompetition entry
Item 7 of 161938House in KillearnKillearn StirlingshireScotland 
Item 8 of 161938New house at CrieffCrieff PerthshireScotland 
Item 9 of 161938New premises for Young Women's Christian Association  EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 161938SrongarbhWest Linton PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 11 of 161939A'ChomraichSilverburn MidlothianScotland 
Item 12 of 161939House for Miss Webb-BowenSwanston EdinburghScotlandAlternative scheme drawn up
Item 13 of 161939Midmar CastleEcht AberdeenshireScotlandProposed restoration - not executed
Item 14 of 161939Town's Churches, Old St Paul's  DundeeScotlandPlain oak pews
Item 15 of 16c. 1939Town's Churches, St Mary's Church and church hall  DundeeScotlandReseating, oak screen etc
Item 16 of 161940HouseBowden RoxburghshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS Quarterly1934no 47Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Photograph of Frank J Connell

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no5817 (combined box 102)

Images

© All rights reserved. Roas Quarterly no 47 Autumn, 1934 

© All rights reserved. Roas Quarterly no 47 Autumn, 1934