Basic Biographical Details

Name: William John Devlin
Designation:  
Born: 1870
Died: 28 May 1932
Bio Notes: William John Devlin was born in 1870 and educated at St Mary's School, Dundalk. He was articled to David Woodburn Sturrock from 1887 to 1889 and subsequently to Walter Glynn Doolin of Dublin, with whom he remained for two years as assistant. He attended Glasgow and Dublin Schools of Art, the Royal College of Science, Dublin, and the Architectural Association classes, winning the Architectural Associations Design Medal in 1896. Between 1894 and 1901 he was engaged as assistant in various unspecified offices in Dublin, London, Oxford and Cape Town. He was probably a Roman Catholic and his main client from an early stage was the Catholic Church for whom he did a considerable amount of work throughout his career. He passed the qualifying exam in 1901 whereupon he set up independent practice at 6 John Street, Adelphi, London, and was admitted ARIBA on 3 February 1902, his proposers
being Doolin, William Howard Seth-Smith and David George Driver.

In 1910 he relocated his practice in Aberdeen where he obtained the post of lecturer in the history of architecture at Robert Gordon’s College, probably a part-time appointment. In 1926 he opened an office in Edinburgh which was presumably connected to the commission for a large convent chapel at Colinton and the work at Kilravock Lodge.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 76, John Street, Adelphi, London, EnglandBusiness1901  
Item 2 of 72, Summer Hill, Chislehurst, Kent, EnglandPrivate1902 *  
Item 3 of 712, Buckingham Street, London, EnglandBusiness1908 *  
Item 4 of 7156, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1914 * Given in RSA catalogues as no 150
Item 5 of 750, Forest Road, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1914 *  
Item 6 of 725, Crown Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1923After 1930 
Item 7 of 74, Stafford Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1929c. 1932 

* 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 3David Woodburn SturrockJanuary 1887January 1889Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Walter Glynn Doolin23 May 188923 May 1892Apprentice 
Item 3 of 3Walter Glynn Doolin23 May 18921894Assistant 

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 4Roy Meldrum 1932Assistant 
Item 2 of 4William Alexander DavidsonFebruary 1912July 1912Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Alexander GordonFebruary 1914July 1914Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Edith Mary Wardlaw Burnet Hughes (née Burnet)After 19141915Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Walter Glynn Doolin3 February 1902for Associateship
Item 2 of 3David George Driver3 February 1902for Associateship
Item 3 of 3William Howard Seth-Smith3 February 1902for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Alexander Robert Meldrum24 June 1912for Licentiateship

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 191893St Agnes RC ChurchLambhill GlasgowScotlandAccording to HS List, 'John Devlin & Son' acted as builders - same family?
Item 2 of 191909Holy Cross RC Church and presbyteryCrosshill GlasgowScotlandDesign for interior
Item 3 of 191911Villa, 1 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandLinks created to 3 Queen's Cross and 3 Queen's Road
Item 4 of 191911Villa, Queen's Cross at St Swithin Street and Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandAdditions, including chapel for Sacred Heart Convent
Item 5 of 191912House at GovalDyce AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 6 of 191914Clinterty HouseKinellar AberdeenScotland 
Item 7 of 19c. 1919Blairs College  AberdeenshireScotlandWar memorial
Item 8 of 19c. 1919RC Church of St Mary of the Assumption  AberdeenScotlandWar memorial
Item 9 of 19c. 1919St Peter's RC Church, war memorial  AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 191923Villa, 1 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandLinks created to 3 Queen's Cross and 3 Queen's Road
Item 11 of 19Before 1923Our Lady of Mount Carmel RC Church and presbyteryBanff BanffshireScotlandAdditions and war memorial
Item 12 of 19Before 1923School (probably RC School)Dufftown BanffshireScotland 
Item 13 of 19Before 1923St Ninian's RC ChurchTynet MorayshireScotlandAdditions
Item 14 of 19c. 1925(?)St Mary's RC ChurchDufftown BanffshireScotlandAltar and canopy, prealtar and reredos
Item 15 of 191926Convent of the Good ShepherdColinton EdinburghScotlandConvent Chapel
Item 16 of 191928Kilravock LodgeGrange EdinburghScotlandChapel enlarged
Item 17 of 191930Tearoom for Messrs Blyths Ltd  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 191931St Columba's RC ChurchBanchory KincardineshireScotland 
Item 19 of 191932St Sylvester's RC Chapel, presbytery and schoolElgin MorayshireScotlandAlterations and additions

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3Royal Academy exhibitors     
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder1932142 p964
Item 2 of 2RIBA Journal18 June 1932v39London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp676 Death notice only

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v15 p23 no1415 (microfilm reel 18)