Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Melvin & Son | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1874 | Died: | After 1970 | Bio Notes: | John Melvin Senior was born in Alloa in 1805 the second son of John Melvin, wright, and, like the Frames in the same town, came of a staunchly United Presbyterian family. He commenced his career as a joiner in the family business but moved to Edinburgh where he went through a course of study and practice of architecture and in 1826 returned to his native town and began business as master joiner and architect, as he frequently 'combined the two by drawing the plans of a house, and alterations and repairs, and executing the joiner work as well'.
John Melvin Junior was born in 1855 and was articled to his father before seeking Edinburgh experience with George Beattie & Son. He returned to Alloa as his father's partner c.1874. In 1878 John Melvin Senior, who had spent much of his time at his house in Comrie in his later years, retired completely and 'was entertained to dinner by the contractors of Alloa and presented with a handsome silver epergne, emblematic of architecture'. He died 7 March 1894.
John Melvin Junior never enjoyed good health. As the expectations of the Paton family, his main patron, grew in relation to the proposed new office block at Kilncaigs Works, in 1902 'feeling his health and strength unequal for the whole work', Melvin assumed as partner William Kerr. Kerr had been recommended to the Patons by Thomas Graham Abercrombie through family and client connection with the Coats family who were in turn related to the Patons. Since Abercrombie was a frequent holiday guest on the Coats steam yacht, the connection may have been made directly: it is also possible that it was made through Abercrombie's brother Col R G Abercrombie who lived in Alloa. This tactful arrangement seems to have been in deference to Melvin's past services and the fact that both families were United Presbyterian. John Melvin Junior died three years later on 30 September 1905.
William Kerr was born in Houston, Renfrewshire on 23 June 1867. In 1885 he was articled to John Burnet & Son where he worked alongside John Archibald Campbell (a partner from 1886) Alexander McGibbon and Alexander Robb Scott. He is known to have worked on the drawings for the Barony Church, the Athenaeum and on the churches and other buildings for the Duke of Hamilton on Arran. In 1890 Kerr moved to Paisley to work for Thomas Graham Abercrombie where he quickly rose to become principal assistant and undertook most of the design work of that practice from 1894; much of it in Burnet influenced Baroque or Gothic, the Clark Memorial Church at Largs being strongly influenced by Burnet's design for the Coats Memorial Church in Paisley.
Once established in Alloa Kerr took over the Paton domestic commissions which had hitherto been the preserve of Sydney Mitchell. Like the Patons he was a strictly teetotal Liberal, and like Abercrombie before him, he was frequently invited to join his clients on holiday. For what were described by John Biggar as 'personal reasons' Kerr never lived in Alloa. He commuted from his native Houston until quite late in life often making small sketch-plans on any piece of paper that he had to hand or on his shirt cuffs. Only quite late in life did he move from Houston, not to Alloa but to a terrace house in Comely Bank as a better base for the education of his sons., where student friends, notably Alan Reiach, and Robert Scott Morton, were particularly welcome guests.
In 1912 William Kerr took into partnership John Gray. Gray was born in Springfield, Fife c.1878 and educated at Dollar Academy. In or about 1896 he was articled to John Melvin Junior and remained as assistant. Up to that point Gray was probably largely self-taught as an early twentieth century architect but once Kerr had taken over the office he quickly assimilated his style and they worked so closely together that buildings reputedly designed bu Gray are virtually indistinguishable in style from those by Kerr. Throughout their partnership the practice name remained John Melvin & Son. Despite the accomplished qualities of their best work neither partner sought publicity or exhibited at the RSA.
Kerr was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, his proposers being McGibbon, Alexander Nisbet Paterson and John Keppie. Gray did not seek admission to the RIBA until after the war, during which he served in the Royal Engineers. Much of the firms inter-war practice consisted of housing estates and schools, but the larger jobs remained high quality right up to Kerr's death on 10 September 1940, still at work on his sickbed designing a school at Tilliecoultry. Kerr left a daughter and three sons, the eldest of whom was blinded in the First World War, his two younger sons serving in the second. Of these A Bryce Kerr was also an architect but in the difficult post-war years preferred to join the staff of the Scottish Office rather than seek a partnership with John Melvin & Son. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 7, Mar Street, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1910 | After 1930 | | | 64, Mar Street, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland | Business | 1911 * | | | | 15, Mar Street, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1964 | After 1981 | | | 10a, Melville Terrace, Stirling, Stirlingshire, Scotland | Business | 1970 * | After 1981 | Branch office |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1873 | Greenside Mission Chapel | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1874 | Museum and library for the Natural History and Archaeological Society | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1874 | Norwood | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1875 | Alloa Burgh School | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1875 | Dysart UP Manse | Dysart | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1877 | Clydesdale Bank | Bo'ness / Borrowstouness | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1878 | 63 Queen Street | Alva | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Kilncraigs Factory, Old Mill and Engine House | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Kirkton of Largo School | Upper Largo | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1878 | Popular Institute | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Tower added | | 1879 | Tillicoultry Town hall | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Addition of tower - competition won to secure job | | c. 1880 | Villas in Kellie Place | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1885 | Alva Infant School | Alva | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1889 | Kincardine-on-Forth Public School | Kincardine-on-Forth | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1893 | Clackmannan County Infectious Diseases Hospital | Sauchie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1896 | Thistle Brewery | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | 'Possibly' (HS) | | 1899 | Infectious Diseases Hospital | Linlithgow | | West Lothian | Scotland | Secured job | | 1900 | Paton's School | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1901 | Clackmannan County Infectious Diseases Hospital | Sauchie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Laundry block added | | 1901 | Dundashill Bakery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original building (perhaps a different Melvin?) | | 1901 | Infectious Diseases Hospital | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1901 | Parish Manse | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Begun by Melvin but obvious Kerr details | | 1901 | Police Station | Alva | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1901 | Union Club | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Part of brewery and office of George Younger remodelled as Union Club | | 1902 | Craig-na-Aird | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1902 | Craigmyle | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1902 | Hawkhill Cottages | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1902 | Kilncraigs Factory, West Mill | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Top three floors added | | 1902 | St John's Episcopal School | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | After 1902 | House at Kilmacolm | Kilmacolm/Kilmalcolm | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | After 1902 | Large factories for John Paton Son & Co | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | After 1902 | Offices for John Paton Son & Co | Alloa? | | Clackmannanshire? | Scotland | | | 1903 | 22 Coalgate and 3-9 Union Street | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1904 | Kilncraigs Offices | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1904 | Liberal Club | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1904 | School | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1905 | Kellyside | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1905 | Moncrieff UF Manse | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | c. 1905 | Dunmar Hotel | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Attribution by Adam Swan | | 1906 | 60, 62, 64, 66 Tullibody Road | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1908 | 96-98 Tullibody Road | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1908 | Glenvar | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1910 | 25 Alexandra Drive | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1910 | Alloa County Buildings | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Extensions in Drysdale Street | | 1911 | Houston School | Houston | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1911 | Lethangie House | Milnathort | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | U-plan rear wing added. | | 1911 | Sauchie District Hall | Sauchie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1911 | Women's Institute | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Placed first in competition but Welsh appointed | | c. 1911 | Kerrmakin | Houston | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | c. 1911 | Kinross Higher Grade School | Kinross | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | | | 1912 | The Gean | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | Before 1912 | Linwood School | Linwood | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | c. 1912 | Cottage at farm at Denny | Denny | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | c. 1912 | House, Craiglockhart | Craiglockhart | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1913 | Bothy, 79 Claremont | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1913 | Claremont Grove | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | New wing added | | 1913 | Glendelvine Manse | Glendelvine | | Perthshire | Scotland | New porch | | 1913 | Glendevon Manse | Glendevon | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1914 | Temperance Young Men's Christian Association clubrooms | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1919 | Minto Gardens Council Housing | Alva | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1919 | Walker Institute | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Rear extension | | 1920 | Council Housing | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | After 1920 | Houses, Academy Place | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1922 | Sauchie District Hall | Sauchie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | War memorial | | 1923 | 39 Ashley Terrace | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1923 | 45-47 High Street | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1923 | Lethangie House | Milnathort | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | Alterations and additions - perhaps East wing | | 1923 | Wellington House | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Relocation of Georgian House from War Memorial site | | 1924 | Paton's Sports Pavilion | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1924 | Remony Lodge | Loch Tay | | Perthshire | Scotland | Claimed for Gray by both Gray's daughter and Duncan Millar's son | | 1925 | Bowling Club | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1925 | Coalsnaughton Public Hall and Library | Coalsnaughton | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Second hall added at rear | | 1925 | Council housing, Ashley Terrace | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1925 | Sauchie District Hall | Sauchie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1926 | Alloa Parish Church hall | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1926 | County Offices | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Built in the garden of Fentoun House, then owned by Gray, thus probably by Gray. | | 1929 | Cochrane Hall | Alva | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1930s | Council housing, Argyll Street, Sorley Brae and Burnside | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1930s | Greenrigg | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Attribution by Adam Swan | | 1930s | Todsfield | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1930 | Fishcross Miners' Welfare Institute | Fishcross | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1930 | Housing, Broad Street | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1931 | Co-operative Offices | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Meadowbank | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Alloa Gas Undertaking premises | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Lethangie House | Milnathort | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | Rebuilding after fire | | 1935 | Park Primary School | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Parkhead UF Manse | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Cochrane Park, pavilion | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Factory | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1936 | Four houses, Henderson Avenue | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Housing | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Kilncraigs Offices | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1936 | Kilncraigs warehouse | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Temperance Young Men's Christian Association clubrooms | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Rear hall extension in Mar Street | | 1937 | Dollar Academy, Preparatory School | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1938 | Alloa County Buildings | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Second extension 1938 in Drysdale Street (Police Offices) | | 1938 | The Pines | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | With Patrick McNeil | | 1938 | Tillicoultry Primary School | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1939 | Paton's Sports Pavilion | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Added lodge | | 1940 | Tillicoultry Secondary School | Tillicoultry | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Design - not executed | | 1946 | Messrs Younger & Son brewery | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Various works with Biggar as sole partner | | 1948 | Yeast Factory | Menstrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1950 | Forth paper mills, offices | Kilbagie | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Reconstruction of offices | | 1951 | Grain House probably for Messrs Younger & Son | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Alterations | | Before 1953 | Clackmannan Drill Hall | Clackmannan | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | Before 1953 | Dollar Academy, staff houses | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1971 | Royal Bank of Scotland | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Remodelling of ground floor. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Measurers\' Companion | 1911 | The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion | | | | | Municipal Annual | 1964 | Scottish Municipal Annual | 1964-1965 | | | | RIBA | 1970 | RIBA Directory 1970 | | | | | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p80 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Alloa Advertiser | 20 September 1940 | | | | | Alloa Journal | 20 September 1940 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | DMW Archive | Letters from Eric Compton & Mrs Compton to Adam Swan (latter dated 4 February 1988) | | |
|