Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Duff | Designation: | | Born: | 28 December 1873 | Died: | 14 November 1929 | Bio Notes: | John Duff was born on 28 December 1873 at East Mains, Auchtergaven, Perthshire, the son of Duncan Duff, master joiner and his wife Mary Chalmers. He was the third of five children, his brother Henry becoming a joiner and subsequently taking over their father's business. John was articled to Alexander Gorrie Chalmers of Perth and simultaneously attended Perth Academy and Sharp's Institution from 1888 to 1891, achieving first-class certificates in all subjects. Thereafter he was assistant to the Perthshire County Sanitary Inspector (1891-93) and to the Earl of Mansfield's Estate Architect in 1893, before serving an apprenticeship with a firm of joiners and contractors from 1894 to 1896. He joined the architectural office of solicitors Condie & Co in Perth in the latter year, remaining with them until 1904 with the exception of a 15-month period of active service in South Africa in 1901-02. After leaving Condie & Co he was appointed architect to the Earl of Stair's estates in Wigtownshire and Ayrshire, carrying out over £4000 worth of work per year on the farmhouses, cottages and other estate buildings and also making improvements to manses, schools and police stations outwith the estates. He was awarded the Silver Medal in the Highland & Agricultural Society of Scotland's 1908 competition for plans of buildings suitable for smallholdings, a bronze medal in that for a horse farm in the same year, and came third in a similar competition organised by the Glasgow and West of Scotland Garden City Association in 1909. He was elected a Licentiate of the RIBA on 6 June 1910, his proposers being Edmund Walter Wimperis, Max Clarke and Arthur Needham Wilson. He appears to have returned to his previous employers, by then named Condie, Mackenzie WS, by 1925.
John Duff married Agnes Craig Scott in 1905. They had two children, Duncan a chartered elecrtical engineer and Jessie, a science teacher.
Duff died on 14 November 1929 at 3 Dupplin Road, Kinnoull, Perth. He was buried at Cargill in Perthshire in the Scott family grave. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Rephad, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Scotland | Business | 1910 * | | | | Edinburgh Road, Stranraer, Wigtownshire, Scotland | Private | 1910 * | | | | British Linen Bank House, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1914 * | | | | 3, Dupplin Road, Kinnoull, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1929 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers* earliest date known from documented sources. Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Robert Blyth | June 1925 | June 1928 | Assistant | at Condie, Mackenzie |
RIBARIBA Proposers
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 | | 1896 | Nether Durdie Farm | Nether Durdie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Remodelling - as principal assistant | | 1897 | Barcaldine Castle | | | Argyll | Scotland | Restoration including re-roofing and extensive internal work - as principal assistant to Alexander Buttar/Condie & Co | | 1904 | Huntingtower House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions - as assistant to Alexander Buttar/Condie & Co | | 1906 | Balkail House | Glenluce | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1906 | High Balyell Farm | | | Wigtownshire/Ayrshire? | Scotland | Remodelling | | 1908 | Balkail House | Glenluce | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Further additions | | 1908 | Stennock Farm | | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Remodelling | | 1909 | High Balyell Farm | | | Wigtownshire/Ayrshire? | Scotland | Further remodelling | | 1910 | South Milton Farm | | | Wigtownshire/Ayrshire? | Scotland | Remodelling |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information from Duff's granddaughter, Jean Rae Percival | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v1 no26 (microfilm reel 29) |
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