Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander McCulloch | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1844 | Died: | | Bio Notes: | Alexander McCulloch was born in West Fife and commenced his career with practical training in the building trade with a 'leading establishment' in Edinburgh. He studied at Heriot-Watt and in 1864 became assistant to Charles Macpherson, Edinburgh's burgh engineer. In 1868 he commenced the University of Edinburgh's engineering course, winning its first prize and medal in 1870, and was employed by Professor Fleming Jenkin to make illustrations and lecture diagrams. In 1872 he was appointed first assistant to William Mackison, Dundee's Burgh Engineer, in succession to Watson who became water engineer. In 1875 he resigned to set up practice in Dundee as a civil engineer and in mid-1876 he formed the Dundee and Edinburgh civil engineering and architectural partnership of McCulloch & Fairley with James Graham Fairley whom he had known in Macpherson's office.
The partnership of McCulloch & Fairley had a formal existence of only about three years, but remained effective for at least another eight years, McCulloch continuing to obtain Fairley's assistance for any major architectural commission that came his way, most notably at the French Renaissance Girls' High School (1886) in Dundee, one of the finest Scottish buildings of the 1880s.
McCulloch was admitted AMICE in 1885. He took an active part in Dundee public life, becoming a volunteer officer in 1878, a councillor in 1883, and Convener of the Works Committee of the Water Commission in 1884, having a major hand in the design and construction of the aqueduct from Lintrathen to Clatto. He subsequently had a similar advisory role in the design of the Esplanade, succeeding in changing its design from serpentine to straight. He became a Baillie in 1886, but subsequently resigned to apply for the post of City Water Engineer and was surprised to find himself an unsuccessful candidate.
In 1885 McCulloch engaged as assistant George Jamieson, probably because the time Fairley could give to McCulloch's practice was becoming limited. In 1894 Jamieson was made a partner; McCulloch then moved to Edinburgh where he appears to have been briefly in partnership with his son Robert McCulloch at 3 Bernard Street, Leith, whilst Jamieson carried out all of the firm's Dundee business himself. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1875 | 1894 | | | Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1876 | | | | 3, Bernard Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1894 | | | | 2, Park Road, Trinity, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business(?) | c. 1910 | c. 1912 | May have retired by 1910 and this may be home only |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | George Jamieson | 1885 | 1894 | Chief Assistant | Became a partner 1894 | | William Clark | 1886 | 1891 | Apprentice | | | George Brown Deas | 1891 | 1894 | Apprentice | |
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 | | 1875 | Victoria Hall | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1876 | Rattray Street Baptist Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1876 | Trinity EU Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1877 | Improvement Act Tenements, Victoria Road | | | Dundee | Scotland | Executed Aitken's design | | 1877 | Tenement, Victoria Road | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1877 | Tenement, Victoria Road and Infirmary Lane | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1885 | Tay Square UP Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Renovation | | 1885 | Tenement of mansion flats, Singleton Place, Baxter Park Terrace | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1886 | Dundee High School, gymnasium block | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1886 | High School for Girls | | | Dundee | Scotland | Designed by Fairley though no longer in partnership officially | | 1888 | The Esplanade, ornamental lake | | | Dundee | Scotland | Proposed - design illustrated | | 1889 | St Paul's Cathedral Schools | | | Dundee | Scotland | Adapted and executed design by Reverend Edward Sugden | | 1890 | Factory block, Albert Street | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1890 | Ward Road public gymnasium | | | Dundee | Scotland | Designed by Fairley; executed by McCulloch | | 1891 | Saloons and tenement, Crichton Street | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1891 | South west corner building, Thorter Row | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1893 | Sleepyhillock Cemetery | Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Buildings of Scotland gives McCulloch & Fairley as the architects for this but this partnership finished well before and the McCulloch & Jamieson partnership only began in 1894. At the opening ceremony the design of the cemetery is given as 'Mr McCulloch' and 'Mr Bruce' burgh surveyor of Montrose supervised the work. | | 1896 | Errol Terrace, Victoria Road | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1898 | Lorne Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition | | 1905 | School at New Elgin | New Elgin | | Morayshire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1911 | Post Office | Newport-on-Tay | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1913 | Masonic Hall | | | Dundee | Scotland | Reconstruction |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | The Piper of Dundee | * | | | Biography, check date |
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 | | Personal information from Harry Band |
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