© All rights reserved. ©and courtesy of RIAS 

Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page.

Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Sinclair Gauldie
Designation: Architect
Born: 29 December 1918
Died: 1 July 1996
Bio Notes: William Sinclair Gauldie (known as Sinclair Gauldie) was born on 29 December 1918, the son of Dundee architect William Gauldie and his wife Charlotte Sandeman Sinclair who had married in 1911. He was educated at Invergowrie School and Dundee High School where he was an Armistead medal-list in English and French. He was articled to Frank Thomson and studied at Dundee College of Art part-time from 1936 to 1940, winning a prize in first year. His studies were interrupted by the Second World War when he served between October 1939 and June (or January?) 1940 with the Royal Corps of Signals. He returned to full-time study in 1940, completing the course in 1942. He was elected ARIBA on 13 April 1943, proposed by Patrick Hill Thoms, William Salmond and Charles Geddes Soutar. Around this time he won a prize for his dissertation on architecture and stagecraft and this led to a commission to illustrate a number of books and to work in the theatre. He won a prize for a radio play and an adaptation of Wilkie Collins’s ‘The Moonstone’ which was performed in London’s West End. From 1943 to 1945 he was a tutor at the College, lecturing on the History of Architecture and on Structural Steelwork. He inherited his father’s practice upon the latter’s death on 4 October 1945.

From 1945 to 1963 he was a visiting lecturer at the Duncan of Jordanstone College and was an honorary lecturer at St Andrews and Dundee Universities. He was elected FRIBA in 1954, his proposers being John Needham, Thomas Hill Thoms and another (unreadable signature), and FRIAS in 1956. During the 1950s he was much influenced by Danish architecture and made several trips to Denmark.

In 1947 he took into partnership an old friend, Arthur Francis Stevenson Wright (also born 1918) who had trained with Thoms & Wilkie. Later the pair were renowned for their verbal jousts. In 1950 they took into partnership John Needham (born 1909), Head of the School of Architecture at Dundee College of Art, the firm then becoming Gauldie Hardie Wright & Needham, until Needham left for Sheffield in 1975.

Gauldie was active in matters relating to the profession and was President of the Dundee Institute of Architects from 1961-63 and of the RIAS from 1963-65. He also served on the National Building Agency and the Scottish Building Contract Committee. He sat on the Broadcasting Council for Scotland and the General Advisory Council of the BBC.

In 1970 Gauldie was made CBE for his services to architecture and building. However he withdrew from active public service after a heart attack about 1970. He retired in 1986.

Outwith his profession Gauldie was a fine painter and exhibited both paintings and architectural designs at the Royal Scottish Academy and the Dundee Art Society. He was a founding member of the Scottish Society of Architect-Artists. He also published various books, contributed to numerous professional journals, wrote the script for BBC programmes and made radio and television appearances.

Sinclair Gauldie married Enid Elizabeth Macneilage in 1949. She was a historian and writer. They had one son and two daughters. He was transferred to the category of retired FRIAS in 1993. He died suddenly in Ninewells Hospital on 1 July 1996, survived by his wife and children.

Publications:
‘Looking at Scottish Buildings’, 1947 (with George Scott-Moncrieff)
‘The Moonstone’ play (with Harold Scott)
‘Fortesquieu: a memoir’ (with Harold Scott)
‘Architects and Architecture on Tayside’, 1984 (with D Bruce Walker)
‘Take a Letter: The Useful Architect’s Companion’, 1987

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Dundee, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 3The Ha'en, Invergowrie, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate1943  
Item 3 of 3Waterside, Invergowrie, Angus/Perthsire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19541996 

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 5Frank Drummond Thomsonc. 1934(?)c. 1939(?)Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Gauldie Hardie & Sharpe19451947PartnerAs sole partner?
Item 3 of 5Gauldie Hardie & Wright19471950Partner 
Item 4 of 5Gauldie, Hardie, Wright & Needham19501975Partner 
Item 5 of 5Gauldie Wright & Partners1975 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 8William Allan Cairns17 July 1968For Fellowship
Item 2 of 8Douglas William McNair Calder6 October 1965For Fellowship
Item 3 of 8Richard Houston Dewar5 June 1968for Fellowship
Item 4 of 8George Haslehurst Lawrence (sometimes misspelt George Hazelhurst Lawrence)7 April 1965For Fellowship
Item 5 of 8William Finlayson McKenzie26 June 1963For Associateship
Item 6 of 8William Finlayson McKenzie22 July 1970For Fellowship
Item 7 of 8Robert Stewart Smith4 February 1958For Associateship
Item 8 of 8Robert Stewart Smith5 October 1966For Fellowship

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 501930Hostel for Teachers' Training  DundeeScotland 
Item 2 of 501950Dundee Technical Institute  DundeeScotlandExtensions to textile department
Item 3 of 501952House for W S GauldieInvergowrie PerthshireScotlandArchitect's own house?
Item 4 of 501953Tayside, KingoodieInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotlandOriginal quarrymen's houses extended to form a house, 'Tayside'
Item 5 of 50Before 1954Bullionfield Paper WorksInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotlandNew materials' warehouse and new boiler house
Item 6 of 50Before 1954House for Dr D M J DunbarInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 7 of 50Before 1954House for Mr D R CrichtonInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 8 of 50Before 1954House for Mr George FoxCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 9 of 50Before 1954House for Mr J D HardieInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 10 of 50Before 1954House for Mr John Moir  DundeeScotland 
Item 11 of 50Before 1954House for Mr Kenneth Hone (or Stone?)Invergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 12 of 50Before 1954House for Mr R M Garland  DundeeScotland 
Item 13 of 50Before 1954Inverbay CottageInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 14 of 50Before 1954Premises of Messrs Alex Potter, shoemakers  DundeeScotlandAlterations and reconstruction of fashion department and children's department
Item 15 of 50Before 1954RuadhchreLongforgan PerthshireScotland 
Item 16 of 50Before 1954The George public house  DundeeScotlandReconstruction
Item 17 of 50Before 1954WatersideInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 18 of 50195522 Station CrescentInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 19 of 501956Blackness Foundry, drawing office  DundeeScotlandNew drawing office
Item 20 of 501956General Accident Assurance CoPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 21 of 501956Private houseCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 22 of 50Before 1956HouseBlairgowrie PerthshireScotlandAlterations
Item 23 of 50Before 1956Lawside Dyework  DundeeScotlandExtension
Item 24 of 50Before 1956Private houseAuchterhouse AngusScotland 
Item 25 of 50Before 1956Private houses  DundeeScotland 
Item 26 of 501957Students Hostel at MayfieldMayfield DundeeScotland 
Item 27 of 501960Cupar County BuildingsCupar FifeScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 28 of 501960Halls of ResidenceSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 29 of 501960Halls of residence for the College of Technology  DundeeScotland 
Item 30 of 501962Belmont Hall of residence  DundeeScotlandMainly responsible
Item 31 of 501962University HallSt Andrews FifeScotlandnew women's residence on grounds of hall
Item 32 of 501963Engineering Factory for AEI Ltd  DundeeScotland 
Item 33 of 501963Engineering factory for Keith Blackman LtdArbroath AngusScotland 
Item 34 of 501963Psychiatric HospitalPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 35 of 501965Avenue Road HousingKinross Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 36 of 501965Royal Bank of ScotlandAlyth PerthshireScotland 
Item 37 of 501965Royal Bank of Scotland branch  DundeeScotland 
Item 38 of 501966DrumlinGlencarse PerthshireScotlandAlterations
Item 39 of 501966Old people's homes  DundeeScotland 
Item 40 of 501968Greenfield Primary School  DundeeScotland 
Item 41 of 501968Kirkton Neighbourhood Centre and LibraryArdler DundeeScotland 
Item 42 of 501968Williamson Memorial Unitarian Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 43 of 50c. 1968Hostel for Students, Dundee College of Education  DundeeScotlandOverall supervision
Item 44 of 50Before 1970HousingLivingston West LothianScotland 
Item 45 of 50Before 1970Housing  DundeeScotland 
Item 46 of 50Before 1970Private housingCraigie DundeeScotland 
Item 47 of 501972Dundee Institute of Art and Technology, student flats  DundeeScotland 
Item 48 of 501972Regional Police Headquarters  DundeeScotland 
Item 49 of 501975Housing work for Dundee & Hillcrest Housing Associations  DundeeScotlandRehabilitation
Item 50 of 501975Police StationFintry DundeeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland PressPersonal information from Sinclair Gauldie
Item 2 of 3Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp18 Belmont Hall of Residence
Item 3 of 3RIBA1950The 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 2Builder18 August 1961  'Civic Trust Design Awards, 1960 - Results of Competitions in the County Boroughs, The Awards, Scotland' pp304-305 - served as assessor for Airdrie projects
Item 2 of 2RIAS NewsletterNovember 1996v7, no9 Death notice

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from manuscript notes by William S Gauldie, made c.1954, and other recollections communicated verbally. Undated newscutting reports exhibition of the work of Gauldrie as an artist mounted at the Rep, Dundee, probably 1984.
Item 2 of 2RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  

Images

© All rights reserved. ©and courtesy of RIAS 

© All rights reserved. ©and courtesy of RIAS