Basic Biographical Details Name: | Johnston & Baxter | Designation: | | Born: | 1899 | Died: | After 1959 | Bio Notes: | Born in 1839, Alexander Johnston appears to have been an assistant of Peddie & Kinnear, coming to Dundee in the later 1860s to supervise the building of Morgan's Hospital and of Mayfield for Francis Mollison and possibly other Peddie & Kinnear projects in the Dundee area. He made a favourable impression on the related Molison and Baxter families, and they promised him their support much as the Gilroys were to do later with John Murray Robertson at Castleroy. He opened an office in Reform Street in 1867 and from the partners of Baxter Brothers Johnston extended his influence to the local clergy, the Royal Infirmary and to the whisky blenders so that in David William Baxter's words it was 'all kirks and whisky bonds.' Baxter described his partner as really a Renaissance man compelled by the nature of his practice to become a Gothic designer, the earlier churches, which show the influence of Peddie and Kinnear's plate traceried churches of the 1860s being more interesting.
David William Baxter was born in Dundee on 24 March 1874 and was articled to Alexander Johnston from 1889 to 1893 and remained as an assistant for a further year, attending classes at University College and the Technical Institute. In 1894 Johnston arranged Baxter's transfer to John Murray Robertson's office to gain more up-to-date experience, but at a chance meeting in Reform Street in 1896 told him that he had better come back as prospective partner. He became a full partner at the beginning of 1899. Baxter designed all the work of the firm thereafter, also providing architectural services for his brother George, who was the city's water engineer, at Lintrathen and other sites as well as within the city itself. He was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912.
David William Baxter subsequently set up a branch office in Blairgowrie from which he latterly practised almost exclusively, with a house at Rosemount, the Dundee practice being in the hands of his son David William Baxter Junior (born 1906). The younger Baxter had not served his apprenticeship in his father's practice but instead had been articled to Mills & Shepherd from 1924 to 1929, attending evening classes at Dundee Technical College followed by a correspondence course through the Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He had remained with the same firm as junior assistant for a year after completing his apprenticeship, transferring in 1930 to his father's office. In the autumn of 1931 he travelled to Spain to study architecture, and in the same year took up a junior partnership in his father's practice, being left in charge of the Dundee office after his father opened a branch office in Blairgowrie.
David William Baxter Junior was commissioned in the Lands Branch of the Scottish Command in 1940, reaching the rank of Captain, but returned to the family firm after the war was over. He was admitted LRIBA on 16 December 1945, his proposers being John Donald Mills, John Ross McKay and Robert Stirling Reid. His nomination papers state that whilst in his father's firm to that date he had worked on additions to hospitals as well as factories, schools, housing schemes and domestic buildings.
A younger son or nephew, James Russell Baxter, was in the practice for a time, but post-war practice in Dundee had little appeal for him and he emigrated to recommence practice on his own account at Kitimat, British Columbia.
The elder Baxter retired from active practice in 1954 and died at Pinewood on 13 November 1957. He was survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. In person he was of average height, always very focussed and forthright in manner. Assistants remembered him as a very fast worker with an uncanny accuracy in estimating measurement in surveys. Although he lived on the edge of a golf course his only recreation was angling.
The younger Baxter continued the practice after his father's retirement. It became Baxter, Clark & Paul after James Clark and James Paul were taken into partnership in 1989. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Reform Street, Dundee, Scotland | Business | | | | | Blairgowrie, Perthshire, Scotland | Business | After 1912 | | | | 49, Meadowside, Dundee, Scotland | Business | Before 1912 | 1953 | | | 114, Seagate, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1929 | 1930 or 1931 | As the Builder 18 Oct 1929. Temporary address while 49 Meadowside being modernised |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
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 | | 1898 | Church and Church hall, Clepington | Clepington | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1899 | Barnhill Convalescent Home | Barnhill | | Dundee | Scotland | Extensions | | 1899 | Barry Golf Course and Clubhouse | Barry | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1899 | Errol fountain and market cross | Errol | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1899 | Errol Park House stables | Errol | | Perthshire | Scotland | Addition of octagonal top storey | | 1899 | Islabank | Barnhill | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1900 | Alyth Parish Church | Alyth | | Perthshire | Scotland | New organ case | | 1900 | Foresters' Halls | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1900 | Tircarra | Barnhill | | Dundee | Scotland | New wing and two lodges | | 1901 | James Keiller & Sons Factory | | | Dundee | Scotland | Gateway and extensive additions | | 1901 | Newport-on-Tay Parish Church and Manse | Newport-on-Tay | | Fife | Scotland | Extension to church and new manse | | 1901 | St Michael's Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1902 | St Thomas Church | Balgay | | Dundee | Scotland | | | c. 1903 | Dundee Savings Bank | Lochee | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1904 | Ardvorlich | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1904 | Villa for Malcolm, Forthill Road | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1905 | Balmyle | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Rebuilding | | 1906 | Dundee Savings Bank | Hilltown | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1906 | Gagie Lodge, filters and aqueduct | Gagie | | Angus | Scotland | David William Baxter assisted his brother George with the architectural detail of filters and well tower | | 1906 | Robertson's Bond, Candle Lane | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1906 | Watson's Bond | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | c. 1906 | James Keiller & Sons Shop | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1907 | Beach Mission Church Hall | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Addition of hall | | 1907 | Claremont | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Addition of eastern bay, including new entrance porch | | 1907 | Loyal Order of Ancient Shepherds Building | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1910 | Vernonholme house and lodge | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | Before 1912 | South School | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Additions | | Before 1912 | Victoria Church | | | Dundee? | Scotland | | | Before 1912 | West School | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Additions | | 1913 | Dundee Savings Bank, Eastern Branch | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1919 | Housing Estate for Corporation of Dundee, Strathmore Avenue Area | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1925 | Cottage for J Cree, Blackness Road | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1929 | House for John Cree, Glamis Drive | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1930 | Dundee Royal Infirmary, Caird Cancer Pavilion | | | Dundee | Scotland | SE additions | | 1930 | Premises of M Lowrie | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | c. 1930 | Dudhope House | | | Dundee | Scotland | W extension | | 1932 | Dalgleish Nursing Home | | | Dundee | Scotland | Extension | | 1938 | Alexandra Street Housing Estate at Alyth | Alyth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1939 | Blairgowrie Public School | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | New block | | 1951 | Dundee Royal infirmary, Radiodiagnostic Department | | | Dundee | Scotland | Prepared plans | | 1962 | Housing at SE corner of Ardler estate | Ardler | | Dundee | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 30 November 1951 | | | p773 | | Builder | 22 November 1957 | | | p924 - obituary of Baxter |
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 David Baxter |
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