Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Edwin Forbes
Designation:  
Born: August 1876
Died: 1955
Bio Notes: James Edwin Forbes was born in August 1876 and articled to George Washington Browne, then of Peddie & Washington Browne, from 1892 to 1896, moving thereafter to Robert Rowand Anderson's office as assistant. During that period he studied at the Edinburgh School of Applied Art and won its travelling scholarship in 1897, spending his time in France. In 1899 he went to London as assistant to Edward William Mountford where he remained until 1901 when he won the Grissell Medal and commenced practice in Birmingham with an untraced architect named Charles. In 1905 he moved to London to form a successful partnership with John Duncan Tate who had been his assistant in Birmingham in 1901-02. They had a significant domestic practice, being responsible for numerous houses in the Home Counties, and in 1907 Forbes designed a house for himself, 'The Sheiling' at Chalfont St Giles.

Somewhat surprisingly given his academic record, Forbes did not take the qualifying exam and was admitted LRIBA on 4 July 1910, his proposers being James MacLaren Ross, Herbert Launcelot Fedden and Edward Gabriel of Edmeston and Gabriel, to whom Tate had been articled. He was admitted FRIBA in early 1916, his proposers being Alfred Cox, Herbert Winkler Wills and Howard Chatfeild Clarke.

Forbes died in 1955.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 58, Hermitage Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1898 *  
Item 2 of 5Birmingham, EnglandBusiness19011905 
Item 3 of 538, Great James Street, Bedford Row, London WC, EnglandBusiness1905Before 1910 
Item 4 of 5The Sheiling, Chalfont St Giles, Buckinghamshire, EnglandPrivate1907After 1915 
Item 5 of 516, Old Square, Lincoln's Inn, London WC, EnglandBusinessBefore 1910After 1915 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 4Peddie & Washington Browne18921896ApprenticeUnder Browne
Item 2 of 4Wardrop & Anderson18971899Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Edward William Mountford18991901Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Forbes & Tate1905 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Howard Chatfeild ClarkeEarly 1916for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Alfred CoxEarly 1916for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Herbert Launcelot Fedden4 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 6Edward Gabriel4 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 6James MacLaren Ross4 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 6Herbert Winkler WillsEarly 1916for Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This 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 11898Conservative ClubNuneaton WarwickshireEnglandCompetition design

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder6 May 1955  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v1 no80 (microfilm reel 29); F no1586 (microfilm reel 13)