Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Robb Gall
Designation: Architect
Born: c. 1877(?)
Died:  
Bio Notes: Robert Robb Gall was born about 1877 in Aberdeenshire, the son of John Gall, master mason, and his wife Mary.

He was articled to Alexander Mavor of Aberdeen in January 1892 and remained as assistant until 1897, attending evening classes at the Aberdeen School of Art and obtaining an Art Class Teacher's and Art Master's certificate under the South Kensington regulations. He then sought experience in London, first with the elderly John Birch, leaving him in November of the same year to work for Henry Hewitt Bridgeman. He stayed with Bridgeman until April 1899, after which he moved to the office of hospital specialist Alfred Walter Saxon Snell. During that period he studied at the RA Schools.

In the 1901 census he is still recorded as being in London (living as a lodgerr in Sebbon Street,Islington). Later in 1901 he returned to Aberdeen to work as chief assistant to the School Board architect John Alexander Ogg Allan. He passed the qualifying exam in June 1903 and was admitted ARIBA on 30 November of the same year, his proposers being Snell, Mavor, Allan, Alexander Graham (of London) and John Slater (of London).

He commenced independent practice in Aberdeen in 1918 and three years later entered into partnership with George Morrison Hay (born 1875), who had been a fellow assistant in Snell's office around 1900 and had subsequently spent time in Johannesburg, Hong Kong and Canada. The office of Gall & Hay was at 177 Union Street, and Gall was still at this address when he was elected FRIBA on 29 November 1926, proposed by Allan, George Watt and James Brown Nicol. The partnership had been dissolved by the time of Hay's admittance as FRIBA in the following year, although both partners remained at the same address.

He then entered into a partnership with the older George Gregory. Gregory died in 1927. Gall continued to operate as Gregory & Gall until at least 1939.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 310, Loanhead Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1903After 1926 
Item 2 of 325, Union Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1911 *  
Item 3 of 3177, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1921After 1939Would seem to have kept the Aberdeen office as well as the one in Stonehaven.

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 8Alexander MavorJanuary 1892c. 1896Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8Alexander Mavorc. 1896May 1897Assistant 
Item 3 of 8John BirchJuly 1897November 1897Assistant 
Item 4 of 8Henry Hewitt BridgmanDecember 1897April 1899Assistant 
Item 5 of 8H Saxon Snell & SonApril 1899May 1901Senior Assistant 
Item 6 of 8Aberdeen School Board Architects' Department1901Before 1918AssistantWorking under John Alexander Ogg Allan, chief architect
Item 7 of 8John Alexander Ogg Allan1901Before 1918AssistantWorking for Aberdeen School Board
Item 8 of 8Gall & Hay19211926 or 1927Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Stephen SutherlandMarch 1927September 1927Assistant 
Item 2 of 2John Edward MartinAugust 1927August 1931Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 5John Alexander Ogg Allan30 November 1903for Associateship
Item 2 of 5Alexander Graham30 November 1903for Associateship
Item 3 of 5Alexander Mavor30 November 1903for Associateship
Item 4 of 5John Slater30 November 1903for Associateship
Item 5 of 5Alfred Walter Saxon Snell30 November 1903for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2Alexander Ross Lindsay20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 2Alexander Robert Meldrum24 June 1912for Licentiateship

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 181919Warehouse, Loch Street  AberdeenScotlandReconstruction
Item 2 of 181920Fish-curing premises  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 3 of 181921Four cottages, KingseatNew Machar AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 4 of 181921Kingseat AsylumNew Machar AberdeenshireScotlandAttendants' cottages
Item 5 of 181922BungalowBridge of Don AberdeenScotland 
Item 6 of 181922Garage, Rennie's Wynd  AberdeenScotland 
Item 7 of 181922HouseBucksburn AberdeenScotland 
Item 8 of 181922HouseDyce AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 9 of 181923Bowling pavilion and green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 181923Kingseat AsylumNew Machar AberdeenshireScotlandTwo new villas (male and female, 60 patients each); additions to nurses' home
Item 11 of 181924HouseBucksburn AberdeenScotland 
Item 12 of 181924Sandhaven SchoolPitullie AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 13 of 181924Scotstown Moor Children's CampBridge of Don AberdeenScotland 
Item 14 of 181925Harris Academy, Perth Road  DundeeScotlandWon competition but did not get the job
Item 15 of 181926Fraserburgh AcademyFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotlandAnnexe (ten classrooms plus gymnasium), plus additions and alterations to existing premises
Item 16 of 181934Stonehaven Open Air Swimming PoolStonehaven KincardineshireScotland 
Item 17 of 181935Council housing, Brickfield RoadStonehaven KincardineshireScotland 
Item 18 of 181939Block of six 2-bedroomed housesStonehaven KincardineshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v15 p135 (microfilm reel 18); F no2425 (microfilm reel 34)