Basic Biographical Details

Name:	John Wilson Paterson
Designation:	Architect
Born:	1887
Died:	31 May 1969
Bio Notes:	John Wilson Paterson was born in 1887, the son of William Paterson. He was educated at George Watson's College and articled to the brewery architect Peter Lyle Henderson from 1903 to 1907, during which period he attended Heriot-Watt College and Edinburgh College of Art. In 1908-09 he was assistant to Allan E L Clark (possibly of London) from whose office he obtained a place in the Office of Works, Edinburgh, in 1909, working under its principal architect and surveyor in Scotland William Thomas Oldrieve. In the following year (1910) his younger brother, William Paterson (born c.1889) also joined the office, the other assistants at that time being James Cumming Wynnes and Herbert Ryle, both of whom were considerably older. William Paterson had been articled in 1904 to the hotel specialist James Macintyre Henry, best known as the architect of Midlothian County Buildings, and had attended Leith Technical School and Edinburgh College of Art. Both brothers sat the RIBA's qualifying exam. John passed in 1911 and was admitted ARIBA on 4 December of that year, his proposers being Oldrieve, Henry and John Watson of McArthy & Watson and previously an assistant in Rowand Anderson's office. William passed the qualifying exam in 1913 and won the Pugin studentship in the same year. Drawings of Seton Chapel, Hampton Court and Heckington Church Lincolnshire exhibited at the RSA in 1912 and 1914 appear to relate to that award. William was admitted ARIBA in 1914, his proposers being Henry, Watson and Oldrieve. John Wilson Paterson survived the down-sizing of the Edinburgh Office of Works on Oldrieve's retirement; his involvement in the Holyrood Palace Works in 1910-1913 probably helped: Oldrieve's successor was Cecil John William Simpson, previously head of the Office's Far Eastern Division. Wilson Paterson was appointed MBE in 1920 and in the same year he married Elizabeth Robertson Doig, daughter of Hercules Doig. He succeeded Simpson in 1922 and between that date and his retirement in 1943 he and his office were responsible for great numbers of refined post office and telephone exchange buildings which have never been catalogued. He was appointed MVO in 1926 and CVO in 1936, mainly for his work on the palace and at Edinburgh Castle. John Wilson Paterson retired in 1943. After the Second World War he commenced private practice independently from his brother William. By about 1960 he was the senior partner in the practice Miller & Black, presumbly in charge of the Edinburgh branch. He would appear to have retained this position until about the time of his death. William Paterson died c.1955; John Wilson Paterson on 31 May 1969.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
	Address	Type	Date from	Date to	Notes
	6, Manor Place, Edinburgh	(?)			here in 1959 per Builder
	Verbena Villa, Sciennes Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland	Private	1911 *
	41, St Alban's Road, Edinburgh, Scotland	Private	c. 1920	c. 1922
	11, Abinger Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland	Private	c. 1923	c. 1950
	1, Murrayfield Drive, Edinburgh, Scotland	Private(?)	1960 *
	6, Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland	Business	1964 *

* 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):
	Name	Date from	Date to	Position	Notes
	Peter Lyle Barclay Henderson	1903	1907	Apprentice
	Allan E L Clark	1908	1909	Assistant
	H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)	1909	1922	Assistant	In Edinburgh office
	H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)	1922	1943	Chief Architect	In Edinburgh office
	Miller & Black	Before 1960		Partner

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
	Name	Date from	Date to	Position	Notes
	John Houston	After 1922	Before 1943	Assistant	In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
	John Watt	1930	1931	Assistant	In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
	George Hay	October 1933	1937	Assistant	In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
	(Dr) Frederic ('Eric') Robert Stevenson	August 1935	August 1936	Assistant	In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
	Name	Date proposed	Notes
	James Macintyre Henry	4 December 1911	for Associateship
	William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve)	4 December 1911	for Associateship
	John Watson	4 December 1911	for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
	Name	Date proposed	Notes
	John Stone Craig	11 November 1947	For 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 started	Building name	Town, district or village	Island	City or county	Country	Notes
	1910	Palace of Holyroodhouse			Edinburgh	Scotland	Interior work (under supervision of W T Oldrieve), working as assistant in Office of Works (as architect for Scotland in Office of Works)
	c. 1921	War Memorial Gateway	Fortrose		Ross and Cromarty	Scotland	Sketch design (provided sketch in private practice)
	1922	Arbroath Abbey and abbey buildings	Arbroath		Angus	Scotland	Gradual restoration of Abbot's House and Guesthouse range. With John Wilson Paterson as Chief Architect.
	1922	St Oran's Chapel		Iona	Argyll	Scotland	Consolidation - as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works
	1923	Jedburgh Abbey	Jedburgh		Roxburghshire	Scotland	Restoration
	1923	Telephone Exchange			Edinburgh	Scotland	As architect for Scotland, in H M Office of Works
	1924	Inchcolm Abbey	Inchcolm		Fife	Scotland	Proposed restoration and repairs
	1924	Morningside Telephone Exchange	Morningside		Edinburgh	Scotland	Paterson as architect for Scotland
	1924	National Library of Scotland			Edinburgh	Scotland	Unexecuted scheme for new building - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1924	Scottish Office buildings	Calton Hill		Edinburgh	Scotland	Outline scheme drawn up (unexecuted) - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1925	Saughton Prison			Edinburgh	Scotland	As architect for Scotland
	1926	Post Office	Jedburgh		Roxburghshire	Scotland	Architect responsible is not known, but Paterson was in charge of H M Office of Works at this time.
	1927	Leven and Methil Employment Exchange	Leven		Fife	Scotland	As Chief Architect in H M Office of Works
	1927	Oronsay Priory		Oronsay	Bute?	Scotland	Repairs as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works
	1927	Palace of Holyroodhouse			Edinburgh	Scotland	Panelling and ceiling in Throne Room (as architect for Scotland in Office of Works)
	1927	Unemployment Benefit Office	Leith		Edinburgh	Scotland	Paterson as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1928	Edinburgh Castle, United Services Museum			Edinburgh	Scotland	Interior remodelled (as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
	1928	Old Glencairn Parish Church	Kirkland		Dumfriesshire	Scotland	Proposals for reconstruction in vestry of parish church - not executed
	1928	Queen Mary's House	Jedburgh		Roxburghshire	Scotland	Preservation and restoration (Paterson as architect for Scotland)
	1928	Telephone Exchange			Glasgow	Scotland	Paterson as architect for scotland in HM Offfice of Works
	1929	Scottish Office buildings	Calton Hill		Edinburgh	Scotland	Scheme I (unexecuted) - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works, in collaboration with A J Pitcher and Sir Richard Allison
	1929	St Drostan's Parish Church	Markinch		Fife	Scotland	Repairs to steeple and tower- as Chief Architect?
	1930s	Viewforth House	Stirling		Stirlingshire	Scotland	Rear wing - with Paterson as architect for Scotland
	1930	Employment Exchange			Glasgow	Scotland	As architect for Scotland
	1930	Scottish Office buildings	Calton Hill		Edinburgh	Scotland	Scheme II (unexecuted), including sheriff court
	1930	Telephone Exchange	Colinton		Edinburgh	Scotland	As chief architect in HM Office of Works
	c. 1930	Carstairs Prison	Carstairs		Lanarkshire	Scotland	As architect for Scotland
	c. 1930	Palace of Holyroodhouse			Edinburgh	Scotland	Evening Drawing Room and King's Wardrobe, panelling (as architect for Scotland in Office of Works)
	1931	Inchcolm Abbey	Inchcolm		Fife	Scotland	Weather vane on chapter house added - with Paterson as architect for Scotland in thr Office of Works
	1931	John Rennie Memorial	East Linton		East Lothian	Scotland
	1931	New Abbey, Sarcophagus Monument to Devorgilla			Kirkcudbrightshire	Scotland
	1932	Post office	Troon		Ayrshire	Scotland
	1933	Princes Street			Edinburgh	Scotland
	1934	Dunfermline Abbey	Dunfermline		Fife	Scotland	Improvements on Durie Bay (Nave)- as consultant to Shearer and architect of the Office of Works
	1934	Edinburgh Industrial Museum			Edinburgh	Scotland	Brighton Street extension (as architect for Scotland)
	1934	Post Office	Oban		Argyll	Scotland	As architect for Scotland in HM Office of Works
	1934	Sheriff Courthouse			Edinburgh	Scotland	In conjunction with A J Pitcher of the London Office of Works (as architect for Scotland)
	1935	Abbey Strand buildings			Edinburgh	Scotland	Restoration (as architect for Scotland in Office of Works)
	1935	Employment Exchange	Dunfermline		Fife	Scotland	Paterson as architect for Scotland in HM Office of Works
	1935	Greyfriars Convent	Inverkeithing		Fife	Scotland	As chief architect in the Office of Works
	1935	Labour Exchange			Dundee	Scotland	Rear wing added - as Chief Architect with the Office of Works
	1935	Post Office	Langholm		Dumfriesshire	Scotland	As architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1936	Employment Exchange	Stornoway	Lewis	Ross and Cromarty	Scotland	As architect for Scotland
	1936	Melrose Abbey, Commendator's House	Melrose		Roxburghshire	Scotland	Restoration - J Wilson Paterson and/or J Smith Richardson responsible (sources vary)
	1936	Post Office	Methil		Fife	Scotland	As Chief Architect in H M Offive of Works
	1936	Postal and Engineering Garage			Glasgow	Scotland	As architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1936	Telephone Exchange	Newport-on-Tay		Fife	Scotland	As Chief Architect in HM Office of Works
	1937	Argyllshire Telephone Exchange	Inveraray		Argyll	Scotland	As architect to HMOW.
	1937	Cranstonhill Labour Exchange			Glasgow	Scotland	As architect for Scotland in HM Office of Works
	1937	Douglas Telephone Exchange			Glasgow	Scotland	3 bays added - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1937	Eileach an Naoimh Monastery, beehive cells		Eilean an Naoimh, Garvellachs	Argyll	Scotland	Consolidation work - as architect in charge of the Office of Works
	1937	Employment Exchange	Forfar		Angus	Scotland	As Chief Architects with HM Office of Works
	1937	Post Office	Lochgelly		Fife	Scotland	As chief architect in Office of Works
	1937	Telephone Exchange	Buckhaven and Methil		Fife	Scotland	As Chief Architect in H M Office of Works
	1937	Telephone Exchange, High Street	Cowdenbeath		Fife	Scotland	As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1937	Telephone Exchnage	Govanhill		Glasgow	Scotland
	1937	Telephone House			Glasgow	Scotland	As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1938	Dunfermline Post Office	Dunfermline		Fife	Scotland	Addition of garage
	1938	Employment Exchange	Selkirk		Selkirkshire	Scotland	As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1938	Telephone Exchange	Oban		Argyll	Scotland	With H M Office of Works
	1938	Telephone Exchange	Selkirk		Selkirkshire	Scotland	As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
	1938	Telephone Exchange	Tayport		Fife	Scotland	As Chief Architect in HM Office of Works
	1939	Edinburgh Castle, St Margaret's Chapel			Edinburgh	Scotland	Restoration. J Wilson Paterson in charge of H M Office of Works (including timber studded door in round arched openong)
	1939	Omoa Combination Poorhouse	Cleland		Lanarkshire	Scotland
	1940	Glasgow Pollok Automatic Telephone Exchange			Glasgow	Scotland	As Chief Architect in HM Office of Works
	1940	National Library of Scotland			Edinburgh	Scotland	Further involvement?
	1940	Royal Air Force Station	Leuchars		Fife	Scotland	Large extensions
	1942	Broughty Castle	Broughty Ferry		Dundee	Scotland	At SE corner of tower house addition of brick built defence post - as chief architect with HM Office of Works
	1947	Hinchelwoods, Glenpark Road			Glasgow	Scotland	Assumed sole partner Alterations and additions
	1948	Redhall, Parkhhouse Road	Barrhead		Renfrewshire	Scotland	Alterations and additions
	1956	Murrayfield Parish Church Hall			Edinburgh	Scotland	Paterson in private practice
	1956	Panmure House, Little Lochend Close			Edinburgh	Scotland	Restoration - in private practice?
	1956	Scottish National Zoological Park, Children's Farm	Corstorphine		Edinburgh	Scotland	Paterson in private practice
	1958	Riddle's Court and Close, 322-328 Lawnmarket and 5-6 Victoria Terrace			Edinburgh	Scotland	Restoration as flats - Wilson in private practice
	1959	Swanston Village	Swanston		Edinburgh	Scotland	Paterson in private practice - restoration
	13 February 1959	Police (Lothians and Peebles Joint Police) Headquarters			Edinburgh, Midlothian	Scotland	per Builder p345
	26 February 1960	Midlothian County Council Buildings, Lawnmarket and Melbourne Place			Edinburgh, Midlothian	Scotland	assessor of competition per Builder p403
	c. 1962	St Mary's Church	Haddington		East Lothian	Scotland	J Wilson Paterson in private practice. First scheme for restoration of choir transepts and central tower; commission passed to I G Lindsay & Partners after his death
	1964	Riddle's Court and Close, 322-328 Lawnmarket and 5-6 Victoria Terrace			Edinburgh	Scotland	Reconstruction as education rooms for Edinburgh Corporation - Wilson in private practice
	Late 1960s	Multi-storey housing	Albion		Glasgow	Scotland	Perhaps involved?
	Late 1960s	Workshop for W & T Avery	Dunfermline		Fife	Scotland	May be involved if before 1969.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
	Author(s)	Date	Title	Part	Publisher	Notes
	British Architectural Library, RIBA	2001	Directory of British Architects 1834-1914
	Municipal Annual	1964	Scottish Municipal Annual	1964-1965
	Post Office Directories
	Pride, Glen L	1999	The Kingdom of Fife	2nd Edition	The Rutland Press	p36
	RIBA	1939	The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940		London: Royal Institute of British Architects
	RIBA	1968	Directory 1968-1969
	RIBA	1970	RIBA Directory 1970
	Scottish Biographies	1938			E J Thurston (pub.)
	Who's Who in Architecture	1914

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
	Periodical Name	Date	Edition	Publisher	Notes
	Builder	13 February 1959			p345
	Building	13 June 1969	v216		pp24 & 89 - obituary
	Scotsman	2 June 1969			Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
	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 George Hay and W T Johnston
	RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum	RIBA Nomination Papers		A v20 no2239 (microfilm reel 21)