Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Forbes Smith
Designation:  
Born: 1865
Died: 28 October 1923
Bio Notes: David Forbes Smith was born in 1865 and apprenticed as a carpenter from 1879 to 1885, attending Science and Art classes locally, before being articled to John Murray of Kirkcaldy as an architect from 1885 to 1888. Late in the latter year or early in the next he obtained a place in the newly formed partnership of Honeyman & Keppie in Glasgow, and was briefly in the office of Charles Davidson of Paisley before moving to Salisbury as chief assistant first to Fred Bath from 1889 to 1890, then to Hubert Bensted in Maidstone, 1890-92, and finally back to Fred Bath, from whose office he passed the qualifying exam in 1893. He spent much of his spare time visiting and measuring medieval cathedrals and abbeys wherever he could. He was admitted ARIBA on 12 March 1894, his proposers being Bath, Honeyman and Bensted.

Forbes Smith returned to commence practice in his native Kirkcaldy c. 1897, much of his business being for co-operative societies. In 1920 he took into partnership Adam Legge Johnston, also of Kirkcaldy, but Smith died soon after on 28 October 1923. Johnston retained the co-operative connection until his death on 19 September (to be traced - c.1955).

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Crown Chambers, Salisbury, Wiltshire, EnglandBusiness1894 *  
Item 2 of 512, St Ann's Street, Salisbury, Wiltshire, EnglandPrivate1894 * 'Residence'
Item 3 of 5Forthbank, Gallatown, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1894 * 'Home'
Item 4 of 5210, High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1901 *After 1910 
Item 5 of 59, Windmill Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1914 *  

* 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 7John Murray18851888Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Honeyman & KeppieLate 1888 or early 18891889Assistant 
Item 3 of 7Charles Davidson18891889Assistant 
Item 4 of 7Fred Bath18891890Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 7Hubert Bensted18901892Assistant 
Item 6 of 7Fred Bath1892Before 1897Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 7D Forbes Smith & Johnston19201923Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2David Suttie McIlroy18991903Chief Assistant 
Item 2 of 2William McCrea1911 or 19121916Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Fred Bath12 March 1894for Associateship
Item 2 of 3Hubert Bensted12 March 1894for Associateship
Item 3 of 3John Honeyman12 March 1894for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1David Suttie McIlroyLate 1910for Licentiateship

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 441898Mechanics Institute and libraryDysart FifeScotland 
Item 2 of 441898Semi-detached cottage for Mr Baxter SmithKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 3 of 441899Dysart Free Church (former)Dysart FifeScotlandConversion of church to Masonic Hall
Item 4 of 44c. 1899Business premisesPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 5 of 44c. 1899Business premisesKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 44c. 1899Business premisesSinclairtown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 44c. 1899Villa for A KilgourKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 44c. 1899Villa for A MelvilleKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 44c. 1899Villa for Ivie (?) CampbellKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 10 of 441900Dysart North SchoolDysart FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 11 of 441900Pathhead Board SchoolPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotlandAdditions, including sanitary conveniences
Item 12 of 441900Sinclairtown SchoolSinclairtown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotlandAddition of cookery and classrooms
Item 13 of 441900Stabling, van sheds, committee rooms etc for Pathhead and Sinclairtown Reform Co-operative SocietyPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 441900Tenements in Balfour Street for Kirkcaldy District Lodge of Free GardenersKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 441900Workmen's houses for the Earl of Rosslyn's Collieries LtdBoreland FifeScotland 
Item 16 of 441901Shops and dwelling housesPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 17 of 441901Strathearn VillaKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 18 of 441901Tenements, Harriet StreetSinclairtown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 19 of 441901The LaurelsKirkcaldy FifeScotlandBilliard room addition
Item 20 of 441901Twenty houses, BorelandKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 21 of 441902Bakery for Pathhead and Sinclairtown Reform Co-operative SocietyPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 22 of 441902Boreland SchoolBoreland FifeScotlandWon limited local competition to secure job
Item 23 of 441902Gallatown SchoolGallatown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotlandAddition
Item 24 of 441902Houses, St Clair Street for Henry and Peter KilgourKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 25 of 441902North Primary SchoolPathhead/Dunnikier, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 26 of 441902Tenements, Harriet StreetKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 27 of 441902Wheatsheaf InnKirkcaldy FifeScotlandDemolition and reconstruction
Item 28 of 441904Elementary SchoolKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 29 of 441905Dysart Co-operative Society BuildingsDysart FifeScotland 
Item 30 of 441905Pathhead and Sinclairtown Reform Co-operative Society premisesPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 31 of 44190618 and 20 Beveridge RoadKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 32 of 441907Balsusney Road District SchoolKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 33 of 441908Pathhead Baptist ChurchPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 34 of 441908Viewforth SchoolGallatown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 35 of 441910Gallatown SchoolGallatown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotlandFurther extension
Item 36 of 441910Rosslyn School, GallatownGallatown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 37 of 441911Dysart Co-operative Society BuildingsDysart FifeScotlandExtension of stores
Item 38 of 441911SchoolDysart FifeScotland 
Item 39 of 441912Kirkcaldy Burgh Infectious Diseases HospitalKirkcaldy FifeScotlandNew pavilion and additions to administrative and laundry blocks
Item 40 of 441913Cowhill TowerHolywood DumfriesshireScotlandTower house at east end added
Item 41 of 441914Dysart Free Church (former)Dysart FifeScotlandAlterations and redecoration; decorative scheme and figure painting by James Wright of Glasgow, painted by Henry Hoggan & Sons, Dunfermline
Item 42 of 441915Cowhill TowerHolywood DumfriesshireScotlandGarage in north range of former stables
Item 43 of 441923Dairy and dwelling house for Dysart Co-operative Society LtdDysart FifeScotland 
Item 44 of 441933Co-operative Bakery, DysartDysart FifeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal26 January 1924v31London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp188 - 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 A v12 p82 (microfiche 55/C1)