Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Melvin (senior)
Designation:  
Born: 1805
Died: 7 March 1884
Bio Notes: John Melvin Senior was born in Alloa in 1805 (baptised Jan 1806) the second son of John Melvin, wright, and his wife Janet Spence. Like the Frames in the same town, he came of a staunchly United Presbyterian family. He commenced his career as a joiner in the family business but moved to Edinburgh where he went through a course in the 'study and practice of architecture'. In 1826 he returned to his native town and began business as 'master joiner and architect'; he frequently 'combined the two by drawing the plans of a house, and alterations and repairs, and executing the joiner work as well'. In his later years he was a significant collector of works of art.
He married Helen MacMillan in Alloa in 1854 and his eldest son John was born the following year.
John Melvin Jr, was taken into partnership in c.1874. In 1878 John Melvin Senior, who had spent much of his time at his house in Comrie in his later years, retired completely and 'was entertained to dinner by the contractors of Alloa and presented with a handsome silver epergne, emblematic of architecture'. He died at Claremont, Alloa on 7 March 1884.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Comrie, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate   
Item 2 of 3Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessAfter 18201826 
Item 3 of 3Alloa, Clackmannanshire, ScotlandBusiness1826  

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 1John Melvin & Sonc. 18741878Partner 

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 1John Melvin (junior)  Apprentice 

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 311847Free Church ManseTullibody ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 2 of 311848Alva Free ChurchAlva ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 3 of 311850Townhead UP ChurchAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 4 of 31c. 1850Townhead UP Church SchoolAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 5 of 311851Milnathort UP ManseMilnathort Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 6 of 311851Parish Church ManseTillicoultry ClackmannanshireScotlandBay window and northern extension
Item 7 of 311856CowdenparkAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 8 of 311861Chalmers Street UP ChurchDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 311862Mayfield HouseClackmannan ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 10 of 311863UP ChurchLochgelly FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 311864Hazleyshaw HouseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 12 of 311864Paton's SchoolAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 13 of 311865Dysart UP Church, Normand RoadDysart FifeScotlandAppears to have been approached initially for a statement of fees in case he should be commissioned, but no designs are known to have been produced by him
Item 14 of 311865Woodside HouseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 15 of 31c. 186523 ClaremontAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 16 of 31c. 186527-29 Kellie PlaceAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 17 of 311866Alloa HouseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandRebuilding following a fire and extension
Item 18 of 311866Comrie UP Church and manseComrie PerthshireScotland 
Item 19 of 31After 1866St John the Evangelist Episcopal ChurchAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandRepairs or alterations? or acted as builder?
Item 20 of 311867Alloa TowerAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandSpiral stair at SW corner added. Stable courtyard.
Item 21 of 311867Stables for Alloa HouseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 22 of 311873Greenside Mission ChapelAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 23 of 311874Museum and library for the Natural History and Archaeological SocietyAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 24 of 311874NorwoodAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 25 of 311875Alloa Burgh SchoolAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 26 of 311877Clydesdale BankBo'ness / Borrowstouness West LothianScotland 
Item 27 of 31187863 Queen StreetAlva ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 28 of 311878Kilncraigs Factory, Old Mill and Engine HouseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 29 of 311878Kirkton of Largo SchoolUpper Largo FifeScotland 
Item 30 of 311878Popular InstituteTillicoultry ClackmannanshireScotlandTower added
Item 31 of 311911Women's InstituteDunfermline FifeScotlandPlaced first in competition but Welsh appointed

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Archibald, J1911Alloa Sixty Years Age  Melvin quotation
Item 2 of 2Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Alloa Sheriff Court SC64/42/17 & 21

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Alloa Advertiser21 September 1940   
Item 2 of 2Alloa Journal21 September 1940   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from A Bryce Kerr, Alfred G Lochhead, John Watson, Alan Reiach, Robert Scott Morton and Gordon Biggar; research by Adam Swan