Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Gibb Marr
Designation: Architect
Born: 30 September 1890
Died: 29 July 1983
Bio Notes: John Gibb Marr was born on 30 September 1890, the son of Alexander Marr, general labourer, and his wife Ann Gibb. He was articled to Sutherland & George of Aberdeen on 1 June 1907, attending classes at Robert Gordon's Technical College and Gray's School of Art. On completion of his apprenticeship on 1 June 1912 he joined A Marshall Mackenzie & Son as a draughtsman, later becoming chief assistant before being assumed as a partner on 1 January 1927. Lack of work led to the consolidation of the Mackenzie practices in London and Aberdeen with the London practice of Herbert Wigglesworth and that of Clement George in Aberdeen.

After the deaths of and Clement George in 1932 and Alexander Marshall Mackenzie in 1933, Mackenzie's son, Alexander George Robertson Mackenzie ('AGR'), determined to strengthen the Aberdeen office, where Marr had had little opportunity for design and still less for the modern design required to keep the practice in business: his relationship with Marshall Mackenzie had been a very close one in which he never sought to do more than carry out his wishes as faithfully as he possibly could. AGR's choice fell on Leonard Stokes's son David, who had left the Architectural Association in 1930 and set up practice with Peter Fleetwood Hesketh. He had run out of work. His office in Lincoln's Inn was near to Mackenzie and Wigglesworth's, and shortly after his father's death AGR asked Stokes to take charge of the design work of the Aberdeen office. It was an arrangement on which Marr had not been consulted and with which he may not have been entirely happy: much later he observed that he felt Stokes had been sent up to keep an eye on him. Introducing a London Catholic to Aberdeen society of that time was not without problems, but Stokes found that 'the natives in Aberdeen became friendly in about six months.'

Marr was a member of the Council of the Aberdeen Society of Architects throughout the 1930s, and was admitted FRIBA in late 1933, his proposers being AGR, Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon and John Alexander Ogg Allan.

Although the Aberdeen office was commissioned to build a large new office for the Halifax Building Society, by 1935 the Mackenzie & Wigglesworth practice in London was at a low ebb: Robert W R Mackenzie (1913-75) of the Perth bleaching (Lumsden & Mackenzie) side of the family was to have joined the office, but in the event there was not enough work to justify him coming. The Wigglesworth and Stokes partnerships were dissolved, AGR returned to Aberdeen and the Stokes 'went back to London without any reluctance'. Apart from some country house work, most importantly Candacraig, the business of the post-war practice was mainly conservation work, the National Trust for Scotland being the main client.

AGR Mackenzie and John Gibb Marr remained in partnership until 1960 when AGR retired completely, following a disagreement with Marr, which was regretted on both sides and subsequently made up. Marr continued the practice, and it was not until this time that its title was changed to A Marshall Mackenzie & Marr. He closed the practice in 1972, when most of the drawings were dispersed to the firm's clients or to the current owners of the buildings. He retired to Raigmore Tower, Westhill, Inverness and died at Raigmore Hospital, Inverness, on 29 July 1983. He had been married twice, first to Isabella Cranna and second to Kathleen Kinnaird. His son registered his death.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5The Tower, Westhill, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandPrivate 1983 
Item 2 of 5173A, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1930After 1933 
Item 3 of 5The Corner, Pitfodels, Cults, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandPrivate1933 *  
Item 4 of 53, Bon Accord Square, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessc. 1939  
Item 5 of 5235, Great Western Road, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessc. 1970  

* 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 6Sutherland & George1 June 19071 June 1912Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6A Marshall Mackenzie & Son1 June 19121921Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 6Alexander Marshall Mackenzie192131 December 1926Senior Assistant 
Item 4 of 6A Marshall Mackenzie & Son1 January 19271960Partner 
Item 5 of 6A Marshall Mackenzie Son & GeorgeMay 1931March 1932Partner 
Item 6 of 6A Marshall Mackenzie & Marr19601972Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Alexander Ogg AllanLate 1933for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Alexander George Robertson MackenzieLate 1933for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Arthur Hay Livingstone MackinnonLate 1933for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 38Alfred Easton Allan9 May 1938for Associateship
Item 2 of 38Joseph Anderson Allan3 December 1934for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 38Joseph Anderson Allan16 October 1945for Fellowship
Item 4 of 38Frederick George Grant AngusMid 1935for Associateship
Item 5 of 38Douglas Beaton12 April 1937for Associateship
Item 6 of 38John Ronald Beaton19 June 1939for Associateship
Item 7 of 38Ian Fyfe Cameron5 December 1938for Associateship
Item 8 of 38John Ross Cheyne6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 9 of 38Maxwell Fordyce Christie13 August 1940for Associateship
Item 10 of 38John Lamont Coghill8 March 1937for Associateship
Item 11 of 38Ronald Davidson Cruickshank14 November 1944for Licentiateship
Item 12 of 38William Affleck Dalgleish17 November 1942For Associateship
Item 13 of 38Gordon David Diack9 May 1938for Associateship
Item 14 of 38John Flett Duncan11 February 1935for Associateship
Item 15 of 38John Findlay2 December 1935for Licentiateship
Item 16 of 38George Flett24 June 1935for Associateship
Item 17 of 38William James Geddes14 January 1935for Associateship
Item 18 of 38Isobel Margaret Gordon (Mrs Adams)3 December 1934for Associateship
Item 19 of 38William Halkerston11 February 1935for Associateship
Item 20 of 38Douglas William InnesEarly 1956For Fellowship
Item 21 of 38William James Castell Irvine18 October 1937for Associateship
Item 22 of 38Jessie Elizabeth Kennedy (Mrs Bassett)11 March 1935for Associateship
Item 23 of 38Stewart Kilgour5 March 1934for Associateship
Item 24 of 38Lionel Ethelbert Knight13 May 1935for Associateship
Item 25 of 38Arthur Lyall (or Lysall) Chisholm Lemon7 January 1941for Associateship
Item 26 of 38John Maclennan10 April 1956For Fellowship
Item 27 of 38John Edward Martin19 June 1939for Associateship
Item 28 of 38Edward Alexander Meldrum6 February 1957For Associateship
Item 29 of 38Frances Jane Harvey Mercer11 May 1936for Associateship
Item 30 of 38Herbert Henry Reid6 April 1948for Fellowship
Item 31 of 38John Charles Richardson12 April 1937for Associateship
Item 32 of 38James Rattray Riddell10 April 1956For Fellowship
Item 33 of 38Henry Edwin Scott30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 34 of 38William Wyllie Clark Shewan3 April 1951For Fellowship
Item 35 of 38Gordon Alexander Smart4 June 1940for Associateship
Item 36 of 38Robert ThomsonMid 1935for Associateship
Item 37 of 38Alexander Milne Wilson6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 38 of 38David Gordon Wilson16 July 1940for Associateship

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 49After 1921Scottish Alliance Assurance Buildings  AberdeenScotland 
Item 2 of 491926Huntly Parish ChurchHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandProposal for new tower - only partly built. Working as assistant
Item 3 of 491926Huntly Parish Church HallHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandAs assistant (1926) and (partner) with A Marshall Mackenzie & Son: design for hall - only partly built; formed part of more ambitious scheme for both church and hall with tower made c.1913-14
Item 4 of 491926King's College, Elphinstone Hall  AberdeenScotlandAs chief assistant and subsequently partner
Item 5 of 491928Kemnay Parish ChurchKemnay AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 6 of 491928Knappach HouseCrathes AberdeenshireScotlandMarr as assistant
Item 7 of 491929Banchory Devenick ChurchBanchory Devenick KincardineshireScotlandRestoration
Item 8 of 491929CanmoreBraemar AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 9 of 491929St Mary's Parish ChurchMonymusk AberdeenshireScotlandRestoration of Priory church
Item 10 of 491930Britannic Assurance Buildings  AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 491930Fodderty Parish Church, War Memorial ArchFodderty Ross and CromartyScotlandWith Donald Matheson
Item 12 of 491930Mortlach Parish ChurchDufftown BanffshireScotlandRestoration
Item 13 of 491930Strathpeffer War Memorial gatewayStrathpeffer Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 14 of 491930Woodside North Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 15 of 491931Kintore Church HallKintore AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 16 of 49Early 1932Capitol Cinema  AberdeenScotland 
Item 17 of 491933Jackson's Garage  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 491934Halifax Building Society  AberdeenScotlandBy Stokes in partnership with A Marshall Mackenzie & Son
Item 19 of 491934Littleways  AberdeenScotland 
Item 20 of 491935House for Mrs StuartBanchory KincardineshireScotlandBy Stokes in partnership with A Marshall Mackenzie & Son
Item 21 of 49193616 ChanonryOld Aberdeen AberdeenScotland 
Item 22 of 49c. 1936Flats, The Spittal  AberdeenScotland 
Item 23 of 491937Douglas Hotel  AberdeenScotlandReconstruction
Item 24 of 491937House at PowisOld Aberdeen AberdeenScotland 
Item 25 of 491937Northern Hotel (2)Kittybrewster AberdeenScotland 
Item 26 of 491937St Mary's Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 27 of 491938Little ColstropeHambledon BuckinghamshireEngland 
Item 28 of 491938St Andrew's Episcopal Church  AberdeenScotlandExecuted the design and installation of the Seabury Memorial - on behalf of Comper
Item 29 of 491939Pittodrie ChurchPittodrie AberdeenScotland 
Item 30 of 491939University of Aberdeen, King's College Sports Pavilion  AberdeenScotlandNew pavilion
Item 31 of 49c. 1939Durris House  AberdeenshireScotlandProposed alterations- not carried out
Item 32 of 49Mid 1930sGlen Tanar HouseAboyne AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 33 of 491947St Machar's CathedralOld Aberdeen AberdeenScotlandNew east window
Item 34 of 49c. 1949Castle Fraser, farm cottagesCastle Fraser AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 35 of 49c. 1949Farm cottagesDalcross NairnshireScotland 
Item 36 of 491950Northern Hotel (2)Kittybrewster AberdeenScotlandProposed addition
Item 37 of 491953Kincorth Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 38 of 491953Kincorth Manse  AberdeenScotland 
Item 39 of 491954Pitmedden HouseUdny AberdeenshireScotlandRepairs to Great Garden for NTS. Also alterations to house.
Item 40 of 491954Provost Ross' House  AberdeenScotlandRestoration
Item 41 of 491956Candacraig HouseStrathdon AberdeenshireScotlandReconstruction after fire and new gates
Item 42 of 491956Royal Bank of Scotland, 150 Union Street  AberdeenScotlandReinstatement of ground floor
Item 43 of 491957Balbithan House  AberdeenshireScotlandRestoration
Item 44 of 491957Pitcaple House  AberdeenshireScotlandRepairs
Item 45 of 491958Crathie Church, King George VI MemorialCrathie AberdeenshireScotlandIn association with William Reid Dick (sculptor)
Item 46 of 491958Electricity Sub-StationKintore AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 47 of 491958Electricity Sub-StationCults AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 48 of 491958Esslemont House and stables  AberdeenshireScotlandInternal alterations, mainly at stairs
Item 49 of 491960St Mary's Parish ChurchMonymusk AberdeenshireScotlandFurther work

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp97
Item 2 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder7 May 1948  p548-51

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from: Mrs AGR Mackenzie; John Gibb Marr; Ian G Lindsay; Robert W R Mackenzie (of Perth); Mrs Adams ('Dr Marshall Mackenzie's quine'); David Stokes (interview with Charles McKean on 17 December 1985)
Item 2 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no3158 (box 18)
Item 3 of 3School of Architecture, Garthdee, Aberdeen, RGIT: former pupils, 1937-1970Galletly, James