Basic Biographical Details Name: | Bridgeford MacDougall Pirie | Designation: | | Born: | 28 June 1876 | Died: | 24 May 1941 | Bio Notes: | Bridgeford MacDougall Pirie was born on 28 June 1876, the son of John Bridgeford Pirie, architect of Aberdeen. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and was articled to Ellis & Wilson as a notebook in the Pirie Collection in NMRS contains specifications for three buildings by Ellis & Wilson all dating from 1893. He attended evening classes at Robert Gordon's College from at least 1895-1896. Pirie had a short-lived partnership with John (?) Milne in 1899, the practice title being Milne & Pirie. By October of the same year he had taken up a post as assistant to John Burnet & Son in Glasgow, where we know he was responsible for measuring work in particular the Daily Record Company's building in Renfield Lane and an assessment of a property on Wellington and Holm Streets. He transferred to the practice of Walker & Ramsay in August 1902. A number of letters dating from late July to November 1902 relate to Pirie reporting on and acting as a measurer for several buildings (apparently on behalf of the Caledonian Railway Company) - the stations in Wemyss Bay and Stirling, Slateford Laundry, an assessment of the plan of the station master's house at Liff and the Central Station Hotel in Glasgow. He may have also been employed by the Highland Railway Compnay about 1902 as a drawing of the Culloden Viaduct on which Pirie perhaps worked is in the Pirie Collection in NMRS.
After 1903 and before October 1905 Pirie emigrated to work for the Royal Engineers in Floriana, Malta. He is said to have designed and built a house for himself at 81 Guardiamangia Hill. He later moved to Whitehall House in Parallel Street at the junction with Tower Road. It seems that it was called after the house of that name in which the Pirie family lived in Aberdeen for some time. From about 1910 he appears to have had a mistress in Malta with whom he had a daughter but his mother and three sisters in Aberdeen knew nothing of this until after his death.
He was admitted FRIBA in 1925. He died in Malta on 24 May 1941 and was buried in Ta Braxia Cemetery. His mistress left Malta and returned to her native Italy after his death. Although she took with her most of the family possessions, it appears that she was unable to get access to Pirie's bank account as no marriage certificate could be produced. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Whitehall House, Parallel Street, Sliema, Malta | Private | | | | | 84, Hamilton Place, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private/business | 1897(?) | After 1899 | Drawing in Pirie Collection NMRS with address - drawing dated 1897 | | 415, Eglinton Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 10 March 1903 * | | | | 81, Guardiamangia Hill, Guardamangia, Malta | Private | After 1903 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | | Nairn Church | Nairn | | Nairnshire | Scotland | Alterations ? Drawing shows roof detail | | 1881 | Central School | Fraserburgh | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Headmaster's House - perhaps by Pirie & Clyne | | 1895 | Doonies Farmstead, Acheal | | | Aberdeenshire? | Scotland | Byre, stable, dairy etc | | c. 1895 | Unidentified Church without spire | | | | | | | 1896 | Unidentified Villa | | | | | | | c. 1896 | 20 Golden Square | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Working as apprentice with Ellis & Wilson on additions? | | c. 1896 | Unidentified Church | | | | | | | 1897 | Design for a memorial cross | | | | | | | 1897 | Phoenix Works, Russell Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Premises of James Lumsden, John Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1897 | Store, Palmerston Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1897 | Western Infirmary | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans dated - detail of ventilator of milk house in new kitchen and offices - as assistant with John Burnet & Son | | c. 1897 | McLaren Memorial church, hall and manse | Stenhousemuir/Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | As assistant to Sir John James Burnet | | 1898 | 218-220 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Interiors - as assistant to Burnet (probably responsible for details) | | 1898 | Office and buildings at corner of Greyfriars and Glover Streets | Elgin | | Morayshire | Scotland | May be by him? As employee in Burgh Surveyor's Office in Elgin? | | 1899 | Atlantic Chambers | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As assistant to Burnet | | 1899 | House, Holburn Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1899 | House, Orchard Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1899 | Property of Kirkland Trust | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As assistant with Sir John James Burnet - alterations? | | 1899 | St Gerardine's Church and hall | Lossiemouth | | Morayshire | Scotland | As assistant to John James Burnet | | c. 1900 | Hall and lecture theatre extension designs | | | | | | | c. 1900 | Yeomanry and Cavalry barracks | Bulford | | Wiltshire | England | Combined dining rooms, institute and sergeants' mess | | 1902 | Laundry | Slateford | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Caretaker's house- working for the Caledonian Railway co | | 1902 | Wemyss Bay Railway Station, Cottages | Wemyss Bay | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans for station master's house and employees houses drawn up with Pirie as assistant in Caledonian Railway Architect's and Engineer's Department | | c. 1902 | Culloden Moor Railway Viaduct | Clava | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Role unclear | | c. 1902 | Half-timbered house | | | | Scotland | | | c. 1902 | Railway workers cottages and engine drivers cottages | | | | | Working for Caledonian Railway Co | | c. 1902 | Station master's house | | | | | | | c. 1902 | Stirling Station | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Alterations to station court façade? Working for Caledonian Railway Co | | 1903 | Wemyss Bay Railway Station, Station Master's House | Wemyss Bay | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans for station master's house and employees houses drawn up with Pirie as assistant in Caledonian Railway Architect's and Engineer's Department | | Before 1903 | Premises for W M Brechin, Market Street | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Scheme - perhaps not executed? | | 1905 | Design for UF church in Italian Renaissance style | | | | | | | After 1905 | Lord Vernon Club for officers | Valetta | Malta | | Malta | | | After 1905 | Villa Guardiamangia | Valletta | Malta | | Malta | | | 1908 | Connaught Home | Floriana | Malta | | Malta | | | c. 1920 | Mtarfa Hospital, chapel | Mtarfa | Malta | | Malta | | | 1922 | King George V Merchant Seamen's Hospital | Floriana | Malta | | Malta | | | 1928 | Balluta Building | St Julians, Sliema | Malta | | Malta | |
ReferencesArchive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | J B Pirie Collection | | Notebooks, letters and other MS material. | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no2168 |
|