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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Whitehall House, Parallel Street, Sliema, MaltaPrivate   
Item 2 of 484, Hamilton Place, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate/business1897(?)After 1899Drawing in Pirie Collection NMRS with address - drawing dated 1897
Item 3 of 4415, Eglinton Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness10 March 1903 *  
Item 4 of 481, Guardiamangia Hill, Guardamangia, MaltaPrivateAfter 1903  

* 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 5Ellis & Wilsonc. 1890(?) Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Milne & Pirie18991899Partner 
Item 3 of 5John Burnet & Son18991902Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Walker & RamsayAugust 1902 Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Highland Railway Architects DepartmentLate 1902(?) Assistant 

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 38 Nairn ChurchNairn NairnshireScotlandAlterations ? Drawing shows roof detail
Item 2 of 381881Central SchoolFraserburgh AberdeenshireScotlandHeadmaster's House - perhaps by Pirie & Clyne
Item 3 of 381895Doonies Farmstead, Acheal  Aberdeenshire?ScotlandByre, stable, dairy etc
Item 4 of 38c. 1895Unidentified Church without spire     
Item 5 of 381896Unidentified Villa     
Item 6 of 38c. 189620 Golden Square  AberdeenScotlandWorking as apprentice with Ellis & Wilson on additions?
Item 7 of 38c. 1896Unidentified Church     
Item 8 of 381897Design for a memorial cross     
Item 9 of 381897Phoenix Works, Russell Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 381897Premises of James Lumsden, John Street  AberdeenScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 11 of 381897Store, Palmerston Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 12 of 381897Western Infirmary  GlasgowScotlandPlans dated - detail of ventilator of milk house in new kitchen and offices - as assistant with John Burnet & Son
Item 13 of 38c. 1897McLaren Memorial church, hall and manseStenhousemuir/Larbert StirlingshireScotlandAs assistant to Sir John James Burnet
Item 14 of 381898218-220 St Vincent Street  GlasgowScotlandInteriors - as assistant to Burnet (probably responsible for details)
Item 15 of 381898Office and buildings at corner of Greyfriars and Glover StreetsElgin MorayshireScotlandMay be by him? As employee in Burgh Surveyor's Office in Elgin?
Item 16 of 381899Atlantic Chambers  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Burnet
Item 17 of 381899House, Holburn Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 381899House, Orchard Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 19 of 381899Property of Kirkland Trust  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant with Sir John James Burnet - alterations?
Item 20 of 381899St Gerardine's Church and hallLossiemouth MorayshireScotlandAs assistant to John James Burnet
Item 21 of 38c. 1900Hall and lecture theatre extension designs     
Item 22 of 38c. 1900Yeomanry and Cavalry barracksBulford WiltshireEnglandCombined dining rooms, institute and sergeants' mess
Item 23 of 381902LaundrySlateford EdinburghScotlandCaretaker's house- working for the Caledonian Railway co
Item 24 of 381902Wemyss Bay Railway Station, CottagesWemyss Bay RenfrewshireScotlandPlans for station master's house and employees houses drawn up with Pirie as assistant in Caledonian Railway Architect's and Engineer's Department
Item 25 of 38c. 1902Culloden Moor Railway ViaductClava Inverness-shireScotlandRole unclear
Item 26 of 38c. 1902Half-timbered house   Scotland 
Item 27 of 38c. 1902Railway workers cottages and engine drivers cottages    Working for Caledonian Railway Co
Item 28 of 38c. 1902Station master's house     
Item 29 of 38c. 1902Stirling StationStirling StirlingshireScotlandAlterations to station court façade? Working for Caledonian Railway Co
Item 30 of 381903Wemyss Bay Railway Station, Station Master's HouseWemyss Bay RenfrewshireScotlandPlans for station master's house and employees houses drawn up with Pirie as assistant in Caledonian Railway Architect's and Engineer's Department
Item 31 of 38Before 1903Premises for W M Brechin, Market Street  AberdeenshireScotlandScheme - perhaps not executed?
Item 32 of 381905Design for UF church in Italian Renaissance style     
Item 33 of 38After 1905Lord Vernon Club for officersValettaMalta Malta 
Item 34 of 38After 1905Villa GuardiamangiaVallettaMalta Malta 
Item 35 of 381908Connaught HomeFlorianaMalta Malta 
Item 36 of 38c. 1920Mtarfa Hospital, chapelMtarfaMalta Malta 
Item 37 of 381922King George V Merchant Seamen's HospitalFlorianaMalta Malta 
Item 38 of 381928Balluta BuildingSt Julians, SliemaMalta Malta 

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSJ B Pirie Collection Notebooks, letters and other MS material.
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no2168