Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Aynsworth Lindsay | Designation: | | Born: | 1863 | Died: | | Bio Notes: | James Aynsworth Lindsay was born in 1863 and commenced his professional training at the beginning of 1880 by seeking 'business experience' in an Edinburgh lawyer's office. His architectural training began on 6 June 1881 when he was articled to Hippolyte Jean Blanc (who was then in partnership with James Gordon), with whom he remained as an assistant until 1888, studying at Heriot-Watt College and taking art classes at Edinburgh University under Professor Baldwin Brown. He spent his holidays travelling in Scotland, London and Oxfordshire, and visited Haddon Hall in Derbyshire and the abbeys of Yorkshire, but did not venture abroad.
In 1888 he moved to the office of Charles Stewart Still Johnston as senior assistant. Whilst there he worked in association with David Bveridge Burnie, who shared Johnston's premises from 1892 and collaborated with Johnston on the winning competition design for West Fife Infectious Diseases Hospital. Burnie appears to have suffered a mental breakdown in aboiut 1893 (he was admiited to Murray's Asylum in Perth where he died in 1909), and the following year Lindsay left Johnston's office to complete Burnie's works in progress and wind up his business.
After two years in independent practice, Lindsay reverted to assisting in other firms, spending the ensuing years working for short intervals in various practices. In 1896 he became an assistant with Leadbetter & Fairley, and later that year he moved to the office of Dunn & Findlay, where he remained until 1900. The following year he joined the Edinburgh City Architect's Office as senior assistant, his work being supervised by the depute James Anderson Williamson under the city architect Robert Morham. On leaving that office in 1906 he spent a further two years with Leadbetter & Fairley followed by one year back in Blanc's office, and finally returned once more to Leadbetter & Fairley in late 1908 or early 1909, perhaps in the hope of a partnership. However, in 1909 when arrangements were made for Robert Stirling Reid to become a partner, Lindsay left to recommence practice on his own account. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by James Bow Bunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association. At that time he was living and working at 70 Comiston Road. By 1914 he was at 86 Leamington Terrace, again both house and office. No work is as yet known. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 70, Comiston Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1911 * | | | | 86, Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1914 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | James Bow Dunn | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v19 no1415 |
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