Basic Biographical Details Name: | (Colonel) Herbert Morgan Smail | Designation: | | Born: | 4 June 1890 | Died: | 7 February 1960 | Bio Notes: | Herbert Morgan Smail, in later years better known as Colonel Smail, was born on 4 June 1890, the son of Adam Smail, taylor and clothier, and his wife Isabella Mitchell. He studied at the Dundee School of Architecture and Technical College from October 1908 to October 1912 whilst serving an apprenticeship with Maclaren Sons & Soutar. On completion of his apprenticeship he moved to Glasgow for further office experience, first with James Miller and then with Peter Macgregor Chalmers, enabling him to study at the Glasgow School of Architecture from 1912 to 1914. He spent the summers of those years travelling in England, France, Belgium and Italy.
Smail's war service lasted from 1914 to February 1919.
At the beginning of 1919 he joined an office in St Andrews but in April the same year returned to Dundee as senior draughtsman to Mills & Shepherd, where he was made a partner only two months later, although the practice title remained the same.
From about 1933 the practice's domestic manner changed somewhat, Crittall metal-framed windows of distinctive proportions becoming a feature. Godfrey Daniel Bower Shepherd died on 21 December 1937, and William M Guild was taken into partnership after several years of practice on his own account. John Donald Mills kept the practice going through the Second World War, operating mainly from St Andrews, while Smail and Guild were on war service. Smail was elected LRIBA in 1947, proposed by Donald Mills, William Salmond and Charles Soutar. He worked with Mills on some projects in the office, including 'many works in St Andrews and Dundee University' but Smail's Fellowship Nomination Paper indicates that they mainly worked with separate responsibility for different jobs.
Smail was admitted FRIBA in 1952, proposed by John Donald Mills, William Salmond and John Needham. Mills died in retirement at his home, 99 North Street, on 26 January 1958, and Smail died on 7 February 1960, survived by his wife Esma Jane Buttar, whom he had married at St Enoch's Church Dundee in 1923, and his daughter. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 9, South Tay Street, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1919 | After 1952 | | | 28, Farington Street, Dundee, Scotland | Private | Before 1950 * | 1960 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Mills & Shepherd | October 1908(?) | October 1912(?) | Apprentice(?) | Thought to have been apprenticed to this firm, but this is uncertain | | James Miller | 1912 | 1913 | Assistant | | | Peter Macgregor Chalmers | 1913 | 1914 | Assistant | | | Mills & Shepherd | April 1919 | June 1919 | Chief Draughtsman | | | Mills & Shepherd | June 1919 | After 1952 | Partner | |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | James Watson Ritchie | 10 April 1956 | For Fellowship |
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 | | 1908 | East Haugh | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1920 | Blair Castle | Blair Atholl | | Perthshire | Scotland | Garden work | | c. 1920 | Kidds Rooms | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations: conversion from church | | 1922 | Balmoral Castle | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Gates | | 1923 | Ashcliff and gatelodge | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations | | 1923 | Baile-na-Coille | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1923 | Little Hayes | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1923 | Rebreck | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1923 | The Glean | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1923 | University College Dundee, Men's Hostel | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1923 | University of St Andrews, Chemical and Physical Laboratories | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | March 1923 | House for General B C Fellows | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Plans - possibly unexecuted | | c. 1923 | Abergeldie Mains | Abergeldie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1924 | 1 Donaldson Gardens | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1924 | Binrock and Lodge | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations | | 1924 | Cryanreuch | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1924 | Gerrards Cross | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1924 | Glenmuick | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Lodge and gates | | 1924 | House at Duntrune for Claude Bilton | Duntrune | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1924 | Rhebreck | Easter Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1924 | Rufflets | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1925 | Fingask Castle | Kilspindie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Restoration | | 1926 | University of St Andrews, St Mary's College | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1927 | 10 Middleshade Road | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1927 | Langlands | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1927 | Middleton | Friockheim | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations | | 1927 | Pitalpin House | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations at NW corner of the house and creation of outbuildings to include laundry room and washhouse. | | 1928 | Ardvreck | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1928 | Kincaple House | | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction with wings | | 1928 | Megginch Castle | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1928 | University of St Andrews Old Parliament Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Panelling | | 1929 | Riechip | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1929 | Smith and Valentine Premises | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1931 | Lochton House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1931 | University of St Andrews, St Mary's College | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Repairs and alterations; panelling of College Hall | | 1933 | Dinmont | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1933 | Greenacres | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1934 | Trinity College Glenalmond | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Various schemes for additions, partially executed | | 1935 | Balgavies | | | Angus | Scotland | Additions (Plans in NMRS) | | 1935 | Beech Hill | Forfar | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations | | 1935 | Cromalt | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1935 | Greyfriars Cottage | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1935 | University of St Andrews, St Salvator's Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | Before 1937 | Banff House | | | Banffshire | Scotland | Minor alterations--possibly involved--check date | | 1939 | Lude House | Blair Atholl (near) | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1939 | Observatory | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1939 | University of St Andrews Observatory | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1940s | Bank of Scotland | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1940s | Clydesdale Bank | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1940s | House | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1940s | Houses | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1940s | Housing scheme | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1940s | Housing scheme | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1940s | Printing works with offices, canteen, 24 dark rooms and photo processing | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1941 | 41 North Castle Street | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Renovation and alterations | | 1942 | Balmyle | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Gates - survey for alterations? | | 1947 | Seaside House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1948 | Blairgowrie Creamery | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1950s | Centres for Territorial Army (TA) Association | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1950s | Head office and warehouse for Singer Sewing Machines Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1950 | Bonar Long Factory | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | c. 1950 | New Ferry Station | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1952 | St Mary Magdalene's Episcopal Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Unexecuted scheme for conversion to a Territorial Army centre | | 1955 | Ardblair Castle | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1958 | Bungalow, Millbank | Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional research (from GSA rolls) by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L no 6160 (Combined Box 122); F no4943 (combined box 46) |
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