Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robert Matthew Mitchell | Designation: | | Born: | 27 May 1874 | Died: | 28 September 1949 | Bio Notes: | Robert Matthew Mitchell was born on 27 May 1874 and apprenticed in a 'practical workshop' (presumably a joiner's) and attended 'the usual technical classes in the evening'. He was essentially self-taught, gaining a place as a junior draughtsman and later chief assistant in the office of James Graham Fairley in Edinburgh in 1896 without any formal apprenticeship. In 1898 he moved to the Stirling firm of McLuckie & Walker, leaving after two years to make a tour of the United States and Canada before commencing practice on his own account at 27 King Street, Crieff in 1901. Owing to lack of business he emigrated to Edmonton, Alberta, in 1911, securing admission as LRIBA on 20 July just prior to his departure, for which he was proposed by William Fleming Wilkie and the Dundee Institute of Architects which he had joined earlier that year. At that date his home address was Fairmount, Auchterarder.
On arrival in Edmonton he obtained an appointment in the office of Roland Walter Lines, remaining with him for 'a considerable time' before accepting a position as chief draughtsman to the Edmonton Public School Board, later being promoted to chief architect. His principal work during his five years in Edmonton was Westmount Public School. He became a member of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada.
Mitchell closed his practice for war service in 1916, returning to Scotland to serve with the Scottish Horse. In 1919 he was demobilised by request and returned to architectural practice, joining the staff of Donald Alexander Stewart of Smart & Stewart, Perth. He was taken into partnership in 1924, the new firm name being Smart Stewart & Mitchell. He was still with the same firm in 1931 when he was admitted FRIBA, his proposers being William Salmond, Patrick Hill Thoms and Donald Alexander Stewart.
Mitchell's obituarist records that 'despite a busy life, he found time to give service for many years as a member of Auchterarder Town Council and was a Magistrate for several terms'.
Donald Stewart died in January 1940 and Mitchell on 28 September 1949. In 1946 Mitchell took into partnership J Morrison and H C Miller. The practice continued under the style of Smart Stewart & Mitchell. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Fairmount, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | | 1911 | | | 27, King Street, Crieff, Perthshire, Scotland | Business | 1901 | c. 1911 | | | Edmonton, Alberta, Canada | Private | 1911 | 1916 | | | Muircroft, Auchterarder, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1931 * | | | | 40, Tay Street, Perth, Perthshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1931 | 1949 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
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 | | 1896 | Addiewell Board School | Addiewell | | Midlothian | Scotland | As assistant to James Graham Fairley | | 1896 | Mayfield UP Church | Mayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As assistant to James Graham Fairley | | 1897 | Senior School | West Calder | | Midlothian | Scotland | As assistant to Fairley - perhaps working on new design or alterations? | | 1898 | St Patrick's RC Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Interior realignment and new chancel -as assistant to James Graham Fairley | | After 1901 | Auchterarder Board School | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | After 1901 | Auchterarder Free Church | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and decorative scheme | | After 1901 | Auchterarder UF Church | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and decorative scheme | | After 1901 | Belvidere House | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | After 1901 | Blackford Board School | Blackford | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | After 1901 | Blackford UF Church | Blackford | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and decorative scheme 'of Deacons' Court' | | After 1901 | Boot factory | Blackford | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | After 1901 | Business premises for J Halley & Co | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | After 1901 | Electric run bakery | Broxburn | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | After 1901 | Factory for Messrs White & Co | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions | | After 1901 | Houses | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | After 1901 | Monzievaird Parish Church | Monzievaird | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | Before 1901 | Dreadnought Hotel | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | Worked on this in its early stages when in Fairley's office | | 1902 | The Knoll | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | After 1911 | Westmount Public School | Edmonton | | Alberta | Canada | | | 1919 | Burscough, Ormskirk War Memorial | Burscough, Ormskirk | | Lancashire | England | | | 1919 | Dunning War Memorial | Dunning | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1919 | J Pullar & Sons Dyeworks | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | After 1919 | Auchterarder Parish Church | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | New aisle windows | | After 1919 | Business block for Messrs Campbell & McLaggan | Perth? | | Perthshire? | Scotland | | | After 1919 | Business block for Messrs Grove & Sons | Perth? | | Perthshire? | Scotland | | | After 1919 | Campbell's Dyeworks | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Extension? | | After 1919 | Masonic Lodge | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | After 1919 | Moncrieff Arms Hotel | Bridge of Earn | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions | | After 1919 | Sports pavilion | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1920 | Darnhall Drive Housing Estate | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1920 | Meikleour | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions - new hall and institute | | 1920 | Perth Fire Station | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1920 or 1930 | Meikleour Hall and Institute | Meikleour Village | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1921 | Auchterarder UF Church Hall | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1921 | James McEwan & Co's Shop | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1921 | Printing works and offices for J Young & Son | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1921 | Shop for W Brydson & Co | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1923 | Gannochy Housing Estate | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1923 | Strowan House | Crieff (near) | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | After 1923 | Perth Masonic Temple | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1924 | Kincarrathie House, cricket pavilion | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1925 | The Filling Station | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1926 | 12-16 St John's Place | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1926 | 8 South St John Place | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1927(?) | Finlayson Memorial Hall | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1927 | Hillside House | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1927 | Perth Savings Bank | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Extensions | | 1927 | Royal George Hotel | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1929 | James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, Gilgal house | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1929 | Kinnoull Parish Church | Kinnoull | | Perthshire | Scotland | Interior recast | | 1929 | The Monument | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Art Gallery and Museum addition to south | | 1931 | 10-16 King Edward Street | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1931 | Comrie Free Church | Comrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Furnishings | | 1931 | Shop, St John Street | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Remodelling of shop front | | 1932 | Hillside House | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions to the north | | 1933 | Premises of Garvie & Syme | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | New shopfront | | 1934 | 152-156 South Street | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Perth UF Church | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1937 | James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, staff residences | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1937 | St Finnian's Episcopal Church | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1939 | Blairgowrie Golf Club, Rosemount | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1939 | James Murray Royal Lunatic Asylum, nurses' home | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1948 | Auchterarder Parish Churchyard, Second World War Memorial | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Measurers\' Companion | 1911 | The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 26 January 1940 | | | Stewart | | Municipal Engineering | 25 January 1940 | | | Stewart | | RIAS Quarterly | February 1950 | | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary | | RIBA Journal | January 1950 | v57 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p120 - obituary (erroneously states that his apprenticeship was served in the office of 'Reginald Fairley of Edinburgh') |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from J Morrison and H C Miller in 1962 | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v19 no1466; F no2934 (box 14) | | Smart, Stewart & Mitchell, Perth - in 1960s) | Smart, Stewart & Mitchell Practice Drawings | | |
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