Basic Biographical Details Name: | Hamilton More Nisbett | Designation: | | Born: | 4 January 1868 | Died: | 24 December 1955 | Bio Notes: | Hamilton More Nisbett was born on 4 January 1868 the second son of John More Nisbett, 8th of Cairnhill, Ayrshire of the Drum, Gilmerton and his wife Lady Agnes Dalrymple, daughter of the 9th Earl of Stair. He was educated at Wellington. He was articled to John Kinross in 1889, remaining as assistant until 1896. He was the first apprentice known to have trained with Kinross: they remained close friends throughout their lives since as late as 1921 Kinross wrote home from Portugal referring to a chance meeting with a mutual friend, Jamie Kennedy. More Nisbet seems to have spent the final year of his employment with Kinross also working part-time in association with Sydney Tugwell, sharing premises with him at Riddles Court, Edinburgh. In 1896 he moved to London to join Dunn & Watson and in 1897 spent four months measuring and sketching in Norfolk and Suffolk before finding a new appointment in the office of Bucknall & Comper. The following year he embarked on a six-month continental study tour incorporating France, Northern Italy and Switzerland as well as some time in Oxford, Cambridge and Exeter, after which, in 1899, he commenced independent practice at 122 George Street, Edinburgh, the Peddie family office building. He spent a month or two of most subsequent years travelling in France, Belgium, Germany, England and Scotland.
The More Nisbett family entertained members of the Edinburgh Architectural Association on three separate occasions (1886, 1899 and 1905) at the Drum. In the early years of the century More Nisbett trained as a Territorial with the Mounted Blacks. He was interested in beagling and was joint Master of the Edinburgh Foot Harriers of Beagles, but the heart-strain he incurred from this activity saw him reserved as a Special Constable during the First World War.
He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association, which he had joined in 1901. At the date of his RIBA admittance his home was Morton House, Colinton.
Hamilton More Nisbett married Ivegh Marguerite Gladys Bayly Jones, daughter of Commander Frederick William Bayley Jones RN of Dunclutha on 7 November 1905. He succeeded to the family estates as 11th of Cairnhill and 4th of the Drum on the death of his elder brother, North More Nisbett, 5 January 1939. After the outbreak of World War II the practice was moved to the Drum. He was author of several books, 'Drum of the Somervilles', 'Oxenfoord and its owners' and 'Cairnhill'. He died on 24 December 1955. His wife had predeceased him on 15 July 1943.
NB More Nisbett used George Grieve & Sons, builders, Stephen Hare, builder & quarry lessee and Haddo, blacksmith of Haymarket Terrace in many of his projects. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 122, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1899 | c. 1920 | | | Morton House, Colinton, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before 1911 | After 1914 | | | 42, Ormidale Terrace, Murrayfield, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | After 1914 | | | | 4, Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1921 | c. 1936 | | | 6, Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1937 | c. 1939 | | | The Drum, Gilmerton, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1940 | 1955 | |
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 | | John Kinross | 1889 | 1894 | Apprentice | Remained as assistant | | John Kinross | 1894 | 1896 | Assistant | | | Dunn & Watson | 1896 | 1897 | Assistant | | | Bucknall & Comper | 1897 | 1898 | Assistant | |
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 |
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 | | | Buildings at Cairnhill | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Date uncertain | | | Drum Farm, cottage | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Date uncertain | | | Garvallan, cottages, farms etc | Garvallan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Date uncertain | | | House at Cairnmuir Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Date uncertain | | After 1889 | Falkland Palace | Falkland | | Fife | Scotland | Restoration - as apprentice/assistant to John Kinross | | 1891 | St Peter's Episcopal Church | Fraserburgh | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | As apprentice to John Kinross | | 1895 | Inch Parish Church | Inch | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Interior re-fitted after fire | | 1895 | Manderston House, stables | Duns | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Probably involved, as assistant to John Kinross | | 1895 | Thurston House | Innerwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | As assistant to John Kinross | | c. 1895 | Manderston House, including service court and motor house | Duns | | Berwickshire | Scotland | As assistant to John Kinross - Refurbishment and major extension of late 18th century house, new entrance front, lavish interior decoration | | 1896 or 1897 | Mount Nelson Hotel | | | Cape Town | South Africa | As assistant to Dunn & Watson | | 1897 or 1898 | Church of St John the Evangelist, New Hinksey | Oxford | | Oxfordshire | England | As assistant to Bucknall & Comper | | After 1899 | Dean Cemetery and lodges | Dean | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Monuments | | After 1899 | Milne Murray Lodge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Adaptation of old houses to form student residence | | After 1899 | St Andrews Cemetery, monument | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1901 | Cottages, farms and dairy | Garallan/Garrallan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1902 | St Michael's Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Lady Chapel reredos | | 1906 | Balerno Police Station | Balerno | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1907 | Seaforth Highlanders Memorial | | | | Scotland | | | 1908 | Rathven (Rathvon?) Prospect House | | | | Scotland | | | 1908 | St Roque's Episcopal Church | Blackscroft | | Dundee | Scotland | Reredos, colour decoration and furniture | | After 1908 | St Paul's Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Reredos (by More Nisbett) from St Roque's Episcopal church relocated here | | c. 1908 | Royal Maternity and Simpson Memorial Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations - date uncertain | | 1909 | Chapel at Dungallan | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1910 | All Saints Episcopal Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Altarpiece in NW corner of church - imported from St Michael's Hill Square and installed about 1965. Executed by J Gibson and G & H Potts | | 1910 | Cross for Miss Wardrop | | | | Scotland | | | 1910 | Gogar Green | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1910 | The Drum | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1913 | Cottage | Cocksburnspath | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1913 | Hall | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1919 | 11-12 Ramsay Garden, University Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1920 | St Roque's Episcopal Church | Blackscroft | | Dundee | Scotland | War memorial | | 1928 | The Drum, gardener's house and bothy | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1929 | Cat and Dog Home | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1930 | Gilmerton Junior Friendly Society Hall | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1935 | The Drum, Deer Park, Mr Redpath's House | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1937 | The Drum, gates on western drive | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Gates and railings on western drive |
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 | | | | | Burke, ____ (Mosley, Charles, ed) | | Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage: Clan Chiefs, Scottish Feudal Barons | 107th Edition | Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage & Gentry LLC | | | 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 | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | October 1956 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p515 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Archives of Scotland (www.nas.gov.uk) | National Register of Archives | | NRA (S) 2408 | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information from D C Mays | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v19 no1485 |
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