Basic Biographical Details

Name: J & W Wittet
Designation: Architectural practice
Started: 1 January 1928
Ended: After 1986
Bio Notes: John Wittet of Elgin, who had been in partnership with Alexander and William Charles Reid from 1893 and practised on his own from 1903, made his son William a share partner in his firm on 1 January 1928, the practice name changing to J & W Wittet. William had been articled to his father from 1919 and had been assistant from 22 January 1923 and a salaried partner from 1 January 1925.

William was admitted LRIBA in early 1932, his proposers being Robert Leslie Rollo, Robert Gordon Wilson Junior and James Lochhead.

In the 1930s and 1940s the Wittets had an office in Skye, probably continuing the Highland and west coast practice established by William Reid.

John Wittet died on 18 March 1952, William continuing the practice thereafter under its existing name. In 1962 Neil Simpson was assumed into partnership followed in 1968 by Stanley Mitchell.

In 1973 an office was opened once again on the Isle of Skye in the Pier Hotel, Broadford. The following year the office moved to the home of the assistant in charge, Bill Simpson, at 12 Scullamus and it moved again in 1974 to the Old Post Office Buildings, Broadford. In 1975 on the departure of Bill Simpson, Magnus Gunnarsson took over as assistant in charge. He was assumed into partnership two years later.

The practice continued to flourish, becoming a limited company in 1986, having moved to 26 Hay Street, Elgin. William died in 1990.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architectural practice:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 581, High Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusiness1928After 1931 
Item 2 of 5Skye, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusinessLate 1930s * Subsidiary office
Item 3 of 56, Moss Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1964After 1970 
Item 4 of 5Royal Bank Buildings, Grantown-on-Spey, Morayshire, ScotlandBusiness1970 * Branch office
Item 5 of 5Post Office Building, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness1981 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architectural practice (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 8John Wittet1 January 19281952Partner 
Item 2 of 8William Wittet1 January 1928After 1986PartnerShare partner
Item 3 of 8Francis MurrayJune 1930October 1935Apprentice 
Item 4 of 8Stanley Anderson Mitchell1962After 1981Partner 
Item 5 of 8Neil Victor Ridgley Simpson19621988Partner 
Item 6 of 8William ('Bill') Thomas Simpson19731975Assistant 
Item 7 of 8Magnus Gunnarsson1975 Assistant 
Item 8 of 8Magnus Gunnarsson1977After 1981Partner 

Buildings and Designs

This architectural practice 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 33After 1928Cairnfield HouseBuckie BanffshireScotlandUnspecified work
Item 2 of 331929BungalowHopeman MorayshireScotland 
Item 3 of 331930Aldroughty HouseSpynie MorayshireScotlandNorth west wing added
Item 4 of 331930Elgin Building Company housesElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 5 of 331930Lossiemouth Town HallLossiemouth MorayshireScotlandExtension
Item 6 of 331932Bishopmill Public HallBishopmill, Elgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 7 of 331933Aberlour Parish ChurchAberlour BanffshireScotlandApse and vestry added and interior remodelled
Item 8 of 331933Skirinish SkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 9 of 33c. 1935Gordon BarracksOld Machar AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 33193627 Clifton RoadLossiemouth MorayshireScotland 
Item 11 of 33193712 and 12A Princes StreetHuntly AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 12 of 331937Kinsteary House, entrance gates  NairnshireScotland 
Item 13 of 33193817-17A Simpson StreetNairn NairnshireScotland 
Item 14 of 331938British Linen BankForres MorayshireScotlandRemodelling of frontage
Item 15 of 331939Wooden houses   Scotland 
Item 16 of 33c. 1940Lynedale Home Farm SkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 17 of 33Late 1950sShop(s)Elgin MorayshireScotlandRestoration
Item 18 of 331960sBroadford HotelBroadfordSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 19 of 331960sCameron Knitware FactoryGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotland 
Item 20 of 331960sCity Sawmills, timber storage production unitsElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 21 of 331960sCoolin Hills Hotel SkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 22 of 331960sEllon brickworksEllon AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 23 of 331960sFootball standElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 24 of 331960sHousingForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 25 of 331960sHousing for G Kirkman & SonsFochabers MorayshireScotland 
Item 26 of 331960sHousing for Nairn County Council  NairnshireScotland 
Item 27 of 331960sHousing, for G Kirkman & SonsCullen BanffshireScotland 
Item 28 of 331960sHousing, High StreetAberlour BanffshireScotland 
Item 29 of 331960sKinkell Castle  Ross and CromartyScotlandRestoration
Item 30 of 331960sOffice for Pearl AssuranceWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 31 of 331960sPublic abattoirGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotland 
Item 32 of 331960sSocial clubElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 33 of 331960sWoollen Mill for G & G KynochKeith AberdeenshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architectural practice:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp103
Item 2 of 4RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 3 of 4RIBA1980Directory of Practices 1980   
Item 4 of 4RIBA1981Directory of Practices 1981