Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Arthur Mitchell
Designation:  
Born: 1868
Died: 1952
Bio Notes: George Arthur Mitchell was born in London in 1868, the eighth and youngest son of Alfred Mitchell and his wife Elizabeth: Alfred was a Metropolitan policeman who had been charged with Prince Albert’s security until the latter’s death in 1861. From 1888-1890 he was articled to his elder brother, Charles Frederick Mitchell and whose classes he attended at Regent Street Polytechnic. He then practised on his own account for a few years spending his evenings as master of the evening classes in 1890. Two years later in 1892 he was appointed full-time master at the Polytechnic in 1892 and head master in 1904. Together the Mitchells were authors of 'Mitchell's Building Construction' published by Batsford from 1894 and other textbooks. George passed the qualifying exam in 1909 and was admitted ARIBA on 29 November that year, his proposers being Rowland Plumbe, Aston Webb and Henry Thomas Hare. His nomination papers indicate that he had spent some six weeks per year of the previous fifteen years in travel, visiting France, Italy, Holland, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, Norway and Sweden, as well as touring England and Scotland under the auspices of his brother Robert’s Polytechnic Training Association.

In collaboration with Francis Thomas Verity, George designed the new central administration buildings of the Regent Street Polytechnic, built in 1911, as well as a number of annexes, the Boat House and the Ladies’ Pavilion. The records of the Regent Street Polytechnic show that he made visits to Scotland, partly in connection with the Polytechnic Training Association but probably also adviser and examiner for the building construction and architectural education provided in the various schools at that time. His Edinburgh address was given as St Giles House. He was still working there when he was elected FRIBA on 2 June 1924, his proposers being Albert Edward Richardson, Sir Banister Fletcher and William M Neil.

Mitchell retired from the Regent Street Polytechnic in 1933 and died in 1952.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5St Giles House, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate  Address when staying in Edinburgh. Post Office directories suggest this is in Melvillle Place and is presumably the manse of West St Giiles Church.
Item 2 of 5Regent Street Polytechnic, Regent Street, London, EnglandBusiness1892After 1911 
Item 3 of 513, Faraday Road, Acton, London, EnglandPrivate1909 *  
Item 4 of 5Dun-Edin, Castlebar Park, Ealing, London, EnglandPrivateBefore 1914After 1924 
Item 5 of 5309, Regent Street, London, EnglandBusiness1924 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Charles Frederick Mitchell18881890Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6(Sir) Banister Flight Fletcher2 June 1924for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Henry Thomas Hare29 November 1909for Associateship
Item 3 of 6William M Neil2 June 1924for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Rowland Plumbe29 November 1909for Associateship
Item 5 of 6(Sir) Albert Edward Richardson2 June 1924for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Aston Webb29 November 1909for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This 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 4 New Diamond FactoryFort William Inverness-shireScotlandDate not known
Item 2 of 41911Regent Street Polytechnic, Central Administration Buildings  LondonEnglandIn collaboration with Francis Thomas Verity
Item 3 of 41919(?)Highland HotelFort William Inverness-shireScotlandRestored building
Item 4 of 41919North British Railway Hotel  EdinburghScotlandRestoration

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 2 of 2Who's Who in Architecture1923    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information provided by Dr Andrew Saint and the archivist of the University of Westminster.
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v18 p143 (microfilm reel 20); F no1964 (microfilm reel 16)