Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Reid | Designation: | | Born: | 17 July 1893 or 17 August 1893 | Died: | 12 October 1984 | Bio Notes: | George Reid was born on 17 July 1893 (nomination Paper) or 17 August 1893 (Death Register), the eldest son of David M Reid, commercial traveller, and his wife Margaret. He was articled to Scott Morton & Co from 1910 for five years, attending classes at Edinburgh College of Art where he obtained firsts in each year of his studies as well as two bursaries. Whilst serving his apprenticeship he was seconded to the offices of Robert Lorimer, George Washington Browne and James Bow Dunn.
Reid joined the Royal Scots at the outbreak of the First World War. He was wounded in France in January 1916. In 1914 he had a design hung at the Society of Artists and in 1915 exhibited a 'colour design' was hung at the Royal Scottish Academy. At the cease of hostilities he returned to Edinburgh and in 1919 joined forces with Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie and James Sheills Forbes, in a short-lived but productive partnership Fairlie, Reid & Forbes. The firm appears to have been formed to compete for the post-1919 Housing Act council housing contracts in Edinburgh. The competition, judged by Sir John Burnet, concerned schemes in Wardie, Saughtonhall, Craigleith and Willowbrae Road. They achieved an honourable mention with their plans for the Saughtonhall area and were judged third in their proposals for Willowbrae Road, behind the successful AK Robertson & T.Aikman Swan and Charles E Tweedie. However, as the Council’s Town Planning and Housing Committee decided no one firm should carry out more than two housing schemes, Fairlie, Reid & Forbes were awarded the Willowbrae commission, designing over 400 houses while in partnership, a mix of tenements, flatted blocks and cottages. The proposals were exhibited at the RSA who commented on the ‘admirable’ layout plan and perspective drawing which suggested a ‘pleasing and picturesque ensemble’. A great deal of work went in to creating an interssting plan and a series of different designs and interesting use of materials – sadly not followed by later interwar council schemes. The Buildings of Scotland describe their design and compositions as outstanding, and the centrepiece to their scheme, Northfield Gardens (1921), a handsome crescent of three storey rubble stone tenements, was listed in 1987 – a rare but welcome recognition of ‘homes fit for heroes’. Willowbrae, also known as Abercorn or Northfield, can be viewed as an early prototype for Ebenezer MacRae’s inter-war work in Edinburgh, and MacRae’s predecessor as Director of Housing, Adam Horsburgh Campbell, may also have borrowed elements.
By 1925 Reid and Forbes had formed their own partnership, with Fairlie continuing on his own account, although Fairlie, Reid & Forbes are recorded as supervising the erection of the Scottish American War Memorial in Princes Street Gardens as late as 1927
The first major project by the new firm, and one which would mark their future specialism in educational buildings, was the neo-Georgian St John’s RC Primary School in Hamilton Terrace, Portobello, opened in December 1926, and only recently demolished. This was closely followed by education offices at St Boswells, and a school extension in Jedburgh. In 1928 they received the major commission for Leith Academy Secondary School. At this stage the firm was designing Neo-Georgian school buildings, albeit with the introduction of Art Deco Egyptian and renaissance detailing. A good example of this style is the school annexe at George Heriot’s school on Lauriston Place (1933).
Although there would still be Neo-Georgian work, the firm increasingly became known for a series of modern movement schools, an early example being Inverness High School, designed in 1931 and opened in 1937. Other examples include Kelso Academy, (1936-9) and Niddrie Marischal Intermediate School (1936) which has unusual American-inspired Art Deco decoration on its tower. Chirnside (1937), a category A listed building, is landmark in the village.
In December 1931 Reid, along with Forbes, was elected a Fellow of the Edinburgh Architectural Association. The firm were probably the best inter-war school specialists in Scotland.
Reid was admitted FRIBA in 1955. Forbes retired from practice in 1961. Reid was appointed Lord Dean of Guild about this time and sold the office building to Cairns & Ford who also took over the major part of the commissions in hand, notably Edinburgh's new Royal High School, with Reid acting as consultant for a limited period. His former partner Forbes died in Edinburgh in 1976.
Reid died at Bournemouth on 12 October 1984. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 9, Almondbank Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1918 * | | Gave this address in the RSA exhibition in 1918. This was the family home from before 1911 (see 1911 Census). | | 7, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1919 | c. 1930 | Still listed here despite being no longer in partnership with Fairlie | | 17, Great Stewart Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1931 | | | | Lufra House, Granton Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1955 * | | | | 116, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1955 * | Early 1960s | | | Flat 8/Canford Court/7, Cliff Drive, Poole, Dorset, England | Private | 1970 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
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 | | | Holyrood School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1918 | Design for Chancel Finishings | | | | | Staff Sergeant George Reid - Builder reference | | 1918 | Suggested design for the entrance hall and main staircase in a public building | | | | | | | 1919 | Northfield Housing Estate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Bank of Scotland, Marchmont Branch | Marchmont | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Coldstream Secondary School | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Housing scheme | Tranent | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Housing scheme | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Primary and Secondary Schools | Innerleithen | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Richmond Congregational Church | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1924 | St John's RC School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1924 | St John's RC School | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Demolished | | 1926 | Jedburgh Grammar School | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | North-west extension | | 1928 | Edinburgh Castle, Bruce and Wallace Memorial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In collaboration with Clapperton, Lorimer & Carrick | | 1928 | George Watson's College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium | | 1928 | Leith Academy Secondary School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1928 | Lodge Roman Eagle no 160 | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1928 | Offices for Roxburghshire Education Committee | Newtown St Boswells | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1929 | RC College and Schools, Melville Grange Farm | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Named as architect responsible after winning competition | | 1930 | Victoria School | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension | | 1931 | Alexander's garage | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1931 | Primary School | Morebattle | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | 'Buildings of Scotland' say Forbes responsible | | 1931 | Royal High Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1932 | Inverness High School | Inverness | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1932 | St Mary's RC Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction of nave with aisles; also pulpit | | 1932 | Union Bank, West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Bank - remodelling? | | 1933 | Bank of Scotland, North West Circus Place | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1933 | Eldin House | Bonnyrigg/Lasswade | | Midlothian | Scotland | Addition of dormitory and school block | | 1933 | George Heriot's School, Preparatory Department and technical classrooms | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1933 | Kelso Academy | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Maxime's Ballroom | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1934 | Niddrie Church and Halls | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1934 | Trinity Primary School | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Broughton School | Broughton | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Extension, also gates and railings | | 1935 | Eyemouth High School | Eyemouth | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1935 | Jedburgh Grammar School | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1935 | Laundry | Stenhouse | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1935 | Niddrie Marischal Junior Secondary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1935 | Wardie Hotel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension | | 1936 | Primary School | Hobkirk/Hopekirk | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | c. 1936 | Peebles High School | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Extension and reconstruction | | 1937 | Central School | Chirnside | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1937 | Wilkies Buildings, Shandwick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1938 | Primary School | West Linton | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1938 | St Joseph's RC School | Inverness | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Large extensions | | 1938 | Tanfield Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design - not successful | | 1949 | George Heriot's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions and repairs to war memorial | | 1951 | Moredun Church and Halls | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1955 | Dalkeith High School | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | Later school. Now demolished | | 1956 | Coldstream Primary School | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | Before 1962 | Royal High School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Cairns & Ford who took over the practice mainly responsible. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Edinburgh's 1919 Act Housing by Steven Robb (2020) | 2020 | | Municipal Dreams website | Municipal Dreams website |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Census records online | Censuses | | | | Courtesy of Mr William Terrell | Information via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent February 2015. | | Courtesy of Neill Gilhooley | Information sent to Dictionary | | Sent November 2015 | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no5107 (combined box 57) (filed with note indicating that Reid died before May 1985) |
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