Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Daniel Shearer
Designation:  
Born: 25 August 1918
Died: 1972
Bio Notes: James Daniel (some sources erroneously give David) Shearer was born at Gavrock hill, Dunfermline on 28 August 1918, the son of James Grant Shearer, architect of Dunfermline and his wife Jessie Gorrie. He was the cousin of the dancer Moira Shearer. He studied at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, graduating from the diploma course in about 1950. He was articled to his father in 1946 but after graduation worked for the schools section of the LCC. He later was a partner with John Falconer who was probably his brother-in-law as Shearer Falconer & Associates which operated in conjunction with Deans & Co and Shearer & Annand. It is stated in the 1970 RIBA Kalendar that the practice provided 'partial services for the GLC'. He was elected ARIBA in 1950 and was Tite Prizeman in that same year. After his father's death he returned to continue the practice under its existing title of Shearer & Annand, and at the same time ran his London practice the title of which was Shearer Falconer & Associates.

Shearer must have had a distinguished war career as the RIBA Directory in 1970 notes he was Croix de Guerre (avec Etoile de Vermeil). He was a Knight of the Order of the Orange Nassau.

Shearer's wife, Mary Morag Sampson, whom he had met at Edinburgh College of Art was also an architect.

Shearer junior died prematurely of a cerebral haemorrhage in 1972.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 7Morton Lodge, Dumfermline, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1948 *  
Item 2 of 771, Great King Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  
Item 3 of 7Sheffield, Yorkshire, EnglandPrivate/businessAfter 1950Before 1962No evidence of Sheffield address. Surrey is given in directories 1970 directory
Item 4 of 7Flat 5/10, The Paragon, Blackheath, London, EnglandPrivatec. 19551962(?) 
Item 5 of 7Dunfermline, Fife, ScotlandBusiness19621974 
Item 6 of 7Coppers, Queen's Drive, Oakshott, Surrey, EnglandPrivate(?)1965 *After 1970 
Item 7 of 710, Stratford Road, Kensington, London, EnglandBusiness1970 *  

* 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 4James Grant Shearer1946c. 1951(?)Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4London County Council Architects' Department (LCC Architects' Department)After 19501962(?)  
Item 3 of 4Shearer Falconer & Associates1962 Partner 
Item 4 of 4Shearer & Annand19621974Partner 

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 24 St Margaret's Parish ChurchDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 2 of 241952Glen Affric Hydro Electric Scheme, Fasnakyle Power StationFasnakyle Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 3 of 241958Premises of James D BruceDunfermline FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 4 of 24Late 1950sHouses at ContinContin Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 5 of 241960sHousing for Kinross Town CouncilKinross Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 6 of 241960sWightman's Factory (later Wilson & Wightman?)Dunfermline FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 7 of 241961Offices, Carnegie United Kingdom TrustDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 24After 1962Abbot HouseDunfermline FifeScotlandRestoration
Item 9 of 241963Villa, Westgarth AvenueColinton EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 241964Ballingry Parish ChurchBallingry FifeScotlandExtension
Item 11 of 241964Council Housing and GaragesCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 241964Fisher's Close  EdinburghScotlandRestoration
Item 13 of 241964Tower HouseDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 241966Reid's HallLochgelly FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 15 of 24Early 1960sFoyers Power StationFoyers Inverness-shireScotlandActed as consultant architects
Item 16 of 24Early 1960sHousing Estate for councilCowdenbeath FifeScotlandAlso perhaps new houses as well?
Item 17 of 24Early 1960sOffices for NSHEB  DundeeScotland 
Item 18 of 24Early 1960sWardie Community Centre  EdinburghScotland 
Item 19 of 24Late 1960sGlenfiddich DistilleryDufftown BanffshireScotlandReception area
Item 20 of 24Late 1960sHousingLoch Awe ArgyllScotland 
Item 21 of 24Late 1960sHousing for North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Housing SocietyCannich Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 22 of 241970Commercial developmentPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 23 of 241970Kinross Central RedevelopmentKinross Kinross-shireScotland 
Item 24 of 241972Halfway HotelKingseat FifeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 9Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp109
Item 2 of 9Emmerson, Roger James Shearer architect 1881-1962 Unpublished 
Item 3 of 9Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp7
Item 4 of 9RCAHMS2004Creating a Future for the Past: the Scottish Architects' Papers Preservation Project Edinburgh: Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotlandpp 114-17
Item 5 of 9RIBA1948The RIBA Kalendar 1948-1949 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 6 of 9RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 7 of 9RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 8 of 9RIBA1965The RIBA Kalendar   
Item 9 of 9RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Courtesy of Richard CassidyInformation given to Yvonne Hillyard  
Item 2 of 2Interview with Eric Davidson, 20 October 2010Information to Yvonne Hillyard