Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander Esmé Gordon (or Esmé Gordon) | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 12 September 1910 | Died: | 31 May 1993 | Bio Notes: | Alexander Esmé Gordon was born at Ramsay Gardens, Edinburgh on 12 September 1910, the son of Alexander Shand Gordon, WS, and Elizabeth Catherine Logan. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy and studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1928. He spent his year out with Burnet Tait & Lorne in London, and returned to the same firm as a qualified assistant in 1934, working on St Andrews House, Edinburgh, Kirsop's, Glasgow, the 1938 Empire Exhibition, Glasgow and several English projects including the limited competition for a house for King George V and the Curzon Cinema. He worked mainly but not exclusively under Tait and his senior assistant Andrew D Bryce. He had won several minor scholarships which enabled him to make sketching tours of England and two month-long trips to Italy (in 1931 and 1933), and in 1934 was awarded the Owen Jones Scholarship, which he used to travel again to Italy the following year. He was admitted ARIBA on 2 December 1935, his proposers being John Begg, Alexander Lorne Campbell and Frank Charles Mears.
In 1937 Gordon commenced practice on his own account at 34 Castle Street, Edinburgh, having spent part of his time in the Edinburgh office under James Wallace and gained a part-time appointment at Edinburgh College of Art. In the same year he married Betsy McCurry from Belfast, a piano graduate of the Royal Academy of Music in London and around this time he was joined in partnership by James Robertson, working with him as Robertson & Gordon until c.1940 when he commenced war service with the Royal Engineers, initially working on canteens. He later saw active service and was involved with reconstruction work at the end of the war in Normandy and the Netherlands.
Gordon took his former assistant William Gordon Dey into partnership in 1946, after they had returned from war service. He was admitted ARIAS in 1948 and FRIBA in 1956, proposed by John Ross McKay, Leslie Grahame MacDougall and Thomas Waller Marwick by which time he had moved his office to his former home at 36 Heriot Row, and was living at 11 Greenhill Gardens. In 1966 Gordon designed and built a house for himself in Greenhill Park. This is one of the few post-war private houses which has been listed (Category B).
In his early post-war years Gordon specialised in church work, writing a book on the subject ‘The Principles of Church Building. Furnishing Equipment and Decoration’ but he later undertook major educational projects for Heriot-Watt and Moray House.
Gordon served as president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association from 1955-57 and designed the Centenary Bronze Medal to be awarded annually from 1957 onwards. He was elected ARSA in 1956, RSA in 1967 and 17th Secretary and historian of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1973, holding this last post until 1978. He retired early in order to devote himself almost full-time to the RSA, making some notable discoveries in the archive and researching and producing its history in time for the 150th Anniversary in 1976.
In person Esme Gordon was of middle height, stocky in build with a crop of upright hair which he retained to the end. He was a superb draughtsman and watercolourist, an important collector of Oriental art of which he had a profound knowledge, and had a delightful personality.
He died in the City Hospital, Edinburgh on 31 May 1993. His wife had predeceased him in 1990. He was survived by his sons Giles (who died in Edinburgh in 2003) , Christopher who lives in Hampshire, and his daughter Celia who lives in Oxford. A memorial exhibition was held at the RSA in 1994.
Publications:
‘'A Short History of St Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh' (1954)
'A handbook on the Principles of Church Building. Furnishing, Equipment and Decoration' (1963)
'The Royal Scottish Academy of Painting Sculpture and Architecture 1826-1976' (1976)
‘The Making of the Royal Scottish Academy’ (1988)
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 36, Heriot Row, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1935 | After 1956 | Private at first; later used as office |  | 34, Castle Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1937 | 1940 | In partnership with James Robertson |  | 2, Darnaway Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1939 * | | |  | 8, Albert Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1944 | c. 1950 | |  | 11, Greenhill Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1950 | 1966 | |  | 10A, Greenhill Park, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1966 * | | |  | 2/23, Barnton Avenue West, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1988 | 1993 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | Stanley Patrick Ross-Smith | After 1948 | Before 1958 | Senior Assistant | |  | Stanley Patrick Ross-Smith | After 1948 | Before 1958 | Junior Partner | |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | 1933 | Scottish Office buildings | Calton Hill | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Executed scheme, known as St Andrew's House - as assistant to Tait at Burnet, Tait & Lorne |  | 1934 | Curzon Cinema | Mayfair | | London | England | As assistant to Tait at Burnet, Tait & Lorne |  | Before 1934 | Masonic Hall | Silver End | | Essex | England | Worked on the drawings while assistant in the Burnet Tait & Lorne office |  | 1935 | House for the Jubilee of George V | | | | | Competition designs (unexecuted) - as assistant to Tait at Burnet, Tait & Lorne |  | 1935 | Kirsop's shop | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As assistant to Tait in Burnet, Tait & Lorne |  | 1936 | Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art | | | Dundee | Scotland | Competition design (unsuccessful) - information provided to DMW by Alexander Esmé Gordon in response to questionnaire in the 1980s. |  | 1936 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, masterplan | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | As assistant to Tait in Burnet, Tait & Lorne |  | 1937 | House for Miss Logan | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Proposed houses at Corstorphine | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Travel and Transport Pavilion | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Tanfield Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design (unsuccessful) (information provided to DMW by Alexander Esmé Gordon in response to questionnaire in the 1980s) |  | c. 1938 | Hermitage | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and new lodge house for chauffeur |  | 1939 | Church | West Pilton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1939 | Innerleven East Church | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | Mainly by Gordon |  | 1939 | St Giles Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New organ case |  | 1940 | Church | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1940 | Church of Scotland Canteens | | | | England | |  | 1940 | Church of Scotland Canteens | | | | Scotland | |  | 1940 | Church of Scotland Canteens | | | | France | |  | 1940 | St Giles Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Open screens and ceiling in vestibule |  | 1946 | Free High Church and Free Church College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations. Perhaps involved in alterations including sub-division of students' common room and alterations in examination rooms |  | 1946 | St Giles Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | War memorial chapel furnishings and extensive alterations to sanctuary for State service at which HM the Queen received the Crown of Scotland |  | 1947 | Enterprise Scotland 1947 Exhibition | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Designed the room layouts |  | 1947 | Leeds Premanent Building Society office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1947 | Moray House Training College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Handiwork and music department added |  | After 1947 | Children's Homes | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | After 1947 | Eventide Home | Loanhead | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | After 1947 | Eventide home | Gargunnock | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | After 1947 | Eventide Home | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | |  | After 1947 | Eventide Home | Galashiels | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | |  | 1949 | British Linen Bank, Head Office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New suite for general manager and war memorial |  | 1949 | British Linen Bank, Shandwick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1949 | Church Hall, Pennywell Road | West Pilton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | After 1949 | British Linen Bank | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | After 1949 | British Linen Bank | Johnstone | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | After 1949 | British Linen Bank | Berwick-upon-Tweed | | Northumberland | England | Reconstruction |  | 1950 | Research laboratory for Scottish Agricultural Industries | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1952 | Moray House Training College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Sports pavilion |  | 1952 | Woodhall Paper Mill | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction after fire |  | 1953 | British Pharmaceutical Society, exam laboratories | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1953 | Free Church | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction and furnishing |  | 1953 | Moray House Training College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Scheme of restoration |  | 1953 | Oxgangs Primary School | Oxgangs | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1953 | St Andrew's Parish Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations to pulpit, redecoration and plaster ornament in vestibule. |  | 1954 | Moray House Training College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Speech training department |  | 1955 | Coldingham Priory | Coldingham | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Reordering of interior |  | 1955 | Hermiston House | Riccarton | | West Lothian | Scotland | Restoration and modernisation |  | 1955 | Tenement, 176-184 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | 1956 | 200 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Leeds Premanent Building Society office | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1956 | Lodge Dunedin | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction after fire |  | 1956 | Tenement, Old Playhouse Close | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | c. 1956 | Heriot-Watt Technical College, new block | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1960 | Electricity office and showroom | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1960 | Moray House College of Education, Dalhousie Land | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1960 | Moray House Training College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and additions and new gymnasium. |  | 1960 | Scottish Life Assurance Co | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Rebuilding |  | 1960 | St David's Church | Broomhouse | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1961 | Building (neo-Georgian in style), Holyrood Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1961 | Canongate Parish Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Sounding board to pulpit |  | 1962 | Industrial School for Girls | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions |  | 1962 | St Giles Cathedral, Chapel of the Order of the Thistle | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Memorial to George VI |  | 1963 | Allan Park UP Church | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Interior recast including large chancel with panelled organ pipe housings |  | 1966 | 10A Greenhill Park | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1967 | Warriston Crematorium | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | NW cloister and other extensions |  | 1969 | Bank of Scotland | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | |  | 1969 | Old People's Home | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | Mid 1960s | Heriot-Watt University, Department of Brewing and Biochemistry | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1970 | North Parish Church | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1971 | Moray House College of Education, Charteris Land | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1974 | Upper Springland Centre | Perth | | Perthshire | | |  | 1975 | Gannochy Trust Sports Complex, with Bell Sports Centre and Gannochy Sports Pavilion | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | The Gannochy Sports Pavilion |  | 1975 | Kinnoull House and MacMillan House | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1975 | Eventide Home for the Merchant Company of Edinburgh | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | Before 1975 | Milton Road East Lodge, gates and scaliger railing | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Special care unit |  | Before 1975 | Newbattle House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1979 | 84-86 Great King Street and 2A and 2B St Vincent Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Repairs |  | 1980 | Christ Church Episcopal Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion 'into a modern idiom' |  | 1980 | Moray House College of Education, St Mary's Land and Chessel's Land | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1980 | Saltoun Hall | | | East Lothian | Scotland | Roof repairs |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p2 Illustration of St Andrew's House |  | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p4 Image of Electricity Board Office and Showroom |  | 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 | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 3 May 1957 | | | p802 |  | Daily Telegraph | 10 June 1993 | | | Obituary p23 |  | Scotsman | 12 June 1993 | | | Obituary |  | The Independent | 4 June 1993 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Courtesy of Christopher Gordon | Information sent to Dictionary | | Sent March 2011 and September 2011 |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information provided to DMW by Alexander Esmé Gordon in response to a questionnaire in the 1980s |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no5839 (stored under F5129, combined box 58); F no5129 (combined box 58) |
Images © All rights reserved. RIAS Quarterly no 47, Autumn 1934 |