Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Brown Nicol | Designation: | | Born: | 1867 | Died: | 25 January 1953 | Bio Notes: | James Brown Nicol was born in Dumbarton on 27 February 1867. He attended Aberdeen Grammar School from 1882 to 1887 and was articled to Alexander Marshall Mackenzie from 1883 to 1888, where he worked under the supervision of the ablest of Makenzie's assistants, Alexander Mackintosh. There he met William Kelly, Henry Hardy Wigglesworth and James Carmichael ('a promising architect who died young'). In 1889 after a further year in Mackenzie's office he moved to Edinburgh to gain wider experience first with James Bow Dunn in 1889-90 and then with Sydney Mitchell & Wilson as chief assistant from 1890 until 1891 when he returned to Aberdeen as Kelly's assistant. Kelly took him into partnership eleven years later.
Nicol published 'Domestic Architecture in Scotland', a survey of contemporary work, in 1908, and at some point he made a study tour to Italy. He was an early contributor to the transactions of the Aberdeen Ecclesiological Society, having been enthused by the Rev Dr Cooper, proponent of that society and furthered the interests of his fellow-architects as President of the Aberdeen Society of Architects from 1925 to 1926 and as a member of the RIAS Council. For many years as Governor of Gordon's College he was Chairman of the Arts & Crafts Committee which controlled the School of Architecture and was largely responsible for building its reputation. He was also an elder of the South Church in Aberdeen.
Kelly retired from the partnership in 1928, Nicol continuing to practise, possibly in some kind of informal partnership with Robert Leslie Rollo with whom he shared offices in about 1939, until his own retirement in May 1952. The major work of this later stage in his career was the new Royal Infirmary at Forresterhill, a rugged granite-built complex on rising ground overlooking the sea.
Nicol was killed in an accident on the Aberdeen-Ellon road on 25 January the following year. He was married three times; first to William Kelly's sister Margaret and after her premature death in 1913, he re-married twice. He was survived by his third wife, three sons and two daughters. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 123, Cranford Road, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | | 1953 | | | 24, Loanhead Terrace, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1882 | 1887 | | | 74, Forest Road, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | 1927 * | | | | 367, Union Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | Before 1927 | After 1935 | | | 146, Union Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | c. 1939 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
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 | | | Glenbuchat Lodge | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration and enlargement at rear - date unknown | | 1902 | Demonstration School | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1902 | Society of Friends Meeting House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1902 | Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extension | | After 1902 | Business premises | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1902 | Jubilee Hospital | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Extension | | After 1902 | Moy House | Forres | | Morayshire | Scotland | Alterations and reconstruction | | After 1902 | Music Hall | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Large additions | | After 1902 | Woodend House | Banchory Ternan | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations and reconstruction | | 1903 | Abernethy's Lodge | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1903 | Banff District Asylum, Troup/Ladysbridge | Banff | | Banffshire | Scotland | Separate villa for male patients (Mayfield Villa) | | 1903 | Mackie Academy | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Addition of wings | | 1903 | Property for W Smith | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1903 | Invery House | Strachan | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration and alterations - including later addition of south range beyond the pavilion | | 1905 | Langley, 25 Forest Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions | | 1905 | Tertowie House | Kinellar | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Wing added | | 1905 | The Gables | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | | | c. 1905 | 69 Don Street | Old Aberdeen | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Restoration | | 1906 | Aberdeen Savings Bank | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1906 | Fife Arms Hotel | Braemar | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | West wing rebuilt | | 1907 | Carron Cottage | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Interior work including mantelpiece | | 1907 | Memorial to James Ferguson | Rothiemay | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1907 | St Mary's Parish Church | Ellon | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations, including panelled and stencilled timber ceiling and the dado. | | 1907 | Tilquhillie Cottage | | | | Scotland | | | After 1907 | Union Street and King Street and Union Bridge | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Railings (or parapets) | | 1909 | Tudor Lodge | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Conflict of information. Stonehaven Journal gives Coutts as architect. Kelly information from owner in 1960s. | | 1910 | Culter House | Peterculter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration of interiors | | 1910 | Gordon Schools | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Addition of Higher Grade School | | 1912 | Huntly Public School | Huntly | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Secondary department added | | 1913 | Villa, 86 Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations | | 1914 | Harlaw Memorial | Harlaw | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | c. 1914 | Chapel of Garioch Parish Church | Chapel of Garioch | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Gallery level windows - probably by Kelly & Nicol | | c. 1918 | Murtle House | Peterculter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1920 | Memorial to the Seventh Gordons | Banchory | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | | | c. 1920 | Aberdeen Grammar School, War Memorial | Denburn | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1920 | Banff War Memorial | Banff | | Banffshire | Scotland | | | c. 1920 | Dyce War Memorial | Dyce | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | c. 1920 | War Memorial | Birse | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1921 | Ardoe House | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Porch (attribution) | | After 1921 | Kinnaird Castle, with stables and lodge | Brechin | | Angus | Scotland | Restoration after fire, pavilion roofs removed and interior left incomplete | | 1922 | King's College Chapel, University War Memorial | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1922 | St Clement's Episcopal Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | 'only a small part of the design built' | | 1923 | Raemoir House | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration | | 1923 | St James Episcopal Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Altar and war memorial reredos | | 1923 | War Memorial | Banchory | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | | | 1923 or 1926 | Keith Cottage Hospital | Keith | | Banffshire | Scotland | Further additions (Buildings of Scotland gives 1923- Richardson 1926) | | 1924 | Dunecht House (including chapel) | Echt | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Some internal remodelling and redecoration of chapel; western gates (some undertaken by Kelly in private capacity after his retirement), Main Gates in Dunecht Village | | 1925 | Dunecht, Estate Offices and Hall | Echt | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1925 | Dunnottar Castle | | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Consolidation and partial re-roofing | | 1927 | Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | Foresterhill | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1927 | College of Nursing Club and house at no 1 Fonthill Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions to Club | | 1927 | East Lochside Steading | Skene | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1927 | Raemoir House | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Gabled east wing and interior woodwork | | After 1927 | Echt Churchyard, Monument to Viscount Cowdray | Echt | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | Before 1927 | Hospital for Sick Children | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1927 | Turin House | Rescobie | | Angus | Scotland | Rebuilding on higher site | | After 1928 | Castle Fraser | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration work - left unfinished | | 1930s | Grand Hotel | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Additions? | | 1930s | Savings Bank | Holburn | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1930 | King's College Chapel | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Restoration of east window, new butresses, stalls, desks, restoration of NE window at apse. Medieval pulpit partly reconstructed. | | 1930 | University of Aberdeen Union | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1930 | Aberdeen Lunatic Asylum | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Extensions | | 1932 | Savings Bank | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1934 | Aberdeen Maternity Hospital | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1936 | University of Aberdeen Students' Union | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1938 | 23 Don Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Restoration | | Before 1938 | Aberdeen Royal Infirmary | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Alterations and additions |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | 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 | | Aberdeen Evening Express | 26 January 1953 | | | Obituary | | Aberdeen Grammar School Magazine | July 1953 | Volume LVI, No 2 | | p115 - obituary | | Aberdeen Press and Journal | 27 January 1953 | | | Obituary | | RIAS Quarterly | May 1953 | Summer | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary by A G R Mackenzie, pp 48-49 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Robert Gordon's University Archive | Collection of plans, manuscripts etc | | 90 sketches and drawings from c.1884-1900, large photo album dated 1888 and about 60 loose photos, schedule of quantities and specifications for work done by W & J Smith & Kelly 1892-5. |
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