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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Leslie Rollo
Designation: Architect
Born: 23 August 1888
Died: 11 January 1948
Bio Notes: Robert Leslie Rollo was born on 23 August 1888, the son of Robert Rollo. He served his apprenticeship in the office of James Lindsay, studying at Glasgow School of Art in 1906-7 and at Glasgow School of Architecture. He moved to Ayr in 1911 to join James Archibald Morris as assistant, returning to Glasgow two years later as assistant to Sir John James Burnet and Norman Aitken Dick, then working under the practice name of John Burnet & Son. He was subsequently transferred to Burnet's London office where he worked on the British Museum extension.

In 1914 he commenced independent practice at 248 West George Street, Glasgow, in collaboration with James Lindsay Junior, the son of his former employer; the elder Lindsay had died on 8 September that year and his son had taken on the practice at the early age of twenty-two. It is not clear whether a formal partnership existed, but in any case the association was cut short by the outbreak of the First World War, during which Rollo served with the Royal Engineers rising to the rank of Lieutenant and at the end of the war was divisional officer with the Ministry of Works in Antwerp. In 1917 he had married Elizabeth Whyte, daughter of Robert P Whyte.

On his return from the war Rollo moved back north to Aberdeen where he resumed independent practice in 1920 and was appointed assistant Lecturer and Demonstrator in the School of Architecture, later becoming Principal Teacher oif Architecture and Head of the School. Whilst there he was appointed architect to the Governors of Robert Gordon's College and designed the new buildings for the Technical College and School of Art. He was admitted FRIBA in early 1930, his proposers being Robert Gordon Wilson Junior, John Alexander Ogg Allan and George Watt. He was President of the Aberdeen Society of Architects 1935-37. He resigned his post in the School of Architecture in 1937 to concentrate on his private practice (possibly after a dispute with the Governors of the School over time spent on his private work). He appears to have shared an office with James Brown Nicol and his former assistant David Polson Hall until about 1939, although we do not as yet know if they were in some kind of partnership.

In private life Rollo was an active Freemason, being President of the Aberdeen Chapter from 1933 to 1936. He died on 11 January 1948.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 717, Clifford Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1906After 1911 
Item 2 of 7248, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1914 In collaboration with James Lindsay Junior
Item 3 of 79, Lennox Road, Cardonald, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1918 *  
Item 4 of 712, Murray Terrace, Ferryhill, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1920 *  
Item 5 of 7Aberdeen School of Architecture/375, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1929After 1930 
Item 6 of 7Camloun, Cults, Aberdeenshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1929After 1938 
Item 7 of 7146, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessc. 1939 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5James Lindsay19041911Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5James Archibald Morris19111913Assistant 
Item 3 of 5John Burnet & Son19131914Assistant 
Item 4 of 5(Sir) John James Burnet19141914AssistantIn London office
Item 5 of 5Rollo & HallAfter 1932c. 1939(?)Partner(?) 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5[James] Fenton ('Tony') Wyness1927 Assistant 
Item 2 of 5George Leslie Cruickshank1929 Assistant 
Item 3 of 5William Sherriffs Joss19291930Assistant 
Item 4 of 5David Polson Hall19311932Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 5David Gordon WilsonJuly 1938After 1940 role unclear

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6John Alexander Ogg AllanEarly 1930for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6(Sir) John James BurnetLate 1920for Associateship
Item 3 of 6James Archibald MorrisLate 1920for Associateship
Item 4 of 6John WatsonLate 1920for Associateship
Item 5 of 6George WattEarly 1930for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)Early 1930for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 70Alfred Easton Allan9 May 1938for Associateship
Item 2 of 70George Johnstone Anderson10 February 1942for Associateship
Item 3 of 70Frederick George Grant AngusMid 1935for Associateship
Item 4 of 70James Harrison Ball7 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 70Douglas Beaton12 April 1937for Associateship
Item 6 of 70John Ronald Beaton19 June 1939for Associateship
Item 7 of 70Archibald Ernest Bennett5 December 1938for Associateship
Item 8 of 70Robert Muil Bremner1932for Associateship
Item 9 of 70James Cairncross4 April 1938for Associateship
Item 10 of 70John Ross Cheyne6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 11 of 70Maxwell Fordyce Christie13 August 1940for Associateship
Item 12 of 70John Lamont Coghill8 March 1937for Associateship
Item 13 of 70George Cruickshank19 May 1942For Associateship
Item 14 of 70George Leslie CruickshankLate 1930for Associateship
Item 15 of 70John George Davidson8 January 1934for Associateship
Item 16 of 70Gordon David Diack9 May 1938for Associateship
Item 17 of 70Alexander Duncan14 January 1935for Associateship
Item 18 of 70John Flett Duncan11 February 1935for Associateship
Item 19 of 70Charles Ritchie Emslie9 May 1938For Associateship
Item 20 of 70John Findlay2 December 1935for Licentiateship
Item 21 of 70George Flett24 June 1935for Associateship
Item 22 of 70Alastair Stewart Foster19 July 1937for Associateship
Item 23 of 70Alexander Fraser30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 24 of 70Eric Melvin Galloway10 February 1936for Associateship
Item 25 of 70William James Geddes14 January 1935for Associateship
Item 26 of 70Isobel Margaret Gordon (Mrs Adams)3 December 1934for Associateship
Item 27 of 70William Halkerston11 February 1935for Associateship
Item 28 of 70David Polson HallLate 1932for Associateship
Item 29 of 70Haydn Albert Edward Halstead5 February 1934for Associateship
Item 30 of 70William Gibson Henderson3 December 1934for Associateship
Item 31 of 70Robert Archibald Hendry11 February 1947For Licentiateship
Item 32 of 70Douglas William InnesLate 1930 or early 1931for Associateship
Item 33 of 70Alexander Murdoch (or Murdock) Irvine5 February 1934for Associateship
Item 34 of 70William James Castell Irvine18 October 1937for Associateship
Item 35 of 70John Brown Johnston12 April 1937for Associateship
Item 36 of 70Jessie Elizabeth Kennedy (Mrs Bassett)11 March 1935for Associateship
Item 37 of 70Stewart Kilgour5 March 1934for Associateship
Item 38 of 70Lionel Ethelbert Knight13 May 1935for Associateship
Item 39 of 70Arthur Lyall (or Lysall) Chisholm Lemon7 January 1941for Associateship
Item 40 of 70Neil MacLeodMid 1932for Associateship
Item 41 of 70John Edward Martin19 June 1939for Associateship
Item 42 of 70Chessor Lille Matthew11 May 1936for Associateship
Item 43 of 70Edward Mackie McIntyre1 May 1940For Associateship
Item 44 of 70(Captain) Douglas Stuart McMillanMid 1931for Fellowship
Item 45 of 70Frances Jane Harvey Mercer11 May 1936for Associateship
Item 46 of 70Kenneth Bradley Miller6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 47 of 70Frederick William Morgan11 March 1935for Associateship
Item 48 of 70Sidney Patrick Murray9 May 1938for Associateship
Item 49 of 70John Baillie Noble20 July 1936for Associateship
Item 50 of 70John Charles Richardson12 April 1937for Associateship
Item 51 of 70James Rattray RiddellLate 1930for Associateship
Item 52 of 70Charles Alexander RoseEarly 1931for Associateship
Item 53 of 70Albert Ruddiman4 December 1933for Associateship
Item 54 of 70Henry Edwin Scott30 November 1936for Associateship
Item 55 of 70Edmond Patrick Sharkey20 June 1938for Associateship
Item 56 of 70Gordon Alexander Smart4 June 1940for Associateship
Item 57 of 70George Dudley Stalker3 December 1934for Associateship
Item 58 of 70Norman StephenLate 1930for Associateship
Item 59 of 70Stephen Sutherland4 April 1938for Associateship
Item 60 of 70William Robert Hector TaylorEarly 1931for Associateship
Item 61 of 70Robert ThomsonMid 1935for Associateship
Item 62 of 70John Comrie Todd23 October 1933for Associateship
Item 63 of 70William Caie Walker1930 or 1931for Associateship
Item 64 of 70Thomas ('Tom') Campbell Watson4 June 1940for Associateship
Item 65 of 70Robert George Will8 January 1934for Associateship
Item 66 of 70Alexander Milne Wilson6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 67 of 70David Gordon Wilson16 July 1940for Associateship
Item 68 of 70William WittetEarly 1932for Licentiateship
Item 69 of 70Duncan James Johnston Wright21 October 1941for Associateship
Item 70 of 70John Phin Miller WrightEarly 1932for Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 231914British MuseumBloomsbury LondonEnglandKing Edward VII Wing (North Wing) and British Museum Avenue running N from new wing laid out -as assistant to Sir John James Burnet
Item 2 of 231923Gray's School of Art  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 3 of 231924Cottage for F A Garden EsqCults AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 4 of 231924Cottage for F A Garden Esq  AberdeenScotland 
Item 5 of 231924The Post Office BlockFyvie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 6 of 231925Robert Gordon's Technical College, Technical Buildings  AberdeenScotlandEngineering laboratories
Item 7 of 231927Robert Gordon's Technical College, Technical Buildings  AberdeenScotlandEast block
Item 8 of 231928Gray's School of Art  AberdeenScotlandMajor additions
Item 9 of 231928Laboratory buildings for Fisadco LtdTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 231929Robert Gordon's Colleges, MacRobert Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 231929Robert Gordon's Technical College, Technical Buildings  AberdeenScotlandMajor additions
Item 12 of 231930sKaimhill Housing EstateKaimhill AberdeenScotland 
Item 13 of 231930Robert Gordon's Secondary School  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 14 of 231935Aberdeen CrematoriumKaimhill AberdeenScotland 
Item 15 of 231935Social hall and other officesTorry AberdeenScotlandPlans in hand
Item 16 of 231935Social halls and officesHilton AberdeenScotland 
Item 17 of 231936House of GlennieMarnoch AberdeenshireScotlandAttribution
Item 18 of 231936Inverurie Hospital, administration block, nurses' home, staff accommodation and gate lodgeInverurie AberdeenshireScotlandIn consultation with the new hospital's Medical Officer for Health
Item 19 of 231936The Picture HouseStonehaven KincardineshireScotland 
Item 20 of 231936The Red House  AberdeenScotland 
Item 21 of 231937Inverurie Infectious Diseases HospitalInverurie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 22 of 231939Kingsway Cinema  AberdeenScotland 
Item 23 of 231939Nazareth House  AberdeenScotlandRebuilding

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 4RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4Scottish Biographies1938  E J Thurston (pub.) 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS QuarterlyMay 1948no72Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)p36 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no3103 (microfilm reel 25); F no2773 (box 11)