Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Stewart Tod
Designation:  
Born: 25 December 1889
Died: 9 January 1964
Bio Notes: Alexander Stewart Tod was born on 25 December 1889, the son of Alexander Tod, a Fife-born carpenter who settled in Edinburgh and later became master of works to the Wemyss and Torrie estates which had extensive colliery and harbour interests as well as agricultural land. The younger Tod joined his father in the master-of-works office on leaving school, his practical training with his father being supplemented by books and evening classes. In 1915 he was called up for military service, and while serving in the army his father died c.1917. The post of master of works was kept vacant for him and he returned to the Wemyss estate office on demobilisation in 1919.

About 1950 John Carroll, owner of the textile factory at East Wemyss invited Tod to carry out work on his premises. This was encouraged by the Wemyss family, but as a salaried estate employee he was at first reluctant to undertake it and passed the commission to the much older Archibald Welsh of Kirkcaldy who was architect to the Kirkcaldy and District (previously Pathhead and Sinclairtown) Co-operative Societies. Welsh then invited him to become a partner, the practice then becoming Welsh & Tod.

Alexander Stewart Tod died on 9 January 1964 and was succeeded as master of works of the Wemyss estate by his son Charles Robert, a surveyor, who had been articled to Archibald Welsh in 1946. Welsh only briefly survived Alexander Stewart Tod, the Welsh & Tod practice then becoming Stewart Tod & Sons, although Stewart Tod Junior remained an associate in David Carr's practice which he had joined in 1955. The architectural side of the Tod practice in Kirkcaldy was also looked after by his wife Vivienne until 1970 when Carr took Stewart Tod into full partnership and the practices merged.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Wemyss Estate Office, Wemyss, Fife, Scotland(?)Business   
Item 2 of 2Chapel Gardens, West Wemyss, Fife, ScotlandPrivate(?)1939 or 1940 *  

* 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 1Welsh & Todc. 1950c. 1964Partner 

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 17c. 1920War memorial, CroftamorieWest Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 2 of 171924Denbeath Miners' Welfare Institute and bowling clubDenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 3 of 171924Garden Village miners' housingMethilhill FifeScotland 
Item 4 of 171924Miners' Welfare InstituteCoaltown of Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 5 of 171927Buckhaven ManseBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 171927West Wemyss Miners' Welfare InstituteWest Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 17c. 1927House near Newton FarmBuckhaven FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 17c. 1929War MemorialEast Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 17c. 1930Housing for indigent miners and bowling clubEast Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 10 of 17c. 1930Wemyss CastleEast Wemyss FifeScotlandRestoration - design by Ian G Lindsay. Removal of Peddie & Kinnear additions
Item 11 of 171935Coaltown of Wemyss village renovationsCoaltown of Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 171935West Wemyss village renovationsWest Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 13 of 17c. 1935Michael Pit, pithead officesEast Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 171938Terrace of two-storey housesCoaltown of Wemyss FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 171940Houses, 22-36 Main StreetWest Wemyss FifeScotlandAlterations to rear
Item 16 of 171992Castle of ParkGlenluce WigtownshireScotlandFurther work, mainly to interior carried for the Landmark Trust.
Item 17 of 17Early 1900s or mid 1900sBranxton Farmhouse and steadingBoreland FifeScotlandAlterations to farmhouse

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp139
Item 2 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder17 January 1964  p140 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from Stewart Tod