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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Wemyss Estate Office, Wemyss, Fife, Scotland(?) | Business | | | | | Chapel Gardens, West Wemyss, Fife, Scotland | Private(?) | 1939 or 1940 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Welsh & Tod | c. 1950 | c. 1964 | Partner | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | p139 | | 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 | | Builder | 17 January 1964 | | | p140 - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Stewart Tod |
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