Basic Biographical Details

Name: (Miss) Kathleen Anne Veitch
Designation:  
Born: 1908
Died: 11 March 1968
Bio Notes: Kathleen Anne Veitch was born on 24 April 1908, the daughter of James Veitch, tweed manufacturer, and his wife, Margaret Reeve Currie. From 1924-29 she studied at the Architectural Association in London, passing her final exams in March 1929 and he professional practice exam in June. She won the Owen Jones Scholarship that year and travelled to Spain. From 1929 to 1930 and perhaps later she worked as assistant in the practice Romaine-Walker & Jenkins. She was elected ARIBA in 1930, her proposers being Gilbert H Jenkins, J Alan Slater, and A J J Nobert.

In 1931 she sailed from London to Bombay with her mother and sister. From about 1931 until 1934 she worked for the Duke of Roxburgh on estate building improvement. She worked in London in 1935. She had returned to Scotland by the mid-1930s and was a member of the Hawick Art Club where she exhibited watercolours in 1934, 1935 and 1936. In 1937 she lectured to the club on 'Comfort and Beauty in the Home'.

One of her few known works is Little Salt Hall in Hawick, a streamlined villa with Arts & Crafts elements and an unusual curved plan that she is believed to have designed for herself. Veitch is reputed to have been the daughter of the original owners of the adjacent villa of Summerfield, who are said to have gifted her this portion of their land for the purpose. She is also rumoured to have designed a similar villa to Little Salt Hall in the Bemersyde area of the Borders, although no such villa has yet been identified. Later, from 1958, she spent ten years working on the renovations and repairs of the Church of Our Lady and St Joseph, Selkirk. She was an associate of the RIAS from 1956.

She was found dead on the north shore of the Firth of Forth at Elie on 11 March 1968. She died of strangulation by a ligature and of a fractured skull. She may have been murdered some weeks (in February) before her death was registered.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 479, Wimpole Street, London, EnglandPrivate1930 *  
Item 2 of 46, Old Bond Street, London, EnglandBusiness1930  
Item 3 of 410, Thorn Drive, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1944  
Item 4 of 4Greenwells, Gattonside, Roxburghshire, Scotland(?)Private/business1950After 1955 

* 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 1Romaine-Walker & Jenkinsc. 1929c. 1930Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Gilbert Henry JenkinsLate 1930For Associateship
Item 2 of 3A J J NobertLate 1930For Associateship
Item 3 of 3John Alan SlaterLate 1930For Associateship

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 71933Summerfield Hawick RoxburghshireScotlandAlterations
Item 2 of 71937Little Salt HallHawick RoxburghshireScotlandfor herself
Item 3 of 7c. 1950GreenwellsGattonside RoxburghshireScotlandAlterations?
Item 4 of 7After 1956(?)Barnyard ButtsGattonside RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 5 of 7After 1956(?)Kittyfield FarmMelrose RoxburghshireScotlandAlterations? New build?
Item 6 of 7After 1956(?)Mill CottageEarlston BerwickshireScotland 
Item 7 of 71958RC Church of Our Lady and St JosephSelkirk SelkirkshireScotlandRenovations and improvements, including addition of baptistery

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Scotsman12 January 1944  Letter from Kathleen Veitch

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 5H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 5Historic ScotlandHistoric Scotland records Information courtesy of owners of Little Salt Hall (2008).
Item 3 of 5National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Manuscripts Surviving office papers, principally her Owen Jones scholarship in 1930 and visit to Spain. Acc No 1996/53 and 1997/17
Item 4 of 5RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 5 of 5RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no4598 (Combined Box 23)