Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas ('Tom') Bertram
Designation:  
Born: 7 September 1893
Died: 30 October 1968
Bio Notes: Thomas (Tom) Bertram was born on 7 September 1893, the son of James Bertram, insurance clerk and his wife, Isabella Wallace. He studied at Edinburgh College of Art from 1908 to 1912 under William Davidson, and also attended classes at Heriot-Watt College. He commenced his articles in 1909, whether with Ernest Arthur Oliphant Auldjo Jamieson or James Alexander Arnott is unclear, but he continued in the practice of Jamieson & Arnott when the two entered into partnership in 1910 or 1911, and remained with them until 1927, with the exception of the war years. In 1927 he moved to Kirkcaldy to work for George Brown Deas, where he worked mainly on hospital, asylum and domestic buildings. He passed the qualifying exam with distinction in July 1932, and was admitted ARIBA early the following year, his proposers being Davidson, William Williamson and Alexander Lorne Campbell.

By 1936 Bertram appears to have been taken into partnership by Deas as Deas & Bertram, but soon thereafter he became assistant to William Scott who was Midlothian County Architect and when Scott retired on 14 June 1938 was promoted himself to that position. He was still in this post in 1950.

Bertram died on 30 October 1968 at 41 Drummond Place, Edinburgh. He was survived by his wife Mary Tainsh Henderson and at least one daughter.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 532, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh   listed in Builder 15 March 1957, p523
Item 2 of 513, Baberton Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate 1968 
Item 3 of 524, Darnell Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate19241928 
Item 4 of 5St Anns Mount, Juniper Green, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1932 *1934 
Item 5 of 510, Drumsheugh Gardens, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1950 * Address of Midlothian County Council Achitects Department.

* 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 6James Alexander Arnott1909(?)1910 or 1911(?)ApprenticeIt is unclear whether Bertram commenced his apprenticeship with Jamieson or Arnott, but he continued in the firm of Jamieson & Arnott after the two entered into partnership in 1910 or 1911.
Item 2 of 6Ernest Arthur Oliphant Auldjo Jamieson1909(?)1910 or 1911(?)ApprenticeIt is unclear whether Bertram commenced his apprenticeship with Jamieson or Arnott, but he continued in the firm of Jamieson & Arnott after the two entered into partnership in 1910 or 1911.
Item 3 of 6Auldjo Jamieson & Arnott1910 or 1911c. 1914Apprentice 
Item 4 of 6Auldjo Jamieson & Arnottc. 19181927Assistant 
Item 5 of 6George Brown Deas1927After 1932Assistant 
Item 6 of 6Deas & BertramAfter 1932Before 1938Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3William DavidsonEarly 1933for Associateship
Item 2 of 3George Brown DeasEarly 1933for Associateship
Item 3 of 3William WilliamsonEarly 1933for 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 161936Eight houses on Dollar Road site for Fife County CouncilBurntisland FifeScotland 
Item 2 of 161936Houses for Kirkcaldy Burgh Council, Hayfield SiteKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 3 of 161936Housing for Fife County Council, DundonaldCardenden FifeScotlandOne hundred and forty houses
Item 4 of 161936King Street Housing Scheme for Kirkcaldy Town CouncilKirkcaldy FifeScotland240 houses
Item 5 of 161936King Street Housing Scheme for Kirkcaldy Town CouncilKirkcaldy FifeScotland276 houses (unclear whether in addition to or including the previous 240)
Item 6 of 161937Feuing plan of glebeBurntisland FifeScotlandTo provide feuing plan
Item 7 of 161937Forty-four houses for Fife County CouncilCoaltown of Balgonie FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 161937Houses for Fife County Council, East Wemyss-Rosie siteEast Wemyss FifeScotland112 houses
Item 9 of 161937King Street Housing Scheme for Kirkcaldy Town CouncilKirkcaldy FifeScotland170 houses (unclear whether in addition to the above, or a revised scheme)
Item 10 of 161937Twenty-two housesMilton of Balgonie FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 161937Two hundred and thirty-four houses for Kirkcaldy District CouncilKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 161938Double villas, 1-8 Primrose GardensCarrington MidlothianScotland 
Item 13 of 161939Musselburgh Police StationMusselburgh MidlothianScotlandTook over from Scott
Item 14 of 161940Dalkeith High SchoolDalkeith MidlothianScotlandSupervised construction (as successor to William Scott)
Item 15 of 161954St Peter's Primary SchoolMusselburgh MidlothianScotlandSources are Edinburgh Evening News - Thursday 11 March 1954 which has an illustration and - Wednesday 15 August 1956 which records the opening
Item 16 of 1615 March 195735 HousesLasswade/Bonnyrigg MidlothianScotlandper Builder p523

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder15 March 1957  p523

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no5054 (combined box 53)