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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Andrew Douglas Bryce
Designation: Architect
Born: 26 January 1890
Died: Early 1940s
Bio Notes: Andrew Douglas Bryce was born in Paisley on 26 January 1890, the son of James Bryce, joiner, and his wife Ann Prentice. He was almost certainly articled to John Burnet & Son and he was already an assistant in Glasgow when John James Burnet took him to Montague Place, London, as part of the British Museum team, probably in 1905, but perhaps slightly later. He seems to have returned to Scotland after this as he was an assistant with J M Monro & Son from 1907-1912. During this period he studied at Paisley Technical College and at Glasgow School of Architecture. In 1912 he returned to London to become an assistant to Frederick Moore Simpson who was at that time Professor of Architecture at University College London. In 1913 he made a study trip to Paris. He was elected ARIBA in 1920, his proposers being Frederick Moore Simpson, Albert Edward Richardson and Arthur Stratton. He appears to have returned to the employ of Burnet in London sometime after 1920 or perhaps held the teaching post in University College at the same time as working for Burnet.

Bryce was a fine draughtsman and an excellent manager, rising to prominence within Sir John Burnet & Partners as the senior assistant in charge of the Daily Telegraph Building project. He survived the purge of older Burnet assistants when Francis Lorne became a partner in 1930, and was put in charge of the St Andrew's House team when Tait received the commission in December 1933. Thereafter his time was divided between the London and Edinburgh offices, particularly after he was also put in charge of the team assembled for the Glasgow Empire Exhibition of 1938.

Bryce held an exceptional position within the Burnet Tait & Lorne office as Tait's right-hand man. He was never taken into partnership, although a perfectionist like Burnet and Tait themselves; he commanded huge affection amongst the staff who recalled that 'he had no fingernails at all, bitten right down to the quick in his anxiety to meet the standards of perfection expected of him'.

Bryce died of cancer during the Second World War.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessAfter 1880c. 1905 
Item 2 of 4London, EnglandBusinessc. 1905After 1933 
Item 3 of 468, Kirkstall Road, Streatham Hill, London, EnglandPrivate1920  
Item 4 of 4Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1933 Spent some time in Edinburgh office of Burnet, Tait & Lorne from 1933

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 4(Sir) John James Burnetc. 1905 Apprentice(?)Uncertain position
Item 2 of 4J M Monro & Son19071912Apprentice 
Item 3 of 4(Sir) John Burnet & Partners1920 *1930AssistantLatterly senior assistant. Initally we had 1918 as the start date with Burnet but not mentioned in ARIBA papers
Item 4 of 4(Sir) John Burnet, Tait & Lorne1930Early 1940sSenior AssistantSplit time between London and Edinburgh offices from 1933

* earliest date known from documented sources.

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3(Sir) Albert Edward RichardsonMid 1920For Associateship
Item 2 of 3Frederick Moore SimpsonMid 1920For Associateship
Item 3 of 3Arthur James StrattonMid 1920For 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 41925Daily Telegraph Building  LondonEnglandIn charge of project, as senior assistant to Sir John Burnet & Partners
Item 2 of 41933Scottish Office buildingsCalton Hill EdinburghScotlandExecuted scheme, known as St Andrew's House - in office of Burnet, Tait & Lorne
Item 3 of 41936Glasgow Empire Exhibition, masterplanBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Tait in Burnet, Tait & Lorne
Item 4 of 4Before 1941War damage repair to 12,000 houses (approx)Clydebank DunbartonshireScotlandAssisted Bunton

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp2 Illustration of St Andrew's House

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder12 March 1943  p249 [Obituary]

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from personal recollections of Esmé Gordon, Margaret Brodie and Harold Cullerne Pratt
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A 1920 no 2943 (microfilm reel 24)

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© All rights reserved. Scottish Architect and Builder's Journal 1938