Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Miller | Designation: | | Born: | 27 June 1906 | Died: | 13 November 1979 | Bio Notes: | James Miller was born on 27 June 1906, the son of James Morris Miller, engineer, and his wife Helen Pollock Galbraith. He commenced his architectural training on 1 March 1921 in the office of Launcelot Hugh Ross of Glasgow. After two years there he moved to the office of Ninian Macwhannell, where he spent five years before joining Wylie, Wright & Wylie as draughtsman. In 1932 he became a draughtsman to James Taylor Thomson. By this time he had completed the certificate course at Glasgow School of Architecture, and he passed the qualifying exam in Edinburgh at the end of that year, enabling him to be admitted ARIBA in early 1933, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes and William James Smith.
Miller had a family connection with the Dundee area and he moved to work there about the start of the Second World War as an assistant to James McLellan Brown, Dundee City Architect. Kyle McKibben, Miller's nephew, tells this story from his uncle's early days in Dundee: 'I remember an anecdote from this time, which involved him being sent to make a sketch plan of a potential industrial estate beside the Tay, and his arrest as a possible German spy. Someone had to come down from the city architect's office to vouch for him before he was released'.
He was called up for War Service and spent the war designing barracks and other structures for the Army in India. After the War he settled in the West of Scotland becoming Dunbartonshire Deputy County Architect about 1945, moving to the Lanarkshire County Architect's Department (possibly as County Architect) from 1950-1953 and subsequently returning to Dumbarton as County Architect in which post he remained for the rest of his career.
He resigned his RIBA membership in 1977 and died in the Victoria Infirmary, Helensburgh on 13 November 1979, survived by his wife Mary McDonald MacKenzie. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 23, West Abercromby Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, Scotland | Private | | 1979 | | | Allanbank, Greenloaning, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | 1933 * | | This was a fishing hotel which Miller's father had taken over after his early retirement. | | Roseangle, Dundee, Scotland | Private | 1939 | | | | 18, Park Circus, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1950 * | | | | Lanarkshire House/191, Ingram Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1950 | c. 1953 | | | Radnor Park School, Clydebank, Dunbartonshire, Scotland | Business(?) | 1958 * | | | | Ferry Road, Old Kilpatrick, Dunbartonshire, Scotland | Business | 1959(?) | | | | 2, West Abercromby Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, Scotland | Private | c. 1977 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | George S Shanks | c. 1930 * | | Assistant | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
RIBARIBA Proposers
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1935 | Mid Craigie Housing Estate | Mid Craigie | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1950 | Houses and Police Station, Caldercruix | Caldercruix | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1950 | Housing, Carn Walk | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 5 December 1952 | Fire Station, Abington | Abington | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | New fire station | | 26 December 1952 | Public library, Blantyre | Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans in hand for additions | | 1953 | Police houses and garage, Chryston | Chryston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans in hand for new police houses and garage | | 1953 | Police houses, garage, etc, Muirhead | Muirhead | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | To prepare plans for new buildings | | 1953 | Public School, Blantyre | Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans in hand for annexe | | 20 February 1953 | Police Station, Bellshill | Bellshill | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1955 | Bearsden Academy | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | As Dumbarton County Architect | | 4 April 1958 | Assessor's Office | Dumbarton | | | Scotland | accepting tender applications per Builder p654 - CHECK role | | 6 June 1958 | Divisional Police Headquarters | Milngavie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | as County Architect CHECK that this is correct person 'J. Miller, County A' and role - accepting tenders per Builder p1062 | | 6 June 1958 | Shops and Houses at Haldane | Balloch | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | as County Architect CHECK person and role - accepting tenders per Builder p1062 | | 25 July 1958 | Killermont Primary School I | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | accepting tenders as County A, per Builder p165 | | 12 September 1958 | Gilmour Street Secondary School | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | accepting tenders as County A per Builder p465 It would seem likely that the school designed by Harvey, Scott & Associates is this one and Miller's role is simply that of organising tenders. | | 12 September 1958 | Mortuary | Kirkintilloch | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | accepting tenders as County A per Builder p465 CHECK role - also architect? | | 19 September 1958 | Roman Catholic Primary School | Cumbernauld New Town | | | Scotland | as Dunbarton County A per Builder p508 CHECK role - also architect? | | 17 October 1958 | Bonhill Primary School | Bonhill | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | accepting tenders for timber huts as County A per Builder p675 CHECK if any design role | | 17 October 1958 | St Patrick RC High School | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | accepting tenders as County A per Builder p675 CHECK if any design role | | 5 December 1958 | Kildrum Primary School | Cumbernauld | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | accepting tenders as County A per Builder p981 | | 17 April 1959 | Twechar Canal Bridge | Twechar | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | accepting tenders as County A per Builder p758 |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p172 Kildrum Primary School | | Information from Kyle McKibben | | Information from Kyle McKibben via website | | | Sent December 2007 | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 9 June 1950 | | | p793 | | Builder | 5 December 1952 | | | p852 | | Builder | 20 December 1952 | | | There seems to be some confusion about the references for the job at Blantyre so both recorded. | | Builder | 2 February 1953 | | | p32. There seems to be some confusion about the references for the job at Blantyre so both recorded. | | Builder | 20 February 1953 | | | p321 (listed as J S Miller). | | Builder | 15 May 1953 | | | p776 | | Builder | 22 May 1953 | | | p812 | | Builder | 5 June 1958 | | | p1062 | | Builder | 17 April 1959 | | | p758 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no5080 (combined box 55) |
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