Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Tyre McNeill
Designation:  
Born: 25 March 1893
Died: 28 September 1976
Bio Notes: James Tyre McNeill was born on 25 March 1893, the son of Duncan McNeill, master mariner, and his wife Mary Galbraith Tyre. His older brother was the architect John McNeill. He was articled to Boston Menzies & Morton of Greenock in November 1911. He took 'elementary classes' during the following three years, probably at the Glasgow School of Architecture, but did not take any further courses of study later, preferring to study in his own time as well as travelling in Britain, Ireland, France, Belgium and Germany. After serving in the First World War from August 1914, he went to Malaya where he joined Stark & McNeill in February 1921; John McNeill partner in that firm, was presumably a brother and had likewise trained in the office of Boston, Menzies & Morton. James was taken into partnership on 22 March 1928, Charles Geoffrey Boutcher having become a partner in 1920 although the practice title had remained unchanged. Two years later another Scot, Joseph Charles Miller, was taken into partnership, having joined the firm as chief assistant in 1926.

James was admitted LRIBA in 1932, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes, David Bateman Hutton, and William James Smith, who describes him as 'an enthusiast'. In his nomination forms he curiously gives his private address as the family home, The Cromlech, Sandbank, Scotland, although he was still with Stark & McNeill in Penang at the time. In either that year or 1934 (there is a conflict of information between the nomination papers of the various partners), the practice title was changed to McNeill & Miller. In 1934 or 1935 Miller left to practise on his own account. It appears that James Tyre McNeill had also left by this time as John McNeill continued to practise alone, reverting to the earlier firm title of Stark & McNeill.

McNeill died at Finnartmore Hospital, Kilmun, Argyll om 28 September 1976 aged 83. His wife, Norah Alice Jones, had predeceased him.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Dunedin, Sandbank, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate 1976 
Item 2 of 3The Cromlech, Sandbank, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate1932 * Permanent 'private' address given on LRIBA papers despite the fact that he was working in Malaya at the time
Item 3 of 3Penang, MalaysiaBusiness1932 *  

* 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 4Boston, Menzies & MortonNovember 1911August 1914Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Stark & McNeillFebruary 192122 March 1928Assistant(?) 
Item 3 of 4Stark & McNeill22 March 19281932 or 1934Partner 
Item 4 of 4McNeill & Miller1932 or 1934(?)1934 or 1935(?)Partner(?)Unclear whether he was still in the practice at this time

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Thomas Harold Hughes1932for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3David Bateman Hutton1932for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3(Professor) William James Smith1932for Licentiateship

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3National Archives (via Scotlands People)Statutory births  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no4179 (box 22)