© All rights reserved. Courtesy of Steven Robb © All rights reserved. Robb in centre. Courtesy of Steven Robb 

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Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Clark Robb
Designation: Architect
Born: 2 February 1903
Died: 12 August 1980
Bio Notes: George Clark Robb was born on 3rd February 1903 at Gordonville, 6 St Andrew's Road, Peebles, the eldest son of Alloa-born Andrew Robb (1869-1926), wood carder, and Christina Turner Clark(1867-1937) daughter of George Clark, a Master Joiner and Building Contractor in Morningside, Edinburgh. Christina Clark had previously been in service with the 3rd Marquess of Bute in London. He had one younger brother Graeme Lambert Robb (1906-58).

George’s father Andrew initially worked in Tweedside Mill where his father, also Andrew, was the Manager. In 1905 they moved to Edinburgh and Andrew took a Clerks job in Midlothian County Council Roads Office under his elder brother John. John Robb (1862 -1913) had practiced as an architect before becoming County Surveyor for Midlothian in 1897. He employed Andrew, and likely his two younger brothers James and David Haig, in the Roads Office and by the time of his early death in 1926 Andrew was Assistant County Surveyor. George’s brother Graeme also worked under his father as a Road Surveyor for Midlothian in the 1920’s, before jobs in Dunfermline, London and Maidstone, led to his appointment as Chief Divisional Engineer (Scotland) in the Ministry of Transport and Civil Aviation in Edinburgh.

After a few years at various addresses in Newington, the family settled at 16 Melville Terrace, overlooking the Meadows. George attended George Heriot's School in Edinburgh from 1908 to 1919.

Between 1919-1924 he studied at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art under George Washington Browne and John Begg. Drawings from his time here show a very classically based curriculum with measured drawings of historic buildings throughout the country and abroad. Whilst at the college he served his articles in the Works Department of George Heriot's Trust, from 1919 training under their Superintendent of Works John Anderson FSI (1863-1932), and becoming his assistant in 1924. George was likely responsible for the designs for a new Palladian-styled sports stand on Inverleith Row in 1925 (a recreation pavilion is in his RIBA application), and assisting in the conversion, to mining laboratories, of the Castle Brewery in the Grassmarket in 1926. He continued to work for the Trust until Anderson retired in 1929, despite having joined the Edinburgh City Architect's Office in 1927.

From 1927 to 1936 he worked as an assistant in the Edinburgh City Architects Office under Ebenezer J. MacRae (1881-1951). MacRae later proposed him for RIBA membership noting that he ‘took every opportunity of learning all branches of architectural work’. He was involved in a variety of schemes including the design of council housing in Granton, although his designs here have been used elsewhere in the city.

In August 1934, in Fortrose, he married Winifred Elizabeth Knight (1901-1954), an artist and secondary school art teacher and fellow graduate, in Fine Arts, of Edinburgh College of Art. She was the only child of Factory owner George Charles Knight and Catherine Grant. After her early death he returned to Edinburgh and in April 1959 he married Noreen Shaw, although this ended in divorce in March 1965. There were no children from either marriage.

In 1936 he became Senior Architectural Assistant to R.A.H. Livett, Director of Housing in Leeds Corporation Housing Department. Leeds was then engaged in the construction of the Quarry Hill Estate, the largest social housing complex in the country. Between 1938-41 over nine hundred flats over 26 acres were designed in a distinctive modernist style with the innovative Mopin construction system (light steel frame and pre-cast and poured concrete), which due to lack of maintenance eventually led to demolition in the 1970’s. More traditional council housing at Halton Moor was also designed, likely by Robb. Alongside council housing Robb designed Shaftesbury House in Beeston, a massive six storey high hostel in brick with Crittal windows and Art Deco detailing. Originally designed for up to 324 men and 192 women, it was converted unsympathetically in 2007 to flats as the ultra-sustainable ‘Green House’.
In 1938 he became Chief Housing Assistant to the City Engineers Department of Oxford City Corporation under Andrew Carstairs, and was responsible for the design of many of the council housing schemes in the city, including The Slade and Rose Hill. His designs in Oxford were firmly traditional, mainly two-storey terraces or semi-detached housing in brick with pitched tile roofs and multi-pane Crittal windows. Largely in a weak Arts and Crafts idiom borrowed from the Garden Suburbs movement, these forms were often combined with Classical or even Elizabethan detailing.

He had become an Associate of the RIAS in 1931 and was admitted ARIBA on 16 April 1940, his proposers being Ebenezer James MacRae, Alec Nisbet (b.1890) and Harold Francis Hurcombe, the latter two being architects in Oxford.

In 1941 he returned to Scotland as Depute Housing Architect to Lanarkshire County Council, under County Architect Samuel McColl (1903-92), and was involved in wartime housing provision and modernist tenement designs. At the conference of the Scottish branch of the Town Planning Institute in 1943, George spoke on aspects of rural planning arguing that the war-time prosperity of agriculture must be maintained in the post-war period. In January 1945 George spoke at a lecture held in the National Gallery of Scotland under the title ‘Problems of emergency housing’.

In September 1943 he replaced the retiring Alexander Nisbet Malcolm (1877-1955) as County Architect for Stirlingshire, on a salary of £800 rising to £1000, and was involved with the provision of rural and council housing in the county.
In 1943 he was elected an Associate of the Town Planning Institute and was later a Member of the Royal Town Planning Institute.

In May 1945 he was appointed County Architect & Planning Officer to Aberdeenshire County Council (at a salary of £1,000, rising to £1,200 per year). In this post he designed a housing estate in Kemnay, amongst other works.

In 1948 he was appointed as Regional Architect & Planning Officer for the Highland Region in the Department of Health for Scotland, based in Union Street, Inverness (a position previously held by Sir Robert Grieve). This role involved giving professional advice to State Departments on housing, hospitals, welfare buildings, schools, prisons, police buildings, fire stations, agricultural buildings, research institutes and colleges. In addition, advice was given on the technical aspects of Town and Country planning, and the position was assisted by a staff of Quantity Surveyors, Housing Inspectors and Historic Buildings Investigators.

In 1955 he was elected FRIBA, being nominated by Alexander Cullen FRIBA (1892-1963) County Architect and Planning Officer for Invernesshire, J Blackburn and R.Carruthers Ballantyne (1891-1981). In his nomination papers he wrote;

The works for which I have been responsible and have carried out in local and central government offices include; housing, hospitals, schools, libraries, abattoir, Old Persons homes, municipal buildings, defence works, recreation pavilion, hostels etc.

In the latter 1950’s he returned to Edinburgh in a planning capacity and took a position in the Scottish Office in St Andrew’s House, working under Grieve, who became Chief Planning Officer for Scotland in 1960. He then worked for the Scottish Development Department, formed in 1962 as an executive department within the Scottish Office with responsibility for Town and Country Planning. Robb worked as a planner in the SDD until c1968 when he retired, but continued to work as the Scottish consultant for the English architectural practice of Fuller, Hall & Foulsham.

Throughout his career he had designed private houses for clients. In 1935 he designed a large house in Rose Street, Dunfermline for his brother Graeme’s then manager Hugh MacDiarmid, West Fife’s Surveyor. For himself he designed a house in Aberdeen in 1945 and later designed another, Gandria, The Ness, Fortrose in 1950. After his divorce in 1965 he bought and added an architectural studio extension to the rear of his Georgian flat at 24 Calton Hill which could not be described as contextual. The timber-faced studio features a large picture window and low desk-level horizontal window with views over the City, and was entered through a secret door set within a bookcase.

Robb was 6ft 4in tall, a debonair and handsome figure often seen in either a kilt or plus-fours. Later in life he was silver haired with a moustache, and the family retains a kilted portrait from the period done by the noted caricaturist Emilio Coia that was once displayed in the National Portrait Gallery. He was a keen actor, directing and appearing on stage and screen under the stage name Michael Clark as well as his own. He once won an acting competition, the prize of which was a screen test in Hollywood, but due to his architectural career he was unable to take advantage of the offer. However, he did appear in several television programmes in the 1960’s and 70’s, notably in the popular series 'Dr Finlay's Casebook', the Scottish Independence terrorism thriller ‘Scotch on the Rocks’, and in several TV plays including Waugh’s ‘Scoop’ and the BBC’s Comedy Showcase -‘The Dirtiest soldier in the world’ by George MacDonald Fraser, where he played the Duke. He was a keen member of the Scottish Arts Club in Rutland Square, which included several fellow architects amongst its number, and was active in both music and the arts.

Illness marred his later years and he died from bronchopneumonia on August 12th 1980 in Greenacres House, Lamancha, West Linton aged 77. His ashes were buried in Fortrose with his first wife. His will left his estate to Mrs Elsie Robb of 13 Braid Crescent, Edinburgh widow of his brother Graeme Lambert Robb.




Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 20Gordonville/6, St Andrews Road, Peebles, Peeblesshire, ScotlandPrivate19031905 
Item 2 of 202, Agnew Place, Trinity, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1905  
Item 3 of 2021, Oxford Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1905 *  
Item 4 of 2016, Melville Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1916(?)1935 
Item 5 of 20Tallisrood, Balerno, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1935 *1936 
Item 6 of 20Leeds Corporation Housing Dept/25, Great George Street, Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandPrivate/business19361938 
Item 7 of 2027, Talbot Road, Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandPrivate1936 *1938 
Item 8 of 20City Engineers Office/Town Hall, Oxford, EnglandBusiness19381941 
Item 9 of 2067, Delbush Avenue, Headington, Oxford, Oxfordshire, EnglandPrivate19381943 
Item 10 of 20Lanarkshire County Council/29, Clydesdale Street, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness19411943 
Item 11 of 20Stirling County Architects Office, Stirling, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness19431945 
Item 12 of 20Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate19451948 
Item 13 of 20Aberdeenshire County Offices, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness19451948 
Item 14 of 20Regional Planning Office, Department of Health/11, Church Street, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness1948 *c. 1957 
Item 15 of 20Gandria, The Ness, Fortrose, Ross and Cromarty, ScotlandPrivate1950c. 1955 
Item 16 of 2042, Union Street, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness1955 * Address of the Department of Health in Inverness.
Item 17 of 207, Salisbury Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 19551959 
Item 18 of 20Scottish Office & SDD, St Andrews House, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1957c. 1968 
Item 19 of 20Morningside, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate19591965 
Item 20 of 2024, Calton Hill, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate19651980 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 9George Heriot's Trust Works Department19191924Apprentice 
Item 2 of 9George Heriot's Trust Works Department19241929Assistant 
Item 3 of 9Edinburgh City Architect's Department (Edinburgh Corporation)19271936Assistant 
Item 4 of 9Leeds City Engineer's Department19361938AssistantAssistant to the Director of Housing
Item 5 of 9Oxford City Engineer's Department19381941Chief AssistantChief Housing Assistant
Item 6 of 9Lanarkshire County Architect's Department19411943ArchitectDepute Housing Architect
Item 7 of 9Stirling County Council Architects' Department19431945Chief ArchitectCounty Architect
Item 8 of 9Aberdeen County Architect's Department19451948Chief ArchitectCounty Architect & Planning Officer
Item 9 of 9Department of Health for Scotland (Scottish Board of Health; later Scottish Development Department)1948After 1955ArchitectRegional Architect & Planning Officer, Highland Region (Inverness office)

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6James ('Jack') BlackburnEarly 1956For Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Robert Carruthers-Ballantyne (or Robert Ballantyne Carruthers; or Roy Carruthers Ballantyne)Early 1956For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Alexander Cullen (junior)Early 1956For Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Harold Francis Hurcombe16 April 1940for Associateship
Item 5 of 6Ebenezer James MacRae16 April 1940for Associateship
Item 6 of 6Alec Nisbet16 April 1940for 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 291925George Heriot's School Sports GrandstandInverleith EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to John Anderson
Item 2 of 291926Castle BreweryOld Town EdinburghScotlandConversion to mining department -as assistant to John Anderson
Item 3 of 291929Proposed double villa and garages for Mr W March EsqPortobello EdinburghScotlandAs Architect in Edinburgh City Architect's Department
Item 4 of 291929Proposed double villa and garages for Mr W March EsqPortobello EdinburghScotlandAs Architect in Edinburgh City Architect's Department
Item 5 of 291931Niddrie Mains housingNiddrie Mains EdinburghScotlandAs Architect in Edinburgh City Architect's Department
Item 6 of 291934Housing schemeLeeds YorkshireEnglandAs architect in Leeds City Engineer's Department
Item 7 of 291935Granton Mains housingGranton Mains EdinburghScotlandAs Architect in Edinburgh City Architect's Department
Item 8 of 29c. 1935Design for a house for Hugh MacDiarmidDunfermline FifeScotlandAs Architect in Edinburgh City Architect's Department
Item 9 of 291936City of Leeds Housing Scheme - house types 13, 30, 32, 33, & 50Leeds YorkshireEnglandAs senior architectural assistant to R A H Livett in Leeds Corporation Housing Department
Item 10 of 291936Shaftesbury HostelLeeds YorkshireEnglandAs architect in Leeds City Engineer's Department
Item 11 of 291938Barton Housing EstateOxford OxfordshireEnglandAs Chief Housing Assistant in City Engineers Office, Oxford Corporation.
Item 12 of 291938Marston Road Housing EstateBarton, Oxford OxfordshireEnglandAs Chief Housing Assistant in City Engineers Department, Oxford City Corporation
Item 13 of 291938Rose Hall Housing EstateOxford OxfordshireEnglandAs Architect to Oxford Housing Department
Item 14 of 291938Rose Hill No 2 Housing Estate    As Chief Housing Assistant to the Oxford City Engineers Office.
Item 15 of 291938Slade Housing EstateOxford OxfordshireEnglandAs Chief Housing Assistant in City Engineers Office, City of Oxford Corporation Housing Department.
Item 16 of 291939Flats for aged personsOxford OxfordshireEnglandAs Chief Housing Assistant in Oxford Corporation Engineers Department
Item 17 of 291940sHousing EstateKenmay AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 18 of 291940HouseMurtie (Murtle?) Perthshire?Scotland 
Item 19 of 29c. 1942Tenement housing  LanarkshireScotlandAs Deputy County Housing Architect
Item 20 of 291943Apartments for wartime housing  LanarkshireScotlandAs Deputy County Housing Architect
Item 21 of 29After 1943Raploch SchoolRaploch StirlingshireScotlandAdditions including new entrance vestibule and alterations to main hall - as Stirlingshire County Architect
Item 22 of 29After 1943Wartime housing  StirlingshireScotland 
Item 23 of 291944Rural workers' housing  StirlingshireScotlandAs Stirlingshire County Architect
Item 24 of 291945Eight Agricultural Workers HousesStirling StirlingshireScotlandAs Stirlingshire County Architect
Item 25 of 291945House  AberdeenScotland 
Item 26 of 291945Private house at Little PenLittle Pen AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 27 of 291948House for Colin LoganBroomhill, Fortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 28 of 291950GandriaThe Ness, Fortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 29 of 29196524 Calton Hill  EdinburghScotlandRear extension - for himself

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Saunders, James Clark The Clarks of Crichton Unpublished; information from Steven M Robb 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 7GROSRecords of Marriages  
Item 2 of 7H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 3 of 7HM New Register HouseOPR (Register of births)  
Item 4 of 7Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from emails from Steven M Robb, Historic Scotland - George Clark Robb's great-nephew
Item 5 of 7RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no7556 (stored under F5030, combined box 51); F no5030 (combined box 51)
Item 6 of 7Robb family archiveArchitectural drawings, photographs, letters and documents in possession of the Robb family Also notes from meeting with J Bryan Wade and Graeme Douglas Robb.
Item 7 of 7ScotsmanScotsman archive  

Images

© All rights reserved. Courtesy of Steven Robb 

© All rights reserved. Courtesy of Steven Robb

© All rights reserved. Robb in centre. Courtesy of Steven Robb 

© All rights reserved. Robb in centre. Courtesy of Steven Robb