Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Johnston
Designation:  
Born: c. 1903
Died:  
Bio Notes: James Johnston was born in Perth probably between 1900 and 1903. He was articled to William Erskine Thomson in Perth and remained there as assistant after the completion of his articles. Between 1919 and 1926 he attended evening classes at Perth Academy and Dundee Technical College and College of Art.

In 1926 he took a post as an assistant in the Surveyor of Works Office CRE Highland area based in Perth. He remained in this office until 1929 when he moved to Glasgow as assistant with James Taylor. He attended classes at Glasgow School of Art. In 1930 he took a place as architectural assistant in the Ministry of Works office in Bristol. He was promoted and transferred to London and after two years became assistant surveyor (principal) responsible for works to branch post offices in central London and Customs and Excise offices in Greater London. By this stage his actual 'drawings board work' had ceased.

Johnston was promoted again in 1943 to the post of assistant surveyor responsible for works to Government buildings in north west London. The following year he became responsible for buildings in the Whitehall area but two years later was promoted to Senior Surveyor. In this position he have assistance to architects and surveyors in specific problems. He was also required to attend various committees including Ministry of Health Model Bye Laws committees.

He was a member of the Edinburgh Architectural Association in 1939-40 but had a London address. He was elected LRIBA in 1951, his proposers being F R Eltringham, W Arthur Rutters and Cecil G Mant.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 312, Highbury Close, Green Lane, New Malden, Surrey, EnglandPrivate(?)1939 *  
Item 2 of 354, Lime Grove, New Malden, Surrey, EnglandPrivate1951  
Item 3 of 3Ministry of Works/Cleland House, Page Street, London, EnglandBusiness1951  

* 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 6William Erskine Thomson19191926Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Surveyor of Works Office CRE Highland area19261929Assistant 
Item 3 of 6James Taylor19291930Architect 
Item 4 of 6H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)1930 Assistant 
Item 5 of 6H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)1938 Assistant Surveyor 
Item 6 of 6H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)1946 SurveyorSenior Surveyor

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3F R Eltringham1 May 1951For Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Cecil G Mant1 May 1951For Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3William Arthur Rutter1 May 1951For Licentiateship

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersL 6477 (Box 141)