Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Abercrombie Wilkie
Designation:  
Born: 19 April 1910
Died: 23 November 1972
Bio Notes: Alexander Abercrombie Wilkie was born on 19 April 1910, the son of John Wilkie, blacksmith journeyman, and his wife, Lillian Abercrombie. In 1925 he started the building course at Falkirk High School moving on to the certificate course in architecture at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Technical College and in 1932-33 he took the post-certificate course. At the same time from 1925 he was articled to Wilson & Tait in Grangemouth, becoming an improver in 1930 and an assistant in 1932 in the same practice which changed to Wilson & Wilson in 1937. He remained with Wilson & Wilson until 1940 becoming chief assistant in the later years. In 1940 he took a post with ICI Ltd by Ardeer and in 1945 he became Depute County Architect with Dumfries County Council.

He was an Associate of the Stirling Society of Architects by 1939-40, at which time his address was 8 Philip Street, Merchiston, Falkirk. He was elected ARIBA in 1946, his proposers being Henry wilson, Eric Sinclair Bell and A N Malcolm. In 1945 he took the post of Depute County Architect, County Council of Dumfries. He later became Dumfries Town Architect and from 1968-72 he held the post of Dumfries County Architect.

He died of a coronary on 23 November 1972, survived by his wife, Mariona Mallice Yule.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 374, Pleasance Avenue, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivate 1972 
Item 2 of 38, Philip Street, Merchiston, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1939 *  
Item 3 of 3Rhonavale, Albert Road, Maxwelltown, Dumfries, Dumfriesshre, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  

* 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 6Wilson & Tait19251930Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Wilson & Tait19301932Improver 
Item 3 of 6Wilson & Wilson19321940Assistant 
Item 4 of 6Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd Architectural Staff (ICI)19401945Assistant 
Item 5 of 6Dumfries County Council Architect and Master of Works Department1945 Depute Director 
Item 6 of 6Dumfries County Council Architect and Master of Works Department19681972Chief Architect 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3(Captain) Eric Sinclair Bell9 July 1946For Associateship
Item 2 of 3Alexander Nisbet Malcolm9 July 1946For Associateship
Item 3 of 3Henry ('Harry') Wilson9 July 1946For Associateship

Buildings and Designs

This 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 31968Auldgirth Primary SchoolAuldgirth DumfriesshireScotlandAs County Architect
Item 2 of 31970Sanquhar AcademySanquhar DumfriesshireScotlandAs County Architect
Item 3 of 31971Maxwelltown High SchoolDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAs County Architect

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp117
Item 2 of 4Gifford, John1996Dumfries and Galloway (The Buildings of Scotland)  p606
Item 3 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 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 Papers A no8737 (Combined Box 216)