Basic Biographical Details

Name: Aitken & Turnbull
Designation:  
Born: 1959
Died:  
Bio Notes: Joseph Murray Aitken was articled to J P Alison & Hobkirk in 1936 and remained with the practice. He was taken into partnership in 1951. In 1959 Aitken joined Charles Frederick John Turnbull in partnership and they opened an office in Galashiels.

Charles Turnbull was articled to Alexander Inglis of Hawick in 1936, and was taken into partnership in 1950, the practice becoming Alexander Inglis & Partners. In 1957, whilst remaining a partner with Inglis, also became a partner in the Galashiels practice of Elder & Cairns. He emigrated to New Zealand in 1965.

Aitken & Turnbull took over the practice of Elder & Cairns in 1962. In the 1960s Aitken & Turnbull's work was dominated by local authority housing work for the Town Councils of Galashiels, Melrose and Selkirk.

In 1965 Charles Turnbull emigrated to New Zealand and in J Murray Aitken died in 1975. Sandy Jarvis was taken into partnership at about this time, Andrew Lester in 1985 and Murray Flaws in 1993. In 1980 they had taken over the practice of Oldfield Simpson & Saul. Robert Alison Crighton Simpson (1903-62) had studied at Cambridge alongside Ian G Lindsay. Following his early death, Adam Lothian was taken into partnership.

The practice won a Civic Trust Award for their conversion of a cottage (unspecified) in 1962.

In the years 1970-71 the practice did work for Galashiels Town Council along with work on the Burgh Chambers. But it cannot have been very extensive judging by the cost.

In the RIBA Directory for 1981 Alexander D Jarvis is listed as sole partner in the practice but this may be simply referring to the fact that he was sole partner in the Galashiels office.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6Galashiels, Selkirkshire, Scotland 1959  
Item 2 of 654, Island Street, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1964After 1985 
Item 3 of 643, Market Square, Duns, Berwickshire, ScotlandBusiness1981 *  
Item 4 of 622, Buccleuch Street, Hawick, Roxburghshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1981 *After 1985 
Item 5 of 647, Market Square, Duns, Berwickshire, ScotlandBusiness1985 *  
Item 6 of 69, Bridge Street, Galashiels, Selkirkshire, ScotlandBusiness2012  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 13Charles Frederick John Turnbull19591965Partner 
Item 2 of 13Joseph Murray Aitken19591975Partner 
Item 3 of 13F T Scott1960s Architect 
Item 4 of 13John Millar1960 Assistant 
Item 5 of 13John MillarBefore 1965(?)After 1981Partner 
Item 6 of 13Ronald W LaidlawBefore 1970After 1981Partner 
Item 7 of 13Raymond George Licence1979 * Architect 
Item 8 of 13Alexander Dalrymple JarvisBefore 1979(?) Architect 
Item 9 of 13John Andrew LesterMid 1970s ArchitectUncertain. Perhaps while he was a student?
Item 10 of 13Alexander Dalrymple Jarvisc. 1981 Partner 
Item 11 of 13Adam LothianBefore 1983 Architect 
Item 12 of 13John Andrew Lesterc. 1985 Partner 
Item 13 of 13Andrew George Murray Flaws19892005Architect 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 351960sHousing, Allars Crescent, Deanfield and SpringbankHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 2 of 351960sTown centre redevelopmentJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 3 of 351966St Dunstan's Park HousingMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 4 of 3511 March 1966Melrose Redevelopment SchemeMelrose RoxburghshireScotlandPart of working party responsible for proposal as already working as consultant architects on new housing development in the burgh
Item 5 of 351968Croft Street HousingGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 6 of 351968Housing, Lintburn PlaceGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 7 of 351969Focus Youth ClubGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 8 of 351969Jedburgh Castle JailJedburgh RoxburghshireScotlandWarden's Block - restoration
Item 9 of 351970Galashiels Memorial Burgh BuildingGalashiels SelkirkshireScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 351971Douglas HotelGalashiels SelkirkshireScotlandAlterations
Item 11 of 351971HousingMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 12 of 351972Housing, Eildon CrescentMelrose RoxburghshireScotlandRehabilitation
Item 13 of 351972Liddesdale Road HousingHawick Roxburghshire  
Item 14 of 351972Priorswalk HousingMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 15 of 351973Environmental improvements, High Street and St Mary's ChurchyardHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 16 of 351973Heatherlie District Housing treatment areaSelkirk SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 17 of 351973Municipal officesGalashiels SelkirkshireScotlandFeasibility study
Item 18 of 351973The PeelClovenfords SelkirkshireScotlandTheatre service centre
Item 19 of 351974Crown HotelHawick RoxburghshireScotlandRestaurant, kitchen, bar etc
Item 20 of 351974Day Centre and Sheltered HousingHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 21 of 351975Wilton LodgeHawick RoxburghshireScotlandAddition
Item 22 of 351976Cross Keys HotelKelso RoxburghshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 23 of 351976Headquarters for Ettrick & Lauderdale District CouncilGalashiels SelikirkshireScotlandExtension
Item 24 of 351976Sheltered housing, PriorwoodMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 25 of 351978HowegateHawick RoxburghshireScotlandRestoration
Item 26 of 351979Housing, KilnknoweGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 27 of 351979Housing, Weensland RoadHawick RoxburghshireScotlandRehabilitation
Item 28 of 351979Manderston House, including service court and motor houseDuns BerwickshireScotlandRestoration.
Item 29 of 35c. 19791, 3 and 5 HowegateHawick RoxburghshireScotlandRedeveloped
Item 30 of 351980Health CentreKelso RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 31 of 351980Kelso Town HallKelso RoxburghshireScotlandRestoration and repairs
Item 32 of 351980SSHA HousingMelrose RozburghshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 33 of 351980The Toll House, 2-10 East Port and 32-26 Market PlaceMelrose RoxburghshireScotlandRestoration as small flats
Item 34 of 351981Duns Castle, Pavilion LodgesDuns BerwickshireScotlandRestoration
Item 35 of 351981Jedburgh Castle JailJedburgh RoxburghshireScotlandBridewell block - restoration

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp105
Item 2 of 5Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 3 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 4 of 5RIBA1975RIBA Directory of practices   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1981Directory of Practices 1981   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building11 March 1966  p.131