Basic Biographical Details

Name: Covell Matthews Partnership
Designation:  
Born: 1972
Died: 1976
Bio Notes: The origins of the firm Covell Matthews & Partners was in the practice started in 1937 by Ralph George Covell. He was joined in 1948 by Albert Edward Thurman Matthews when it became Covell & Matthews. In 1960 it changed to Covell Matthews & Partners. The following year an office was opened in Edinburgh followed by others in Glasgow and Aberdeen.

In 1963 Brian G Falk became a director followed in 1966 by John R G Wheatley and two years later by Charles Tocher Donaldson and Alfred Heasman

In 1972 when Covell retired it became Covell Matthews Partnership. In 1974 A L T Scott and Hector W Morrison was asummed into partnership followed a year later by M M Pottinger and R Ogilvie. In 1976 Covell Matthews Scotland became a separate company within the group; in 1992 the original company was closed down and the Scottish practice became Covell Matthews Architects Ltd.

In the early days Covell Matthews, and then Covell Matthews Partnership, undertook a number of what were important projects in Scotland mainly for clients that were based in London. For these projects Brian Falk was the architect and partner in charge and it involved much travel to and from Scotland. It became increasingly obvious that work in Scotland needed resident architectural practices in Scotland so in around 1963 Covell Matthews set up branch offices in Edinburgh (under Charles Tocher Donaldson) and Glasgow under Albert Heasman. In 1968 Donaldson and Heasman became full Directors (partners) in Covell Matthews Partnership and their offices began to operate as independent offices within the Covell Matthews Group. Later, as a result of the Northern Aberdeen Co-operative project an office was established in Aberdeen under Hector Morrison. In 1975 the Covell Matthews Group further split and Covell Matthews Scotland was formed, which is listed as having offices in Edinburgh, Aberdeen, Glasgow, Orkney and Shetland. The architectural partners/directors of Covell Matthews Scotland were A Heasman, C T Donaldson, M M Pottinger, A L T Scott, H W Morrison, R Ogilvie, J R G Wheatley and Brian Falk. Wheatley and Falk were London based and represented the Head Office interest in the Scottish office.

Apart from those early years when Falk was the architect and planner partner responsible for the design and supervision of about five major Scottish projects run from the London office Falk was only the liaison partner for Scottish office work.

In 1973 the practice was appointed agents for the Telecommunications Centre HQ Scotland

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 119, Albyn Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1975 *  
Item 2 of 11Westminster, London, EnglandBusiness1975 *  
Item 3 of 11Manchester, EnglandBusiness1975  
Item 4 of 11Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1975  
Item 5 of 11West IndiesBusiness1975 *  
Item 6 of 11Calgary, CanadaBusiness1975  
Item 7 of 11Athens, GreeceBusiness1975  
Item 8 of 11Nairobi, KenyaBusiness1975  
Item 9 of 11Mombasa, KenyaBusiness1975  
Item 10 of 11Dar-es-Salaam, TanzaniaBusiness1975  
Item 11 of 11Kampala, UgandaBusiness1975  

* 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 9Charles Tocher Donaldson  Partner 
Item 2 of 9Albert Edward Thurman Matthews1970s Partner 
Item 3 of 9Brian Geoffrey Falk1970s Partner 
Item 4 of 9John Robert Glamis Wheatley1970s Partner 
Item 5 of 9Albert Heasman1970s Partner 
Item 6 of 9Hector William Morrison1970s Partner 
Item 7 of 9Ralph George Covington Covell1970s Consultant 
Item 8 of 9Derek John Carter1975 * Partner 
Item 9 of 9Barry Wilson Pendergast1975 * Partner 

* 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 151970Bonded warehouse and distribution centreCumbernauld LanarkshireScotland 
Item 2 of 151972Warehouse for Storage & Warehouse Co. Ltd  West LothianScotland 
Item 3 of 151973Guild Street redevelopment, Phase I  AberdeenScotland 
Item 4 of 151973Hopetoun Telephone Exchange  West LothianScotland 
Item 5 of 151973Housing and hotelNorth Queensferry FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 151973Offices for Berkeley Consultants  AberdeenScotland 
Item 7 of 151973Private housingMilltimber AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 8 of 151973Shopping development, Princes Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 151973Telephone House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 151973University of Strathclyde, Collins Building  GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 151974Blackwood's office, George Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations including removal of original decoration
Item 12 of 151974Regional office of the Continental Illinois National Banks and Trust Co. of Chicago  EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 151975Hanover Street, north section, west side  EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 151975Northern Insurance Company offices and Imperial Union Club  GlasgowScotlandInterior reconstructed
Item 15 of 151975University of Strathclyde, University Centre  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp143
Item 2 of 2RIBA1975RIBA Directory of practices