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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Jenkins & Marr
Architectural practice
1878M
Date Not Known
After (Year)
21/09/1925
1982
George Gordon Jenkins was born in 1844 and commenced practice as architect and surveyor at 115 Union Street, Aberdeen in or before 1874, his earliest work being concerned with the layout of cemeteries. In the summer of 1878 he took into partnership George Marr who had begun practice as an architect and civil engineer at Campbell of Udny from 1855, concentrating almost exclusively on school and farm work. His practice had moved to Ellon in the mid-1860s and became G & G Marr in 1872. Throughout their early careers, the work of Jenkins & Marr was of a simple and strictly practical nature, but with Mannofield Church (1882), for which an experienced assistant was probably brought into the practice, moved to a rather higher plane. From the earlier 1880s there was briefly a loose partnership with William Davidson in Ellon, the connection with him being through Marr.

Around 1886 Harbourne Maclennan joined the firm as apprentice. Maclennan was born in 1871, the son of John Maclennan, land surveyor of Ellon, and educated at Elgin Academy and Dunfermline High School. He stayed on as an assistant for one further year and subsequently made a study tour in Europe: as an academic architect, he was essentially self-taught. When his father was appointed Road Surveyor and Master of Works for East Fife in 1895, he moved to Dunfermline to commence practice but was subsequently invited by Jenkins to return to the Jenkins & Marr practice, Marr having died in 1899. The catalyst was probably the commission to design the Masonic Hall in Crown Street, Aberdeen, which he carried out on his own account in 1908-1910. He was belatedly made a partner in 1915, and became sole partner in 1921. Jenkins had retired by then and died two years later. In 1935 Maclennan took William Alexander (or Arthur?) Davidson, and his own son John Maclennan, into partnership. He was a specialist in paper-making factories and was responsible for designing several distilleries in the north-east, many Local Authority housing schemes, and extensive water supply and drainage schemes throughout Scotland. The practice continued to undertake a wide range of commissions including private houses, work for the Union Bank of Scotland and Aberdeen Savings Bank, alterations and redecoration of churches in Aberdeen and the conversion of building for an old people's home.

Harbourne Maclennan died on 27 August 1951. In the 1950s the firm opened a branch office in Wick.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
115 Union Street Aberdeen ScotlandBusiness
16 Bridge Street Aberdeen ScotlandBusiness
3 Bon-Accord Crescent Aberdeen ScotlandBusiness
Mirren House/6 Maxwell Street Paisley Renfrewshire ScotlandBusinessBranch office
102 High Street Wick Caithness ScotlandBusiness

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
John Bruce Merson2026621886/10/281890/10/28Apprentice
Harbourne Maclennan2016721891 or 18921892 or 1893Assistant
William Alexander Davidson2016731914/061916/03Chief Assistant
Alexander Simpson Reid2072111914/09c. 1921Apprentice
Alexander Fraser Lawrie2070981917/061922/06ApprenticeWith the exception of war servie, June 1918 to March 1920
William Alexander Davidson2016731919/02In year 1935Chief Assistant
Robert James Morrison2047331925/011927/08Apprentice
Maxwell Fordyce Christie4001271927/08Mid 1930sApprentice
Robert George Will2074591930/071933/07Apprentice
Gordon Alexander Smart4000911938/061939/03Assistant
Fergus William McGhee4054181979?Partner
Charles James Smith4071421980sArchitect
James Greig206716After 1892Assistant
John Maclennan201674After 1927In year 1935Senior Assistant
Hugh Allen Symmons404040Before 1975After 1982Partner

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Pier and breakwaterIn year 1878Cove BayAberdeenshireScotlandConstructed in 1878 and improved in 1883
Coffee HouseIn year 1879InverurieAberdeenshireScotland
Huntly Cemetery and Lodgec. 1879HuntlyAberdeenshireScotland
Mains of Pitrichie Farm houseIn year 1880EllonAberdeenshireScotland
Auction MartIn year 1880AberdeenScotland
James Walker's BuildingIn year 1880AberdeenScotland
Mains of AnnochieIn year 1880AberdeenshireScotland
Baron's InnIn year 1880AuchnagattAberdeenshireScotland
CottandhillocksIn year 1880KeithhallAberdeenshireScotland
SheilbogIn year 1880KeithhallAberdeenshireScotland
New Houses, Alehouse and TillyfarIn year 1880UdnyAberdeenshireScotland
Easter SelbyIn year 1880KeithhallAberdeenshireScotland
Mannofield Parish ChurchIn year 1881MannofieldAberdeenScotland
Dalrymple Hall and CaféIn year 1881FraserburghAberdeenshireScotland
House and Shops for W ScorgieIn year 1881Bridge of DeeAberdeenScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Bailey, Rebecca MScottish architects' papers: a source book1996Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp92
RIBADirectory of Practices 19811981

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005Ivor Llewelyn Bowman Hopkins: A no7917 (combined box 200) - attached note of resignation from RIBA on retirement is on Jenkins & Marr headed paper, giving names of partners and associates at the time.