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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Moffatt & Aitken (or Moffat & Aitken)
Architectural practice
Year Only
1873
Circa (Year)
24/05/1926
1880
William Lambie Moffat was born on 31 October 1807, the son of John Moffat, clerk of works and Sarah Couch. At some stage, for unknown reasons, he adopted the spelling of Moffatt which is continued by his descendents, although his brother Henry retained the single 't' as Moffat throughout his life. William Lambie was articled to William Burn who was probably his father's employer and appears to have remained as an assistant: his subsequent career suggests he was engaged on the institutional side of the practice. In 1836 he won the competition for Wakefield Corn Exchange with a very original Greek Revival design which induced him to settle in Doncaster. In 1838 William Hurst of Doncaster invited him to become a partner, his previous partner John Woodhead having died, and for the next six years Hurst and Moffat had a flourishing practice, particularly for churches financed by The Incorporated Church Building Society.

On 8 December 1844 Hurst died. Moffat continued the Doncaster practice, but was increasingly dependent on winning competitions for business. As a number of his competition wins were for hospitals and poorhouses in Scotland, he closed his Doncaster practice in 1858, the catalyst probably being the new asylum at Montrose (1856). He returned to Edinburgh, his house being at 4 Fettes Row, and he subsequently remodelled 13 Queen Street for his own occupation. By about 1874 he was so busy with school board work, probably mainly won in competition, that James Aitken, of whom nothing is as yet known, was taken into partnership.

Moffat was equally skilled in Greek, Italianate, Gothic and neo-Jacobean, his work in the last of those being strongly influenced by William Burn's houses of the mid to late 1820s and early 1830s: in the past some writers conflated him with G G Scott's partner, the English William Bonython Moffatt, and in the earlier 'Buildings of England' volumes he is sometimes wrongly given as W B Moffatt.

Moffat died on 5 June 1882 at 23 Minto Street, survived by his widow Wilhelmina Crystal. Information on the subsequent career of James Aitken - if any - is not yet available.

Addresses

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

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
13 Queen Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivateMoffat's private address

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
12 North St David Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessc. 1873c. 1882

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
William Lambie Moffatt (originally William Lambie Moffat)200048c. 1874Partner
James Aitken100074Partner
William Knox (or Wilm Knox?)206117Before 1882Apprentice

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
Infant SchoolIn year 1873FountainbridgeEdinburghScotlandUpgrade of accommodation
Portobello Public School and janitor's houseIn year 1873PortobelloEdinburghScotland
SchoolIn year 1873DalkeithMidlothianScotland
Balcurvie SchoolIn year 1873MarkinchFifeScotlandProposed enlargement - uncertain if this was executed
Free Church schoolsIn year 1873RoseburnEdinburghScotlandUpgrade of accommodation
St Paul's Free Church SchoolsIn year 1873St LeonardsEdinburghScotlandUpgrade of accommodation
Milton of Balgonie Board SchoolIn year 1873Milton of BalgonieFifeScotlandPlans for additions to old school and for new school on the old site - uncertain which executed, if either
Public SchoolIn year 1874BurntislandFifeScotland
11-13 Queen StreetIn year 1874EdinburghScotlandPalace front.
Lovers' Loan SchoolIn year 1874EdinburghScotlandAlterations and upgrade
Arbroath Public SchoolIn year 1874ArbroathAngusScotland
Montrose AsylumIn year 1875Hillside, MontroseAngusScotlandAdditions - dining hall, recreation room, enlargement of stores, extension of washhouse and laundry offices, new washhouse
Prestonhall Board SchoolIn year 1875GlenrothesFifeScotland
Bristo Public SchoolIn year 1875EdinburghScotland
Leith Walk School and lodgeIn year 1875EdinburghScotlandOriginal building

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Post Office Directories

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
Death RegisterH M Register House100027Death of Moffatt
William Lambie Moffatt Cash Book 1859-1881 GD 1/412/1National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)200659GD1/421