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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

John Bruce & Son
Architectural practice
After (Year)
1883
Year Only
26/05/1926
1919
John Bruce began life as a textile manufacturer but lost all his money in the collapse of the Western Bank in 1857. As a way of getting himself out of debt he turned to architecture in the later 1860s, specialising in working-class housing in Dundee, particularly in Hilltown, west of Main Street, and in terrace housing in Broughty Ferry built by John Cowan for rental. By the 1880s, the firm had become John Bruce & Son. The elder Bruce had three sons who survived to adulthood: John junior who emigrated to Australia, George who moved to Cheshire and worked as a druggist and James Prain (born 29 April 1860) who was articled to his father in 1877 and left for an unidentified office in London in 1881 to gain experience, remaining there for several years before rejoining his father as a partner. The practice thereafter went more upmarket, specialising in high-quality tenement work for the Speed family who were wine and spirit merchants, and villas in Carnoustie where the Bruces had settled. James Prain Bruce took an active interest in the Dundee Institute of Architects, being President 1900-02 and acting as Honorary Secretary during the war years.

In 1919 George Christie Morton (born 1886) became a partner, the name of the firm becoming Bruce Son & Morton. Douglas Prain Bruce of St Clair, Carnoustie, was James Prain's son and became an additional partner in the 1930s. James Prain Bruce became ill in 1933 and died at Carnoustie on 20 January 1935. At the outbreak of the Second World War Douglas Prain Bruce went into the army and subsequently gave up his partnership; Morton, a very able domestic architect thereafter gave most of his time to the family whisky firm of which he was latterly chairman. He died in August 1953.

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
Highfield Carnoustie Angus ScotlandPrivateJames Prain Bruce's house

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
31 Bank Street Dundee ScotlandBusiness1878
8 Bank Street Dundee ScotlandBusinessc. 1880From the 1880s
Commercial Buildings Dundee ScotlandBusiness1889
Commercial Buildings High Street Carnoustie Angus ScotlandBusinessc. 1890From the 1890s
10 Whitehall Street Dundee ScotlandBusiness19071919

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
Alexander Allan Foote2011971904/091906/04Apprentice
Alexander Allan Foote2011971906/041907/03Assistant
James Prain Bruce200368After 1883In year 1919Partner
John Bruce200369After 1883Partner
James Peter Nicoll202790After 1894In year 1898Apprentice
William Clark200742In year 1891In year 1907Assistant
James Peter Nicoll202790In year 18981898 or 1899Junior Assistant
Alexander Ness202318In year 1899
George Christie Morton200366In year 1903In year 1907Apprentice
George Christie Morton200366In year 1907In year 1908Assistant
James Smith Leslie205152In year 1912In year 1913Assistant

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
Tenement, 11-19 North Ellen StreetIn year 1871DundeeScotland
Building, Bank StreetAfter 1883DundeeScotland
Tenement and shops, Union Place and Perth Road cornerAfter 1883DundeeScotland
Tenement, Perth Road and Step Row cornerIn year 1886DundeeScotland
Dwellinghouses, Blackness RoadIn year 1886DundeeScotland
Dwellinghouses, Blackness Road and Balgay AvenueIn year 1887DundeeScotland
Corner Building, Commercial Street and SeagateIn year 1887DundeeScotland
Panbride Free ChurchIn year 1887CarnoustieAngusScotlandReapirs by James P Bruce after fire
Commercial buildingsIn year 1888DundeeScotland
Panbride ChurchIn year 1888DundeeScotland
33 Hermon HillIn year 1889DundeeScotland
Tenement, 23-25 Perth RoadIn year 1889DundeeScotland
AnnfieldIn year 1891CarnoustieAngusScotland
WinterdyneAfter 1891CarnoustieAngusScotland
TullavinAfter 1891CarnoustieAngusScotland

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
Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive materialProfessor David M Walker personal archive100041Personal information from Mrs Fairweather, owner of the Castle, Alpha and Panmure Terrace properties, obtained mid-1950s. Personal Info from W Sinclair Gauldie, originally obtained from Douglas Bruce's daughter, a student at Dundee Art College, c1943-7. Alos ionformation from descendant Adrian Bruce, via the web.
Dundee Approved Duplicate Plans (Originals in NMRS for dates 1867-1883; otherwise on microfilm)Dundee Planning Department/NMRS200000