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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

James Davidson Cairns
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
25/11/1947
James Davidson Cairns was born on 26 December 1866 and educated at George Watson's Boys' College. He served his apprenticeship from 1882, first in the office of Charles Stewart Still Johnston and then in the office of Robert Morham, who worked both in private practice and as architect to the City of Edinburgh. He attended the Edinburgh School of Art and on completion of his apprenticeship became a draughtsman in the office of Rowand Anderson, remaining there for four and a half years. He then moved to the office of Francis Edward Ward in Belfast for two years, finally becoming chief assistant to Hippolyte Jean Blanc where he remained for fourteen-and-a-half years and had full charge of the staff of 12 to 14 people. Having won the competition for Crail United Free Church, he commenced independent practice in 1908. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, his proposers being James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association; and was admitted FRIBA early in 1929, his proposers being James Alexander Arnott, John Begg and John Wilson.

In 1928 he took his then chief draughtsman James Fulton Ford into parnership, the firm becoming J D Cairns & Ford and from 1938 Arthur Bain Morrison entered the partnership.

Cairns designed a wide range of buildings including churches, hotels, restaurants, houses and schools. He was architect to the Peeblesshire Education Committee for many years (from 1914 he resided in Peebles) and the experience he gained from this led to his appointment as advisory architect to the Scottish Education Department from 1925, an appointment which he held until his resignation in 1944. He was concerned during this period with the improvement of planning in school buildings throughout Scotland. Later, when he was a member of the committee which undertook the preparation of the new School Building Regulations, his knowledge and experience was of great assistance. He acted as Assessor for the competitions for Greenock High School, Perth Academy and Alloa Public School.

Cairns was particularly interested in church architecture, and following the Church of Scotland (Property and Endowments) Act 1925 was appointed by the Church's General Trustees to report on the condition of the fabrics of the parish churches and manses within the presbytery of Peebles, subsequently supervising the consequent restoration work. In addition, as Architect to the Comiston and Colinton House Estates near Edinburgh and the Haystoun Estate in Peebles, he had control of the development of land in these areas.

Cairns made various study tours both in Britain - including every cathedral city in England - and on the Continent, travelling in Belgium, Holland, Germany, France and Italy.

He revised several textbooks for the International Correspondence Schools, including those for Specification Writing, Specification Memoranda, Stair Building and Joinery.

Cairns died on 25 November 1947, aged 81; he was then one of the oldest members of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, having joined prior to 1887. He had also been a Fellow of the RIAS since its inception. His was survived by his wife Sarah M McJerrow. He was a fine draughtsman and took great pleasure in working out in detail a complicated plan. His obituarist describes him as 'kindly, considerate and upright'.

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
60 Polwarth Terrace Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate
Arnsheen Peebles Peeblesshire ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
63 George Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness19091947Cairns & Ford from 1929/29
48 Melville Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness1947

Employment and Training

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

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Charles Stewart Still Johnston2003831882/10In year 1885Apprentice
J D Cairns & Ford2003861928/06Before 1947Partner
Robert Morham200385In year 1885In year 1887Apprentice
Edinburgh City Architect's Department (Edinburgh Corporation)201964In year 1885In year 1887Apprenticeunder Robert Morham, Edinburgh City Architect
Wardrop & Anderson200078In year 1887In year 1892Draughtsman
Francis Edward Ward200384In year 1892In year 1894Assistant
Hippolyte Jean Blanc200031In year 1894In year 1908Senior Assistantbegan as Draughtsman

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
James Fulton Ford200387In year 19191928/06Senior Assistant
Thomas Bowhill Gibson200969In year 19191922/01Assistant

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this person for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic

ProposerProposer LinkDate ProposedNotes
James Bow Dunn2001741911/07/20for Licentiateship - as President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association.
James Alexander Arnott100044In year 1929for Fellowship
John Begg200375In year 1929for Fellowship
John Wilson202401In year 1929for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This person proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSALS2 classic

PersonDate ProposedNotes
Robert Raeburn Grieve1930/10/31for Licentiateship
John Campbell HallEarly 1933sfor Licentiateship
James Johnstone Shannon1937/12/06for Associateship
James Fulton Ford1944/02/15for Licentiateship
Arthur Bain ('Tim') Morrison1947/05/06For Licentiateship
Robert Henderson Taylor1947/10/14For Licentiateship

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
Semi-detached villas, Polwarth TerraceIn year 1894EdinburghScotland
Bangour Village AsylumIn year 1898UphallWest LothianScotlandAsylum - as assistant to Hippolyte Jean Blanc
Carnegie Public Baths and gymnasiumIn year 1901DunfermlineFifeScotlandAs assistant to Hippolyte Jean Blanc
New North Free ChurchAfter 1908EdinburghScotlandRedecoration
Houses, Polwarth TerraceAfter 1908PolwarthEdinburghScotland
St David's Parish Church and HallsAfter 1908EdinburghScotland
HolmlandsAfter 1908CrawfordLanarkshireScotland
Shop front, 13 Castle StreetAfter 1908EdinburghScotland
Business premises, 113 Rose StreetAfter 1908EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Houses, Hermitage DriveAfter 1908EdinburghScotland
St Columba's Parish ChurchAfter 1908ObanArgyllScotlandRedecoration
Caidmuir HouseAfter 1908PeeblesPeeblesshireScotlandAlterations and additions to mansion house and estate cottages
Great Western Hotel and TerraceAfter 1908ObanArgyllScotlandLarge public garage added
Prestonkirk Parish ChurchAfter 1908East LintonEast LothianScotlandRedecoration
Palmerston Place UP ChurchAfter 1908EdinburghScotlandRedecoration

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Post Office Directories
Scott, BillThe Buttercup: the Remarkable Story of Andrew Ewing and the Buttercup Dairy Company2011Alnwick: Leghorn Books

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
RIBA Journal1948/03*p229 Obituary
RIAS Quarterly1948/0572p34 Obituary by J F Ford and James Arnott
Scotsman1947/11/27Obituary p3 and death notice p7

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 Museum100005L v16 no1166; F no 2680 (box 10)