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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

J D Cairns & Ford
Architectural practice
Year Only
1928
Date Not Known
28/05/1926
James Davidson Cairns was born on 26 December 1866 and educated at George Watson's Boys' College. He served his apprenticeship from 1882 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 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 partnership. Ford had been born on 31 October 1889, the son of William Ford, police sergeant, and had been educated at Leith Public School and from 29 September 1903 until 19 July 1905 at George Heriot's School. He had served his articles with Thomas Duncan Rhind from 1906, attending classes at Edinburgh College of Art and taking study tours of Scotland in his spare time. On completing his apprenticeship in 1911 he had remained as draughtsman, and had been promoted to chief draughtsman by the time he commenced war service with the Royal Scots in 1914. At the end of the war in 1919 he had spent a short period as draughtsman in the office of David McArthy of Edinburgh before obtaining the appointment of chief draughtsman with James Davidson Cairns in 1920.

The office of J D Cairns & Ford was at 63 George Street, Edinburgh. From 1938 Arthur Bain Morrison entered the partnership, the practice title remaining unchanged. Ford was admitted LRIBA on 15 February 1944, his proposers being Cairns, Thomas Forbes Maclennan and John Ross McKay. He was also an Associate of the Edinburgh Architectural Association.

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.

When fellow Edinburgh architect Charles Edward Tweedie Junior died on 11 February 1947, J D Cairns & Ford temporarily took over his business whilst his two sons completed their architectural training. Cairns died on 25 November that year, 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. 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'.

'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

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
63 George Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness1928/06After 1947
116 Hanover Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessBefore 1964After 1970
Meadowbank Building/67 Marionville Road Edinburgh 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
Thomas Stanley Aitchison Kennedy4039431925/041936/12Assistant
James Davidson Cairns2003821928/06Before 1947Partner
James Fulton Ford2003871928/06Partner
Arthur Bain ('Tim') Morrison200388In year 1924In year 1927Junior Assistant
Arthur Bain ('Tim') Morrison200388In year 1928In year 1938Senior Assistant
Colin William Glendinning100503In year 1932In year 1936Assistant
Arthur Bain ('Tim') Morrison200388In year 1938In year 1963Partner
George Gilroy Graham402082In year 1955In year 1957Senior Architect
(Miss) Anne Duff 405218In year 1956In year 1957Architect
George Sinclair Gibson Steedman402009In year 1970After 1980Partner
John Jackson402010In year 1970After 1980Partner

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
Premises for Messrs Peter Allan LtdIn year 1928EdinburghScotlandReconstruction
Two-storey cottages, Edinburgh RoadAfter 1928PeeblesPeeblesshireScotland
Bakery for McVitie & GuestIn year 1930EdinburghScotland
Eastwark HouseIn year 1931PeeblesPeeblesshireScotlandShopfront
House, Oxgangs RoadAfter 1932EdinburghScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Nurses' cottageAfter 1932Edinburgh?ScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Caretaker's cottageAfter 1932Edinburgh?ScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Road widening, Comiston EstateAfter 1932EdinburghScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
Edinburgh College of Domestic Science, 1-2 Drumsheugh GardensAfter 1932EdinburghScotlandProbably responsible - with Colin William Glendinning as assistant
New warehouse premisesIn year 1933EdinburghScotland
Medical Hallc. 1933PeeblesPeeblesshireScotland
College of Domestic ScienceIn year 1934EdinburghScotlandAdditions and reconstruction
Macvitties Guest & Co / McVities Guest & Co shop and tea roomIn year 1935EdinburghScotlandAddition on South Charlotte Street
DunalistairIn year 1935ColintonEdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Bank of Scotlandc. 1935PeeblesPeeblesshireScotlandNew bank on old site

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
RIBAThe RIBA Kalendar 1939-19401939London: Royal Institute of British Architects
RIBARIBA Directory 19701970
Municipal AnnualScottish Municipal Annual19641964-1965

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
RIAS Quarterly1948/05*Obituary of James Davidson Cairns
Builder1950/12/1p582
Builder1950/3/3p309
Builder1950/2/3p181