Skip to Main Content
Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
Home
Contact
Architects
Buildings
Practices
Search
Admin Login
Architects
Name (Filter)
Architect Search
Clear Selection
Basic Biographic Details
Name:
George Gordon Jenkins
Designation :
Architect
Date of Birth:
OR (2 Years Selected)
Exact DOB:
09/03/1925
Year of Birth :
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
1848
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
1849
Date of Death:
Exact Date
Exact DOD:
10/06/1923
Year of Death:
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
George Gordon Jenkins was born in 1848 or 1849 in Elgin but spent some of his boyhood in Aboyne where his father was minister of the parish church. He was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School and articled to the civil engineer Robert Anderson who was responsible for the first municipal water scheme for Aberdeen bringing water from Invercannie. During this period Jenkins was successful in various new works around the city and he was thus presuaded to open business on his own account. He commenced practice as civil engineer (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 with his father as an architect at Chapelhall of Udny from the 1860s, concentrating almost exclusively on school and farm work. 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.
Jenkins is known to have undertaken engineering projects during his career such as the scheme for obtaining a supply of water from the River Avon of which he made a thorough survey.
Jenkins was active in the formation and running of the Aberdeen Association of civil engineers and served as its president after it had been in operation for five years.
Outwith his profession Jenkins was a keen mountaineer, taking a great interest in the Deeside hills and local topography. He published 'Hill Views from Aberdeen', which is the the result of a life-time of expeditions and surveys. He was responsible for the design of the view indicator on Brimmond. He also contributed to the Cairngorm Club Journal.
Around 1886 Harbourne Maclennan, born 1871 and educated at Elgin Academy and Dunfermline High School, joined the firm as an apprentice, and subsequently made a study tour in Europe: as an academic architect, he was essentially self-taught. He returned to Dunfermline to commence practice in 1895 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 after Jenkins retired in 1921.
Jenkins died on 6 October 1923, leaving moveable estate of £13,338 0s 5d. He was survived by his wife Christina and they had three daughters.
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Private Addresses
Private Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From Char
Date From Type
Date To Char
Date To Type
Notes
11 Bon Accord Street Aberdeen Scotland
Private
As a lodger
Fonthill Terrace Old Machar Aberdeenshire Scotland
Private
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
115 Union Street Aberdeen Scotland
Business
16 Bridge Street Aberdeen Scotland
Business
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
Employment and Training
The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):
Employers2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
Robert Anderson
406471
1860s
Apprentice
Jenkins & Marr
100358
Mid 1878s
In year 1921
Partner
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
British Architectural Library, RIBA
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914
2001
Bailey, Rebecca M
Scottish architects' papers: a source book
1996
Edinburgh: The Rutland Press
p92
Johnston, W T
Artists of Scotland
2003
Officina Publications CDROM
row(s) 1 - 3 of 3
Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this person:
Period ref classic
Periodical Name
Publisher
Date Circ
Edition
Notes
Aberdeen Press and Journal
1923/10/08
Obituary. Picture in issue of 9 October 1923.
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this person:
Arc ref classic
Archive Name
Source
Source Cat No
Building Id
Item Name
Notes
Censuses
Census records online
201011
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1