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Practices

Basic Biographic Details

Johnston & Baxter
Architectural practice
Year Only
1899
After (Year)
1959
Born in 1839, Alexander Johnston appears to have been an assistant of Peddie & Kinnear, coming to Dundee in the later 1860s to supervise the building of Morgan's Hospital and of Mayfield for Francis Mollison and possibly other Peddie & Kinnear projects in the Dundee area. He made a favourable impression on the related Molison and Baxter families, and they promised him their support much as the Gilroys were to do later with John Murray Robertson at Castleroy. He opened an office in Reform Street in 1867 and from the partners of Baxter Brothers Johnston extended his influence to the local clergy, the Royal Infirmary and to the whisky blenders so that in David William Baxter's words it was 'all kirks and whisky bonds.' Baxter described his partner as really a Renaissance man compelled by the nature of his practice to become a Gothic designer, the earlier churches, which show the influence of Peddie and Kinnear's plate traceried churches of the 1860s being more interesting.

David William Baxter was born in Dundee on 24 March 1874 and was articled to Alexander Johnston from 1889 to 1893 and remained as an assistant for a further year, attending classes at University College and the Technical Institute. In 1894 Johnston arranged Baxter's transfer to John Murray Robertson's office to gain more up-to-date experience, but at a chance meeting in Reform Street in 1896 told him that he had better come back as prospective partner. He became a full partner at the beginning of 1899. Baxter designed all the work of the firm thereafter, also providing architectural services for his brother George, who was the city's water engineer, at Lintrathen and other sites as well as within the city itself. He was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912.

David William Baxter subsequently set up a branch office in Blairgowrie from which he latterly practised almost exclusively, with a house at Rosemount, the Dundee practice being in the hands of his son David William Baxter Junior (born 1906). The younger Baxter had not served his apprenticeship in his father's practice but instead had been articled to Mills & Shepherd from 1924 to 1929, attending evening classes at Dundee Technical College followed by a correspondence course through the Institute of Chartered Surveyors. He had remained with the same firm as junior assistant for a year after completing his apprenticeship, transferring in 1930 to his father's office. In the autumn of 1931 he travelled to Spain to study architecture, and in the same year took up a junior partnership in his father's practice, being left in charge of the Dundee office after his father opened a branch office in Blairgowrie.

David William Baxter Junior was commissioned in the Lands Branch of the Scottish Command in 1940, reaching the rank of Captain, but returned to the family firm after the war was over. He was admitted LRIBA on 16 December 1945, his proposers being John Donald Mills, John Ross McKay and Robert Stirling Reid. His nomination papers state that whilst in his father's firm to that date he had worked on additions to hospitals as well as factories, schools, housing schemes and domestic buildings.

A younger son or nephew, James Russell Baxter, was in the practice for a time, but post-war practice in Dundee had little appeal for him and he emigrated to recommence practice on his own account at Kitimat, British Columbia.

The elder Baxter retired from active practice in 1954 and died at Pinewood on 13 November 1957. He was survived by his wife, three sons and two daughters. In person he was of average height, always very focussed and forthright in manner. Assistants remembered him as a very fast worker with an uncanny accuracy in estimating measurement in surveys. Although he lived on the edge of a golf course his only recreation was angling.

The younger Baxter continued the practice after his father's retirement. It became Baxter, Clark & Paul after James Clark and James Paul were taken into partnership in 1989.

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

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architectural practice:

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2

AddressTypeDate FromDate ToNotes
Blairgowrie Perthshire ScotlandBusinessAfter 1912
49 Meadowside Dundee ScotlandBusinessBefore 1912In year 1953
114 Seagate Dundee ScotlandBusinessIn year 19291930 or 1931As the Builder 18 Oct 1929. Temporary address while 49 Meadowside being modernised
Reform Street Dundee ScotlandBusiness

Partners, Employees and Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architectural practice (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2

NamePositionDate FromDate ToNotes
Alexander JohnstonPartnerIn year 1899
David William BaxterPartnerIn year 1899In year 1954
David William Baxter (junior)AssistantIn year 1930In year 1931
George Wilson FlemingApprentice1930/101934/09
David William Baxter (junior)PartnerIn year 1931After 1945With the exception of war service
William Lamond GallowayJunior AssistantIn year 1939In year 1940
James Russell BaxterIn year 1945In year 1952
John Stewart ClarkSenior ArchitectIn year 1954In year 1959
(Professor) James PaulArchitectIn year 1959
John Stewart ClarkPartnerIn year 1959In year 1962

Buildings and Designs

This architectural practice was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2

BuildingPartnership GPRoleDate FromDate ToTown DistrictIslandCity CountyCountryNotes
Church and Church hall, ClepingtonBArchitectural practiceIn year 1898In year 1899ClepingtonDundeeScotland
Errol Park House stablesAIn year 1899ErrolPerthshireScotlandAddition of octagonal top storey
IslabankAIn year 1899BarnhillDundeeScotland
Barry Golf Course and ClubhouseAIn year 1899BarryAngusScotland
Barnhill Convalescent HomeBIn year 1899BarnhillDundeeScotlandExtensions
Errol fountain and market crossAIn year 1899In year 1900ErrolPerthshireScotland
TircarraBIn year 1900BarnhillDundeeScotlandNew wing and two lodges
Foresters' HallsAArchitectural practiceIn year 1900In year 1902DundeeScotland
Alyth Parish ChurchAIn year 1900AlythPerthshireScotlandNew organ case
Newport-on-Tay Parish Church and ManseBIn year 1901Newport-on-TayFifeScotlandExtension to church and new manse
St Michael's ChurchAArchitectural practiceIn year 1901DundeeScotlandAdditions and alterations
James Keiller & Sons FactoryAIn year 1901DundeeScotlandGateway and extensive additions
St Thomas ChurchAIn year 1902BalgayDundeeScotland
Dundee Savings BankAc. 1903LocheeDundeeScotland
Villa for Malcolm, Forthill RoadAIn year 1904Broughty FerryDundeeScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architectural practice:

Bib ref

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Bailey, Rebecca MScottish architects' papers: a source book1996Edinburgh: The Rutland Press

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architectural practice:

Period ref

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Builder1957/11/22*p924 - obituary of Baxter
Builder1951/11/30p773

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architectural practice:

Arc ref

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuildingItem NameNotes
Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive materialProfessor David M Walker personal archivePersonal information from David Baxter