Basic Biographical Details Name: | Neil Campbell Duff | Designation: | | Born: | 27 May 1861 | Died: | 22 February 1934 | Bio Notes: | Neil Campbell Duff was born on 27 May 1861 in Blythswood, Glasgow, the son of Mungo Campbell Duff IM, a quantity surveyor and his wife Janet Aitken. He was articled to his uncle James Thomson of Baird & Thomson from 1876 to 1881 and remained as an assistant until 1886, rejoining his father's firm in 1887 and remaining until 1893. During that period he spent one month each year on study tour, one month in London, Paris, Cambridge, Oxford and York and shorter periods in Liverpool, Manchester and Dublin.
Combining the business of architect with that of his brother Thomas's quantity surveying firm did not prove successful and in December 1893 he commenced business on his own account in Glasgow. He was admitted FRIBA on 11 June 1906, his proposers being Horatio Kelson Bromhead, David Barclay, Thomas Edward Collcutt and C J MacLean.
In 1919 Duff married Janet Helen McIntosh Robertson. About the same year he took Percival Cairns into partnership. Cairns had been born in Glasgow on 22 August 1889 and had studied at Glasgow School of Architecture from 1905 to 1912 but it is not yet certain if it was to Duff that he was originally articled: he was certainly his assistant in 1914 prior to being taken into partnership five years later. The partnership lasted until Cairns's death of pulmonary tuberculosis on 28 June 1926.
Duff was a very competent exponent of neo-Baroque and a pioneer of cinema design. He was a JP for the City of Glasgow, and was much employed as an expert in cases arising from the administration of the Public Health Acts there.
Duff died of cholecystitis and intestinal haemorrhage on 22 February 1934, aged seventy-three, leaving moveable estate of £31,313 7s1d. He was buried alongside his parents and brothers in Glasgow Necropolis. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | ![Item 1 of 7](images/table_item.gif) | 197, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1887 | 1893 | When working for his father | ![Item 2 of 7](images/table_item.gif) | 53, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1889 | After 1893 | | ![Item 3 of 7](images/table_item.gif) | 4, West Garden Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1891 | After 1906 | | ![Item 4 of 7](images/table_item.gif) | 93, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1899 or 1900 * | | | ![Item 5 of 7](images/table_item.gif) | 115, Wellington Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1905 | 1913 | | ![Item 6 of 7](images/table_item.gif) | 187a, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1913 | 1934 | | ![Item 7 of 7](images/table_item.gif) | Neidpath/20, St Bride's Road, Newlands, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1934 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | ![Item 1 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | | Plaza, Eglinton Toll | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Date unknown | ![Item 2 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Carson & Nicol's offices | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 3 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | James Miller & Co's warehouses, offices and works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 4 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | Waterloo Sawmill | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension | ![Item 5 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | Warehouses for R B Miller | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 6 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Alexander Miller & Bros warehouses and offices | | | Liverpool | England | | ![Item 7 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Exhibition Hotel | Anderston | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 8 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Office Block, St Vincent Street and Mains Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 9 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1901 | Office block, 74 York Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 10 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Rivet Bolt and Nut Co's warehouses and works | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | ![Item 11 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Rivet Bolt and Nut Co's warehouses and works | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | ![Item 12 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | Pair of villas (Westwood and St Brendan) | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 13 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Newberries Mansion House | Radlett | | Hertfordshire | England | Reconstruction | ![Item 14 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Ruchill Street UF Church | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 15 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Glasgow Savings Bank, Shawlands Cross | Shawlands Cross | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 16 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Glasgow Savings Bank, North Branch | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 17 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | Cleland Testimonial Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion to George Hotel | ![Item 18 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | R F & J Alexander's Cotton Spinning Mill | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Top floors converted to Great Eastern Hotel | ![Item 19 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Guardian Assurance Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 20 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Ruchill Street Free Church Halls | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 21 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Union Café | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 22 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | After 1907 | Villas | West Kilbride | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | ![Item 23 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Villa, 34 Mongomerie Drive | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New hall and lounge (Interior work exhibited at Glasgow Institute) | ![Item 24 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Electric Picture Palace | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 25 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Ibrox Cinematograph Theatre | Ibrox | | Glasgow | Scotland | Converted from roller skating rink | ![Item 26 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Regent Cinema | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 27 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Springburn Electric Theatre | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | Cinema, converted from existing back-court meeting hall | ![Item 28 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Store for Charles Vaux & Sons | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 29 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Business premises for J T Whitelaw's Trust | | | Glasgow | Scotland | With McKissack. Conversion to cinema | ![Item 30 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | La Scala Cinema | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 31 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | La Scala Cinema | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Build/construction | ![Item 32 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Hartshead Curled Hair and Bedding Factory Offices | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Office block | ![Item 33 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | The Lorne Cinema | Ibrox | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 34 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1920 | Bank Street Picture House | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Converted from church | ![Item 35 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1920 | Marne Cinema | Dennistoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 36 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1920 | Rosevale Cinema | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 37 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1921 | Campbell's Music Salon | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Proposed alterations | ![Item 38 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1921 | Glasgow High School War Memorial | | | Glasgow | Scotland | 3rd prize | ![Item 39 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1922 | Grafton Cinema | Cowcaddens | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 40 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1926 | Carlton Picture House | Townhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 41 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1927 | Panorama | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Part demolition and rebuilding as Waldorf Palais de Danse | ![Item 42 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1931 | Rosevale Cinema | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans prepared for extensions | ![Item 43 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1931 | Strump Ltd's warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 44 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1932 | Rhul Cinema | Burnside, Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | ![Item 45 of 45](images/table_item.gif) | 1933 | Super Cinema | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Post Office Directories | | | | | | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 1936 | 146 | | Obituary | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA Journal | 19 May 1934 | v41 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p716 - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | ![Item 1 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | British Architectural Library, RIBA | RIBA Biographical Files | | | ![Item 2 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional research by Iain Paterson | ![Item 3 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v17 p7 no1100 (microfilm reel 12) |
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