Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Daniel Swanston | Designation: | | Born: | 1868 | Died: | 25 January 1956 | Bio Notes: | John Daniel Swanston was born in Dundee in 1868 and educated at Dollar Academy. He was articled to William Simpson of Stirling c. 1884, thereafter being progressively assistant to Thomas Greenshields Leadbetter of Edinburgh (c. 1889-90), Alexander Cullen of Glasgow and Hamilton (probably c. 1891-92) and James Graham Fairley of Edinburgh (c. 1893-94), before commencing practice on his own account at 196 High Street, Kirkcaldy in 1895.
From at least 1896, Swanston practised in partnership with George Lindsay Legge as Swanston & Legge, but Legge died some time between 1900 and 1903. A second partnership was formed with William Syme in 1904, the office being located in Redburn Wynd. From his earliest years in Kirkcaldy Swanston was prominent in public life, becoming town councillor for the Second Ward and a burgess in November 1900. He was convener of the Street Committee from November 1904 to November 1908.
Like many other architects, Swanston was an enthusiastic volunteer and was commissioned in the 1st Forth Royal Garrison Artillery. After the First World War broke out, he was commissioned as a captain in the Black Watch and was for a time commandant of Lewes prisoner-of-war camp in Sussex.
Swanston was admitted FRIBA in February 1925. Syme predeceased Swanston, who thereafter practised alone. He specialised in theatre, cinema and public house work, mostly in a bold neo-baroque or half-timbered neo-Tudor idiom.
Swanston retired in 1951 and made a last public appearance in November 1954 with a talk on the design of the King's Theatre in Kirkcaldy and the changes made since he originally designed it in 1904. He died on 25 January 1956 at 182 Ayr Road, Newton Mearns, the home of his daughter Dr Muriel Swanston, who had taken him into her care. His normal address was Addinstone, Townsend Crescent, Kirkcaldy. His estate amounted to £28,214. 1. 9. He was cremated at Paisley, his ashes being interred in Kirkcaldy Cemetery.
Swanston was survived by his wife Jane Elizabeth Kelly, his daughter and two sons, Dr John L Swanston of Kirkcaldy and Dr James K Swanston of Thirsk, Yorkshire. Like their sister, they were physicians. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | ![Item 1 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Addinstone/8, Townsend Crescent, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland | Private | | 1956 | | ![Item 2 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | 196, High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland | Business | 1895 | After 1901 | | ![Item 3 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Redburn Wynd, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland | Business | 1904 | After 1950 | With William Syme | ![Item 4 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Redholm, Milton Road, Kirkcaldy, Fife, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1914 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Robert Blyth | 1931 | for Licentiateship | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | George Thomson | 12 November 1940 | for Associateship |
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 54](images/table_item.gif) | | Beveridge Park, including lodges and gardener's house | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Lodges - date unknown | ![Item 2 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | | Feuar's Arms | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Date unknown. May have been responsible for the 1890 rebuilding though this would make this one of his earliest jobs. | ![Item 3 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1893 | Auchterderran, Cemetery | Auchterderran | | Fife | Scotland | 'Cemetery with sexton's lodge, mortuary and offices' | ![Item 4 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Bain Hall | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | Won competition and appointed as architects for job | ![Item 5 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Hotel | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 6 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Property for Provost Black | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 7 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Proposed Manse | | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 8 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Villa, Dalhousie Street | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | ![Item 9 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | 30 High Street | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | | ![Item 10 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | 69 (Redholm) - 81 Milton Road and Munro Street | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 11 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | New Street building | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 12 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | Tenements and double villa in Norman Road for Dysart Building Company | Dysart | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 13 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | 31-35 High Street | Dunbar | | East Lothian | Scotland | | ![Item 14 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | Empire Theatre of Varieties | Cowdenbeath | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 15 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | Meffan Institute | Forfar | | Angus | Scotland | Unsuccessful competition design exhibited | ![Item 16 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | New Port Buildings | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 17 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | Tenements, High Street | Kinghorn | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 18 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | House for Dr Robertson | New Scone | | Perthshire | Scotland | | ![Item 19 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Rockview | Elie | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 20 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Dalwhinnie Manse | Dalwhinnie | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | ![Item 21 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | 69 (Redholm) - 81 Milton Road and Munro Street | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations to no 69 | ![Item 22 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | Building, High Street | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 23 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | King's Theatre (and tenement) | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | In collaboration with William Williamson | ![Item 24 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | New Street Buildings | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 25 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | Public conveniences | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 26 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1903 | Public Swimming Baths | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 27 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Kelso Town Hall | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and replacement of original 1816 building | ![Item 28 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Shops and dwelling houses, High Street | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 29 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | King's Theatre | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | With James Davidson | ![Item 30 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Pair of villas, Balwearie Road and Balwearie Crescent | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 31 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Tenement (and Malcolm's House at rear), High Street | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 32 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Villa, Balwearie Road | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 33 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Villa, Balwearie Road | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 34 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | St Columba's Episcopal Church, Linktown | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 35 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | Fife Linoleum Company Factory | Pathhead, Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 36 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | Gaiety Theatre | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 37 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | Hippodrome Theatre | | | Dundee | Scotland | Designs | ![Item 38 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Hall for Bowhill Public House Society Ltd | Bowhill, Auchterderran | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 39 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Reid's Hall | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 40 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Alexandra Theatre | | | Belfast | Northern Ireland | | ![Item 41 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | King's Theatre (and tenement) | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 42 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Pavilion Theatre | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | ![Item 43 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Picture Palace | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 44 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | Dunfermline Opera House and Hippodrome | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | New interior within existing shell | ![Item 45 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | Palace Theatre | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Original building | ![Item 46 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | Port Brae Cinema | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 47 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1914 | Cemetery Gate Lodge and Mortuary | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 48 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1914 | Palace Theatre | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | ![Item 49 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1914 | Terraces of model working class houses | Dysart | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 50 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1923 | Palace Theatre | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 51 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1928 | Raith Manse | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 52 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1935 | Open-Air Swimming Pool | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 53 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | 1935 | Western Theatre | Methil | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 54 of 54](images/table_item.gif) | Early 1900s | Pair of villas | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | 'Possibly' (HS) |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | Pride, Glen L | 1999 | The Kingdom of Fife | 2nd Edition | The Rutland Press | p55 | ![Item 2 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | | ![Item 3 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | Who's Who in Architecture | 1923 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Fife Free Press | 28 January 1956 | | | Obituary | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Fife Free Press | 2 February 1990 | | | Feature article |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Dr John Swanston, 11 July 1990 | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no2099 (microfilm reel 16) (declaration only - other papers missing) |
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