Basic Biographical Details Name: | Alexander Garden Forgie | Designation: | | Born: | 1893 or 1894 | Died: | 20 September 1959(?) | Bio Notes: | Alexander Garden Forgie was born in 1893 or 1894 and was articled to Francis William Deas of Edinburgh for five years from 7 February 1909, attending classes at the Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt College. He remained with Deas as an assistant, returning to the same office after undertaking war service from 1915 to 1919 for which he was awarded the Military Cross. In October of the latter year he moved to Sheffield where he studied at the University whilst working as an assistant in the City Architect's Department. He returned to Scotland in 1920 to enter the Dundee City Engineer's Office, and late that year or early the next was admitted ARIBA under the war exemption scheme, his proposers being John Watson, James Thomson and Deas, who wrote of him in his supporting statement: 'I have always found him & heard of him from his teachers as an intelligent & most industrious pupil.'
Forgie returned to Edinburgh in 1925 as chief assistant to the City Architect, Mr. E. J. MacRae. Forgie was deputy from 1930 to Ebeneezer Macrae, City Architect of Edinburgh, and took over as City Architect in 1946. He was passionately interested in Edinburgh and did 'a tremendous amount to preserve the character of the oldest parts of the city', accoording to his obituarist. He was associated with most of the large works undertaken by Edinburgh Corporation between the wars, his biggest contribution being Portobello Power Station and his most satisfactory works the reconstruction and renovation of buildings in the Royal Mile.
He was overtaken by illness in 1950 and retired in 1953. He died on 20 September 1959, aged 65.
MM, DA (Edin), ARIBA | 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) | c/o Miss Rutherford, 18, Springfield, Dundee, Scotland | Private | 1920 * | | | ![Item 2 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | 33, Summerside Place, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before 1920 | | | ![Item 3 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | 7, Braidburn Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1929 | c. 1931 | | ![Item 4 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Municipal Chambers, Parliament Square, High Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1954 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | ![Item 1 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | Francis William Deas | Late 1920 or early 1921 | for Associateship | ![Item 2 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | James Thomson | Late 1920 or early 1921 | for Associateship | ![Item 3 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | John Watson | Late 1920 or early 1921 | 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 21](images/table_item.gif) | | Housing Scheme, Maidencraig Court and Queensferry Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Local Authority | ![Item 2 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1932 | Murdoch Terrace (Dalry) Public Washhouse | Dalry | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Lead Architect | ![Item 3 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1939 | Portobello Power Station | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design only? Not executed? | ![Item 4 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | 130 “Orlit” Houses, Saughton Mains Estate | Saughton Mains | | Edinburgh | | City Architect | ![Item 5 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | Duddingston School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New classrooms | ![Item 6 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | Moredun Housing Estate | Moredun | | Edinburgh | Scotland | City architect for scheme comprising 830 houses and 22 shops | ![Item 7 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | School Buildings | Colinton Mains | | Edinburgh | | City Architect | ![Item 8 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | Catholic School, Inch | Inch | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 9 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | Primary School, Moredun | Moredun | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 10 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | Primary School, Old Saughton | Old Saughton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 11 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | Senior Secondary School, New Inch | New Inch | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 12 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | Southhouse Primary School | Southhouse | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 13 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | St David's Catholic School | West Pilton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | To prepare plans | ![Item 14 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1951 | Housing, Drylaw Mains South | Drylaw Mains | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 15 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1951 | Public School, Lampaen Road | Carrick Knave | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 16 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | April 1951 | Remand Home, Edinburgh Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect | ![Item 17 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1952 | Edinburgh Corporation Housing, Inch Site | Liberton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect | ![Item 18 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 24 October 1952 | House of Nisbet of Dirleton, Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Prepared plans for alterations | ![Item 19 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1953 | Premises of Youth Employment Services, Cornwall Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans in hand for reconstruction and additions - as City Architect | ![Item 20 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 1954 | Housing development, Oxgangs | Oxgangs | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect - laid out for development | ![Item 21 of 21](images/table_item.gif) | 8 January 1954 | Corporation Housing, Greendykes Avenue and Niddrie Mains Road Site | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Scheme of houses - as City Architect |
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 | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 13 January 1950 | | | p86 | ![Item 2 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 14 April 1950 | | | p505 | ![Item 3 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 7 April 1950 | | | p472 | ![Item 4 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 19 May 1950 | | | p692 | ![Item 5 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 16 June 1950 | | | p825 | ![Item 6 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 9 June 1950 | | | p793 | ![Item 7 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 15 April 1951 | | | p534 | ![Item 8 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 16 November 1951 | | | p696 | ![Item 9 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 2 November 1951 | | | p605 | ![Item 10 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 30 November 1951 | | | p773 | ![Item 11 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 11 April 1952 | | | p542 (notes his impending retirement, and confirms Alexander Steele as his successor) | ![Item 12 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 29 August 1952 | | | p313 | ![Item 13 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 24 October 1952 | | | p596 | ![Item 14 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 29 May 1953 | | | p849 | ![Item 15 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 8 January 1954 | | | p77 | ![Item 16 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 2 October 1959 | | | 'Obituary - Alexander G. Forgie, ARIBA' p349 | ![Item 17 of 17](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA Journal | February 1960 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p145 (by Alexander Steele, City Architect) |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no3138 (microfilm reel 25) |
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