Basic Biographical Details Name: | J P Alison & George Hobkirk | Designation: | | Born: | Early 1920s | Died: | After 1937(?) | Bio Notes: | James Pearson Alison appears to have belonged to Dalkeith (HS says he was born in Eskbank - no reference) as he shared the address of Rosehill with the landscape painter Thomas Alison who was probably a brother. He was educated at the Edinburgh Institution from 1876 to 1878. Articled to Robert Thornton Shiells, he remained with him as a draughtsman until September 1885, studying at the Royal Scottish Academy School of Art, at Professor Baldwin Brown's History of Architecture classes at Edinburgh University, and at the Heriot-Watt Institute classes on Sanitation. After leaving Thornton Shiells he devoted several months to study before entering the office of Charles Davidson of Paisley in March 1886, and remained there until setting up practice on his own account in Hawick two years later. He visited most of the cathedral cities of England and travelled Normany, Brittany and the Netherlands.
Alison was admitted FRIBA on 2 December 1907, his proposers being Harold Ogle Tarbolton, Hippolyte Jean Blanc and James Bow Dunn. His work usually had a quiet distinction but a few of his buildings have flashes of originality. His RIBA obituary describes him as 'a man of kindly disposition' and as a keen antiquarian. As such he supervised the excavation of the 13th-century chapel at Hermitage, and wrote a pamphlet on the results of his excavations which he donated to the Ecclesiological & Hawick Archaeological Society.
From the early 1920s he practised in partnership with George Hobkirk, of whom no details are known. The partnership continued until Alison's death at Hawick on 19 November 1932; he left moveable estate of £3,093 15s 3d. His practice continued for at least a time under the existing title of J P Alison & Hobkirk. The firm of Aitken & Turnbull is the successor of this practice. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 45, Bridge Street, Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland | Business | Early 1920s | 1954 | | | 22, Buccleuch Street, Hawick, Roxburghshire | | 1955 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 12 February 1954 | | | p321 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Hawick Museum | Plans | | | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Drawings Collection | | | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | R E Scott Collection (from firm of J P Alison and Hobkirk) | | |
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