Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Prain Bruce | Designation: | | Born: | 29 August 1860 | Died: | 20 January 1935 | Bio Notes: | James Prain Bruce was born on 29 August 1860, the eldest of the sons of Dundee architect, John Bruce. He was articled to his father in 1877, and moved to gain experience in unidentified London offices in 1881, but after some years there returned to Dundee to practise with his father. His clientele was initially mainly the Speed family who were wine and spirit merchants and commissioned high-quality tenements, but from the late 1880s he designed many villas in Carnoustie where the Bruce family had settled. In his obituary he is described as having designed 'many works of a varied character'. Bruce was President of the Dundee Institute of Architects from 1900 to 1902, and acted as honorary secretary during the First World War. He was a Fellow of the RIAS and a Member of Council.
In 1919 James Prain Bruce took his former apprentice and assistant George Christie Morton (born 1886) into partnership, the name of the firm becoming Bruce Son & Morton. Douglas Prain Bruce of St Clair, Carnoustie, James Prain's son, became an additional partner in the 1930s.
James Prain Bruce practised until c.1933, when illness prevented him from continuing. He died at his house on 20 January 1935, aged 74. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 10, Whitehall Street, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1907 | After 1930 | | | Highfield, Carnoustie, Angus, Scotland | Private | 1914 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | John Bruce | 1877 | 1881 | Apprentice | | | John Bruce & Son | After 1883 | 1919 | Partner | | | Bruce, Son & Morton | 1919 | 1935 | Partner | |
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 | | After 1877 | Building, Bank Street | | | Dundee | Scotland | As apprentice/assistant and latterly as partner of his father | | 1880 | Tenement and shops, Union Place and Perth Road corner | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1886 | Dwellinghouses, Blackness Road | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1886 | Tenement, Perth Road and Step Row corner | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1887 | Corner Building, Commercial Street and Seagate | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1887 | Dwellinghouses, Blackness Road and Balgay Avenue | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1887 | Panbride Free Church | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Repairs after a fire | | 1888 | Commercial buildings | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1888 | Panbride Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1889 | 33 Hermon Hill | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1889 | Tenement, 23-25 Perth Road | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1891 | Annfield | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | After 1891 | Brookfield | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | After 1891 | Residence for H Hayes Watson | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | After 1891 | Tullavin | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | After 1891 | Winterdyne | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1892 | Cottage at Lynnewood Place | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1892 | Fenella | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1893 | Carnoustie Public School | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1893 | Panbride Free Church | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Design for new church - or perhaps enlargement. Emlargement not carried out until 1901 | | 1893 | Tenement, Albert Street and Eliza Street corner | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1894 | 33 Hermon Hill | | | Dundee | Scotland | Additions | | 1895 | Cottage at Carnoustie | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1895 | Feus, Newton of Panbride | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1895 | Villa at Carlogie Road and Guthrie Street | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1896 | Annfield | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1896 | Cottages at West Park | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1897 | Lochee Road UP Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1897 | Maulesbank | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1898 | Building | Hawkhill | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations | | 1898 | Carnoustie Municipal Buildings | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | NB drawings are signed by James P Bruce only | | 1898 | Shops and tenements, Hilltown | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1898 | Town Hall | Pitlochry | | Perthshire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job with Ness working in the John Bruce & Son office | | 1899 | Workshop and office, Camperdown Dock | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1900 | Barry Parish Church Hall | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1900 | UP Church, Carnoustie | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Additions? | | After 1900(?) | Holy Rood Episcopal Church | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations | | 1901 | 30-32 High Street | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1902 | Cottage, Lochend | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | ? Drawing not signed | | 1903 | Licensed premises, Perth Road | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1903 | Speedwell Bar | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1905 | Carnoustie Public School | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Additions | | 1905 | Commercial buildings (and perhaps tenements?), Perth Road and Union Place | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1906 | 1-13 Castle Terrace | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and conversions of nos 3-10 to flats | | 1909 | Houses, Fairfield Road | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1910 | Bon Accord | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1910 | Bungalow, Green Lane | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1910 | House at Dalhousie Street | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Signed drawing | | 1911 | Cottage, Maule Street | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1912 | Bunnymead | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1912 | House at Snabs | Longforgan | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1912 | Tenement block, Queen Street | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1913 | House at Rose Terrace | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Signed drawings | | 1916 | Jute warehouse, Carolina Port | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1919 | Logie Housing Scheme | | | Dundee | Scotland | Designed some areas within Logie. | | 1919 | Synagogue | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1920 | Burns and Harris shop, Nethergate | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations (drawing not signed) | | 1920 | Stirling Park Housing Scheme | | | Dundee | Scotland | Designed buildings; scheme planned by James Thomson, Dundee City Architect | | 1921 | Dudhope Housing Scheme | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1921 | Photographic Studio | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations | | 1921 | Victory Public Park, War Memorial Arch | Meigle | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1922 | Queen Street UP Church | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations | | 1925 | Carnoustie War Memorial | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1925 | Fairway Garage | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1927 | Carnoustie Parish Church Hall | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1927 | New Cemetery | Pitskelly | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1927 | Temporary Shed, East Dock Street | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1928 | Cottage, Taymouth Street | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1928 | Licensed premises, Wolseley Street and Tannadice Street | Clepington | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1928 | West End Garage | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations. | | 1929 | 33 Hermon Hill | | | Dundee | Scotland | Additions | | 1929 | Cottage at Bingham Terrace | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1929 | Magdala | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1930s | Melfort | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1930 | Cottage at Dalhousie Street | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1930 | George Morton's Bond | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1931 | United Savings Bank | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1932 | Panbride Free Church | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Additions at North end of church | | 1933 | Copper Works, 64 East Dock Street | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1933 | Waverley Temperance Hotel | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations | | Early 1900s | House at Seafield Road | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | | | Early 1900s | James UF Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Drew up presentation drawings, perhaps for competition for replacement church |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIAS Quarterly | 1935 | 49 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Mrs Fairweather (née Cowan), owner of the Castle, Alpha and Panmure Terrace properties, obtained in the 1950s; and from W Sinclair Gauldie, orgiinally obtained from Douglas Bruce's daughter, a student at Dundee Art College c.1943-7. Also information from his descendent Adrian Bruce via the web. |
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