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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 210, Whitehall Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1907After 1930 
Item 2 of 2Highfield, Carnoustie, Angus, ScotlandPrivate1914  

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John Bruce18771881Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3John Bruce & SonAfter 18831919Partner 
Item 3 of 3Bruce, Son & Morton19191935Partner 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 82After 1877Building, Bank Street  DundeeScotlandAs apprentice/assistant and latterly as partner of his father
Item 2 of 821880Tenement and shops, Union Place and Perth Road corner  DundeeScotland 
Item 3 of 821886Dwellinghouses, Blackness Road  DundeeScotland 
Item 4 of 821886Tenement, Perth Road and Step Row corner  DundeeScotland 
Item 5 of 821887Corner Building, Commercial Street and Seagate  DundeeScotland 
Item 6 of 821887Dwellinghouses, Blackness Road and Balgay Avenue  DundeeScotland 
Item 7 of 821887Panbride Free ChurchCarnoustie AngusScotlandRepairs after a fire
Item 8 of 821888Commercial buildings  DundeeScotland 
Item 9 of 821888Panbride Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 10 of 82188933 Hermon Hill  DundeeScotland 
Item 11 of 821889Tenement, 23-25 Perth Road  DundeeScotland 
Item 12 of 821891AnnfieldCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 13 of 82After 1891BrookfieldCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 14 of 82After 1891Residence for H Hayes WatsonCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 15 of 82After 1891TullavinCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 16 of 82After 1891WinterdyneCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 17 of 821892Cottage at Lynnewood Place  DundeeScotland 
Item 18 of 821892FenellaBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 19 of 821893Carnoustie Public SchoolCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 20 of 821893Panbride Free ChurchCarnoustie AngusScotlandDesign for new church - or perhaps enlargement. Emlargement not carried out until 1901
Item 21 of 821893Tenement, Albert Street and Eliza Street corner  DundeeScotland 
Item 22 of 82189433 Hermon Hill  DundeeScotlandAdditions
Item 23 of 821895Cottage at CarnoustieCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 24 of 821895Feus, Newton of Panbride  DundeeScotland 
Item 25 of 821895Villa at Carlogie Road and Guthrie StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 26 of 821896AnnfieldCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 27 of 821896Cottages at West ParkCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 28 of 821897Lochee Road UP Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 29 of 821897MaulesbankCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 30 of 821898BuildingHawkhill DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 31 of 821898Carnoustie Municipal BuildingsCarnoustie AngusScotlandNB drawings are signed by James P Bruce only
Item 32 of 821898Shops and tenements, Hilltown  DundeeScotland 
Item 33 of 821898Town HallPitlochry PerthshireScotlandWon competition and secured job with Ness working in the John Bruce & Son office
Item 34 of 821899Workshop and office, Camperdown Dock  DundeeScotland 
Item 35 of 821900Barry Parish Church HallCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 36 of 821900UP Church, CarnoustieCarnoustie AngusScotlandAdditions?
Item 37 of 82After 1900(?)Holy Rood Episcopal ChurchCarnoustie AngusScotlandAlterations
Item 38 of 82190130-32 High StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 39 of 821902Cottage, LochendCarnoustie AngusScotland? Drawing not signed
Item 40 of 821903Licensed premises, Perth Road  DundeeScotland 
Item 41 of 821903Speedwell Bar  DundeeScotland 
Item 42 of 821905Carnoustie Public SchoolCarnoustie AngusScotlandAdditions
Item 43 of 821905Commercial buildings (and perhaps tenements?), Perth Road and Union Place  DundeeScotland 
Item 44 of 8219061-13 Castle TerraceBroughty Ferry DundeeScotlandAlterations and conversions of nos 3-10 to flats
Item 45 of 821909Houses, Fairfield RoadBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 46 of 821910Bon Accord  DundeeScotland 
Item 47 of 821910Bungalow, Green LaneCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 48 of 821910House at Dalhousie StreetCarnoustie AngusScotlandSigned drawing
Item 49 of 821911Cottage, Maule StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 50 of 821912BunnymeadCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 51 of 821912House at SnabsLongforgan PerthshireScotland 
Item 52 of 821912Tenement block, Queen Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 53 of 821913House at Rose TerraceCarnoustie AngusScotlandSigned drawings
Item 54 of 821916Jute warehouse, Carolina Port  DundeeScotland 
Item 55 of 821919Logie Housing Scheme  DundeeScotlandDesigned some areas within Logie.
Item 56 of 821919Synagogue  DundeeScotland 
Item 57 of 821920Burns and Harris shop, Nethergate  DundeeScotlandAlterations (drawing not signed)
Item 58 of 821920Stirling Park Housing Scheme  DundeeScotlandDesigned buildings; scheme planned by James Thomson, Dundee City Architect
Item 59 of 821921Dudhope Housing Scheme  DundeeScotland 
Item 60 of 821921Photographic Studio  DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 61 of 821921Victory Public Park, War Memorial ArchMeigle PerthshireScotland 
Item 62 of 821922Queen Street UP ChurchBroughty Ferry DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 63 of 821925Carnoustie War MemorialCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 64 of 821925Fairway GarageCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 65 of 821927Carnoustie Parish Church HallCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 66 of 821927New CemeteryPitskelly AngusScotland 
Item 67 of 821927Temporary Shed, East Dock Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 68 of 821928Cottage, Taymouth StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 69 of 821928Licensed premises, Wolseley Street and Tannadice StreetClepington DundeeScotland 
Item 70 of 821928West End GarageBroughty Ferry DundeeScotlandAlterations.
Item 71 of 82192933 Hermon Hill  DundeeScotlandAdditions
Item 72 of 821929Cottage at Bingham Terrace  DundeeScotland 
Item 73 of 821929MagdalaWest Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 74 of 821930sMelfort  DundeeScotland 
Item 75 of 821930Cottage at Dalhousie StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 76 of 821930George Morton's Bond  DundeeScotland 
Item 77 of 821931United Savings BankCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 78 of 821932Panbride Free ChurchCarnoustie AngusScotlandAdditions at North end of church
Item 79 of 821933Copper Works, 64 East Dock Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 80 of 821933Waverley Temperance Hotel  DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 81 of 82Early 1900sHouse at Seafield RoadBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 82 of 82Early 1900sJames UF Church  DundeeScotlandDrew up presentation drawings, perhaps for competition for replacement church

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS Quarterly193549Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor 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.