Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Bruce
Designation:  
Born: c. 1827
Died: 16 September 1900
Bio Notes: John Bruce was born about 1827, the only son of John Bruce (1794-1875) and Elizabeth Low (1787-1828). Like his father he started out life as a textile manufacturer; however he lost all his money in the collapse of the Western Bank in 1857, In the Post Office directory for 1858-59 he is still described as a manufacturer. However he quickly got himself out of debt by embarking on a career in architecture. In the Census of 1861 he was described as an architect empolying one boy and by October 1862 assumed as partner David Balfour who had worked for 10 years as principal assistant in the Town Surveyor's office in Dundee. It is not clear how long this partnership lasted but by the later 1860s Bruce specialised in working-class housing in Dundee, particularly in Hilltown, west of Main Street, and in terrace housing in Broughty Ferry built by John Cowan for rental.

John Bruce was married three times: Margaret (or Marjorie) Prain (1825-1865), from which there was one son, James Prain Bruce; then Annie Bruce (1845-1890) from which there issued John junior and George; and finally Davina Simpson (1854?-1932). John junior emigrated to Australia and George moved to Cheshire and worked as a druggist. James Prain (born 29 April 1860) followed his father into architecture and by the 1880s, the firm had become John Bruce & Son.

James Prain Bruce was articled to his father in 1877 and left for an unidentified office in London in 1881 to gain experience, remaining there for several years before rejoining his father as a partner. The practice thereafter went more upmarket, specialising in high-quality tenement work for the Speed family who were wine and spirit merchants, and villas in Carnoustie where the Bruces had settled. John Bruce senior retired to Cupar and but he died in Broughty Ferry on 16 September 1900.

James Prain Bruce took an active interest in the Dundee Institute of Architects, being President 1900-02 and acting as Hon Secretary during the war years. His son Douglas Prain Bruce, born 27 February 1906 at Carnoustie joined the practice in the 1930s.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 923, Rosebank Street, Dundee, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)c. 1858 *After 1861 
Item 2 of 91½, Crichton Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1862  
Item 3 of 919, Meadowside, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness18651869 
Item 4 of 937, High Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusinessc. 1869 *1874 
Item 5 of 931, Reform Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1876 *  
Item 6 of 931, Bank Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1878 *  
Item 7 of 98, Bank Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1880 *  
Item 8 of 910, Whitehall Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1901  
Item 9 of 9Cupar, Fife, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1901  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 2Bruce & BalfourOctober 1862 Partner 
Item 2 of 2John Bruce & SonAfter 1883 Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1James Prain Bruce18771881Apprentice 

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 431868TenementHilltown DundeeScotland 
Item 2 of 431868Tenement  DundeeScotland 
Item 3 of 431869Tenement, 3-9 Ann Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 4 of 431871Alpha TerraceBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 5 of 431871Castle TerraceBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 6 of 431871Panmure TerraceBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 7 of 431871(?)Tenement, 11-19 North Ellen Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 8 of 431874Building, Bank Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 9 of 431877HousesBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 10 of 431877Temperance HallTayport FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 431880Tenement and shops, Union Place and Perth Road corner  DundeeScotland 
Item 12 of 431886Dwellinghouses, Blackness Road  DundeeScotland 
Item 13 of 431886Tenement, Perth Road and Step Row corner  DundeeScotland 
Item 14 of 431887Corner Building, Commercial Street and Seagate  DundeeScotland 
Item 15 of 431887Dwellinghouses, Blackness Road and Balgay Avenue  DundeeScotland 
Item 16 of 431888Commercial buildings  DundeeScotland 
Item 17 of 431888Panbride Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 18 of 43188933 Hermon Hill  DundeeScotland 
Item 19 of 431889Tenement, 23-25 Perth Road  DundeeScotland 
Item 20 of 431891AnnfieldCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 21 of 431892Cottage at Lynnewood Place  DundeeScotland 
Item 22 of 431892FenellaBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 23 of 431893Carnoustie Public SchoolCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 24 of 431893Panbride Free ChurchCarnoustie AngusScotlandDesign for new church - or perhaps enlargement. Emlargement not carried out until 1901
Item 25 of 431893Tenement, Albert Street and Eliza Street corner  DundeeScotland 
Item 26 of 431895Cottage at CarnoustieCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 27 of 431895Feus, Newton of Panbride  DundeeScotland 
Item 28 of 431895Villa at Carlogie Road and Guthrie StreetCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 29 of 431896Cottages at West ParkCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 30 of 431897Lochee Road UP Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 31 of 431897MaulesbankCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 32 of 431898BuildingHawkhill DundeeScotlandAlterations
Item 33 of 431898Carnoustie Municipal BuildingsCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 34 of 431898Shops and tenements, Hilltown  DundeeScotland 
Item 35 of 431898Town HallPitlochry PerthshireScotlandWon competition and secured job with Ness working in the John Bruce & Son office
Item 36 of 431899Workshop and office, Camperdown Dock  DundeeScotland 
Item 37 of 43Late 1800sTenement, 27-33 Commercial Street  DundeeScotlandHS says this is in 'the style of John Bruce'
Item 38 of 431900Barry Parish Church HallCarnoustie AngusScotland 
Item 39 of 431900UP Church, CarnoustieCarnoustie AngusScotlandAdditions?
Item 40 of 43c. 1900Holy Rood Episcopal ChurchCarnoustie AngusScotlandAlterations
Item 41 of 431903Speedwell Bar  DundeeScotland 
Item 42 of 43Early 1900sHouse at Seafield RoadBroughty Ferry DundeeScotlandPossibly involved
Item 43 of 43Early 1900sJames UF Church  DundeeScotlandDrew up presentation drawings, perhaps for competition for replacement church

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RCAHMS1992Dundee on Record RCAHMS11-19 North Ellen Street: view of west facade fist floor central window (1989) p43
Item 3 of 3Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Cupar Sheriff Court Wills SC20/56/1 and inventories SC20/50/83

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Dundee Courier18 October 1862   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Dundee Planning Department/NMRSDundee Approved Duplicate Plans (Originals in NMRS for dates 1867-1883; otherwise on microfilm)  
Item 2 of 2Professor 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.