Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Lorne Campbell
Designation:  
Born: 1871
Died: 6 July 1944
Bio Notes: Alexander Lorne Campbell was born in 1871 the son of Archibald Campbell, Depute City Clerk of Edinburgh, and was educated at George Watson's College. He was articled to Peter Lyle Barclay Henderson of Edinburgh for four years from November 1886, remaining with him as assistant for a further six months until 1891 when he took up a post in the City Architect's Department, the City Architect then being Robert Morham. During that period he attended art classes at Edinburgh College of Art, Fine Art classes at Edinburgh University, and art, architecture and technical classes at Heriot-Watt College.

He commenced independent practice in July 1896 at 21 St Andrew Square, moving two years later to 44 Queen Street to enter into partnership with John Nichol Scott, who was eight years older (born 1863). Scott had been articled to Archibald Macpherson and subsequently worked in the offices of Rowand Anderson, William Gardner Rowan and Hippolyte Jean Blanc, and had spent the previous two years in informal partnership with James Anderson Williamson, another assistant of Robert Morham's, for the purpose of entering the North Bridge competition, on which they were successful.

In 1899 the newly formed partnership of J N Scott & A Lorne Campbell (commonly referred to simply as Scott & Campbell) had a major success when Walter Wood Robertson awarded them first place in the competition for Midlothian County Buildings, but as in the North Bridge competition the practice derived little benefit from it, the Convener on the County Sir James Gibson Craig giving the commission to James Macintyre Henry whose design had been placed fourth. In the following year, 1900, the practice had a further success in the competition for St Stephens UF Church, Comely Bank which at last launched the practice into actual building. Both partners were admitted FRIBA on 4 March 1907, their proposers being Blanc, Alexander Hunter Crawford and Harold Ogle Tarbolton. Scott was then living at 22 Brougham Place and Campbell at 7 Inverleith Terrace. Campbell's nomination papers state that his travels up to that point had taken him to Germany, Holland and Belgium.

Campbell was a founder member of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Branch of the Garden City Association; probably brought in by his client Henry M Cadell of Grange shortly after 1905 and before 1908.

Although Campbell had never worked for Rowand Anderson he became closely associated with him in professional matters during the First World War. When Anderson was awarded the Royal Gold Medal in 1916 and was too ill to travel to London to receive it personally it was Campbell who read out the address and the Lord Provost, Sir Robert Inches, who received the medal on his behalf; and it was again Campbell who acted for Anderson when on 6 October they approached John Watson and William Whitie of the Glasgow Institute of Architects for their agreement to the formation of a national institute, the formal meeting taking place on the 19th. When Anderson died in 1921, Campbell was one of the executors and designed the memorial cottage to Lady Anderson who had died some five months earlier.

The practice moved to 60 Castle Street before 1914. After Scott died in 1920 Campbell entered into partnership with John Begg, an old colleague of Scott's in Blanc's office who had been consulting architect to the Government of India and was about to become head of the school of architecture at Edinburgh College of Art. The partnership was dissolved c.1924, Campbell thereafter practising alone as consulting architect to the General Trustees of the Church of Scotland. He was also a member of the Edinburgh Dean of Guild Court. He was one of the leading members of the Edinburgh and East of Scotland Garden Cities Association.

Campbell served on the Council of the Edinburgh Architectural Association in the years around 1930. During the Second World War he was Lieutenant Colonel Quartering Commandant Edinburgh but retired in 1942 beause of his age and pressur eof other business.

He died on 6 July 1944, survived by his wife. They had no children. His home address at that time was West Colinton Cottage, Woodhall Road, which he had altered for his own use in 1907. He left estate of £2,637 16s 8d.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 93, Moston Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1890c. 1899 
Item 2 of 93, Moston Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1896  
Item 3 of 921, St Andrew Square, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessJuly 18961898 
Item 4 of 944, Queen Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness18981908With J N Scott
Item 5 of 97, Inverleith Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1906c. 1910 
Item 6 of 960, Castle Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19101940After John Nicol Scott withdrew in 1918 or 1919, Lorne Campbell remained at Castle Street and to be joined c.1920-24 by John Begg
Item 7 of 914, Ramsay Garden, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate19121913 
Item 8 of 933, Manor Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1914 *  
Item 9 of 9West Colinton Cottage, Woodhall Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate19161944 

* 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 6Peter Lyle Barclay HendersonNovember 1886c. November 1890Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Peter Lyle Barclay Hendersonc. November 1890c. May 1891Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 6Edinburgh City Architect's Department (Edinburgh Corporation)c. May 1891July 1896DraughtsmanWorking under Robert Morham
Item 4 of 6Robert Morhamc. May 1891July 1896Draughtsman 
Item 5 of 6J N Scott & A Lorne Campbell (or Scott & Campbell)18981920Partner 
Item 6 of 6Begg & Lorne Campbell1920c. 1924Partner 

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 4James Henderson19251927Draughtsman 
Item 2 of 4David Graham Watson19331934Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Alan Douglas19351940Apprentice 
Item 4 of 4James Drummond1939(?) * Assistant(?)Address suggests he may have been workijng for Lorne Campbell

* earliest date known from documented sources.


RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Hippolyte Jean Blanc4 March 1907for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Alexander Hunter Crawford4 March 1907for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Harold Ogle Tarbolton4 March 1907for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 27James Alexander Arnott1920for Fellowship
Item 2 of 27Samuel DavidsonEarly 1921for Associateship
Item 3 of 27Alexander Esmé Gordon (or Esmé Gordon)2 December 1935for Associateship
Item 4 of 27James GrayLate 1922for Associateship
Item 5 of 27Robert Raeburn Grieve31 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 27John Campbell HallEarly 1933for Licentiateship
Item 7 of 27Alexander Murray Hardie24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 8 of 27James Henderson5 March 1943for Licentiateship
Item 9 of 27Joseph Marr Johnston14 June 1926for Fellowship
Item 10 of 27Stewart KayeMarch 1921For Associateship
Item 11 of 27Harry ('Henry') Kerr Macdonald16 July 1940for Licentiateship
Item 12 of 27George Donaldson MacnivenLate 1915for Fellowship
Item 13 of 27Ebenezer James MacRaeLate 1914for Associateship
Item 14 of 27Margaret McEwanLate 1928for Associateship
Item 15 of 27James McLachlan30 November 1925for Fellowship
Item 16 of 27Alexander McWilliamDecember 1922For Associateship
Item 17 of 27(Sir) Matthew Montgomerie OchterlonyMid 1932for Licentiateship
Item 18 of 27Thomas Reid PeacockMid 1921for Fellowship
Item 19 of 27Jackson Nisbet Pollock9 February 1936for Associateship
Item 20 of 27Thomas RutherfordLate 1932for Fellowship
Item 21 of 27James Johnstone Shannon 6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 22 of 27Thomas Sinclair20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 23 of 27James ThomsonMid 1916for Fellowship
Item 24 of 27Ramsay TraquairLate 1920 or early 1921for Fellowship
Item 25 of 27Claude Cornelius Tom WarnesEarly 1914for Associateship
Item 26 of 27John Wilson1913for Fellowship
Item 27 of 27Alexander Buchan Wylie9 January 1939for Associateship

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 59 Abbey St Bathans ChurchAbbey St Bathans East LothianScotlandInvolved in some capacity at unknown date (NMRS)
Item 2 of 591895Craigmillar Park Golf ClubhouseCraigmillar EdinburghScotlandDesigned while in Morham's office. (Campbell was a member and his brother Archibald was its secretary)
Item 3 of 59After 1896Four housesCrail FifeScotland 
Item 4 of 59After 1896Pair of dwelling houses for J Graham DownesNewington EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 591898Hailes Estate feuing plan  EdinburghScotlandDrawing is from 21 St Andrew Square at which addess Lorne Campbell worked in 1898
Item 6 of 59After 1898Bristo EU Church  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 7 of 59After 1898(?)Hawick Burgh CasketHawick RoxburghshireScotlandDate uncertain - may have been done by J N Scott before formation of partnership with Lorne Campbell
Item 8 of 59After 1898(?)Pilrig Free ChurchPilrig EdinburghScotlandAlterations (date uncertain - may have been done by J N Scott before formation of partnership with Lorne Campbell)
Item 9 of 59After 1898Scottish County and Mercantile Insurance Company Head Office  EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 59After 1898Wesleyan Methodist HallsStockbridge EdinburghScotlandReconstruction
Item 11 of 591899Midlothian County Council Buildings  EdinburghScotlandCompetition design - awarded first premium but not the commssion
Item 12 of 591900Police BuildingsKirkcaldy FifeScotlandPlaced first in competition but job given to Williamson & Inglis
Item 13 of 591900St Stephen's UF ChurchComely Bank EdinburghScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 14 of 591901Anstruther Easter new public schoolAnstruther Easter FifeScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 15 of 591901Carnegie Free LibraryHawick RoxburghshireScotlandAwarded commission following competition
Item 16 of 591902Baberton Golf ClubhouseJuniper Green EdinburghScotlandExtension, alterations and additions
Item 17 of 591902Four cottagesWest Linton PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 18 of 591903Carnegie Public LibraryMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandCompetition design - placed third
Item 19 of 591903Leith PoorhouseLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 20 of 591903New North Free Church  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 21 of 591903South African War MemorialHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 22 of 591904Grange HouseLinlithgow West LothianScotland 
Item 23 of 591904McDonald Road UF Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 24 of 591905St Andrews UF ChurchBo'ness / Borrowstouness West LothianScotland 
Item 25 of 591907Birmingham Council House extension and Art Galleries  BirminghamEnglandCompetition design for extension - not successful
Item 26 of 591907Dowell's Auctioneers  EdinburghScotlandNew building, retaining elements of previous structure internally
Item 27 of 591909Kingsknowe Golf Clubhouse  EdinburghScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 28 of 591909London County Hall  LondonEnglandCompetition design
Item 29 of 591912Three-storey tenements arranged around open space   Scotland 
Item 30 of 591919Red Lion InnCulross FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 31 of 591920s(?)Heriot Cross, Grassmarket Improvement Scheme  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction
Item 32 of 591921Brechin War MemorialBrechin AngusScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 33 of 591921George Watson's College, Watsonian memorial  EdinburghScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 34 of 591921Lady Anderson's Memorial CottageColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 591921Theatre    Conversion of unspecified building to theatre
Item 36 of 591922New College, UF Church War Memorial  EdinburghScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 37 of 591922Paisley War MemorialPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandUnsuccessful competition design
Item 38 of 591922St Bernard's Parish Church War Memorial  EdinburghScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 39 of 591922St Giles Cathedral, Scottish Ministers War Memorial  EdinburghScotland 
Item 40 of 591922Tenements at Heriot Bridge  EdinburghScotland 
Item 41 of 591923Bengal Legislative Council Chamber  BengalIndiaCompetition design
Item 42 of 591923House for Sir J Paterson BrownMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 43 of 591923L'ErmitageColinton EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 44 of 59192436 Colinton Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 45 of 591925Edinburgh Dental Hospital and school  EdinburghScotlandRebuilt incorporating Lessels and Taylor corner building (these dates are beyond the known dates of the Begg & Lorne Campbell partnership; it is unclear which partner was responsible)
Item 46 of 591925St Cuthbert's Episcopal Church Hall  EdinburghScotland 
Item 47 of 591925Villa, Grant AvenueColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 48 of 591926Killearn Parish ChurchKillearn StirlingshireScotlandChoir stalls and other chancel furnishings
Item 49 of 591926West Colinton CottageColinton EdinburghScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 50 of 59Before 1926Dechmont House  MidlothianScotland 
Item 51 of 591927Greenbank UP Church  EdinburghScotlandBuilding completed
Item 52 of 591927L'ErmitageColinton EdinburghScotlandFurther additions
Item 53 of 591929Lochend Parish ChurchRestalrig EdinburghScotland 
Item 54 of 591932New North Free Church  EdinburghScotlandFurnishings
Item 55 of 591934Biggar KirkBiggar LanarkshireScotlandConsultant architect with Latto Alexander Morrison
Item 56 of 591934Free High Church and Free Church College  EdinburghScotlandWoodwork provided in old Free High Church on its conversion to the library. May also be responsible for alterations including sub-division of students' common room and alterations in examination rooms a year later
Item 57 of 591934Kirk Yetholm Parish ChurchKirk Yetholm RoxburghshireScotlandMajor remodelling with galleries removed and chancel formed
Item 58 of 591937St Nicholas Parish ChurchUphall West LothianScotlandAlterations including removal of galleries and other internal alterations and new woodwork
Item 59 of 591939Portobello Old Parish ChurchPortobello EdinburghScotlandAlterations to chancel and new furnishings

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Johnson, Jim and Rosenburg, Lou2010Renewing Old Edinburgh: the Enduring Legacy of Patrick Geddes Glendaruel: Argyll Publishingp168 (note 59) and p189
Item 2 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 3Rosenburg, Lou2016Scotland's Homes fit for Heroes: Garden City Influences on the Development of Scottish Working Class Housing, 1900-1939 Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies: The Word Bankpp100-101

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Edinburgh Evening News7 July 1944  Obituary
Item 2 of 2Scotsman11 March 1944  p4 Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F v18 p75 no1210 (microfilm reel 12)