Basic Biographical Details

Name: Carruthers Ballantyne & Taylor (or Ballantyne & Taylor)
Designation:  
Born: July 1921
Died: c. 1933
Bio Notes: Robert (Roy) Carruthers Ballantyne was born in 1891, the son of William Laidlaw Carruthers, assuming the additional surname of Ballantyne c.1920 when he inherited the estate of Holylee in Peeblessshire from William Laidlaw Ballantyne (presumably an uncle), who was factor at Abbotsford. While at school he had to have a foot amputated as a result of osteomyetitis following a kick in a rugby game. He refused to wear an artificial foot and had a peg leg throughout adult life. He trained at the Architectural Association and with Sir Guy Dawber, and spent part of 1914 acting as Clerk of Works for James Ransome. Later the same year, at the early age of 23, he inherited his father's practice in Inverness in partnership with Samuel Grant Alexander.

Ballantyne was on war service from 1916 to 1919, and was employed as a draughtsman by W C Lucas in 1920, resuming independent practice in 1921. He was joined in partnership by his father's former apprentice and assistant William John Taylor (born 1892 or 1893) in July that year, and later by ____ Cox.

In the 1930s the practice of Carruthers Ballantyne, Cox and Taylor built some of the best early modern houses in Scotland. No information is yet available on Cox, and little on Taylor, the key figures in the office being Donald Fowler and William Allen. Ballantyne himself is said to have been ill-at-ease building these modern houses, probably for technical as much as aesthetic reasons, although he did design at least one himself.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 252, Queensgate, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 228, Queen's Gate, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1928c. 1933 

Employment and Training

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 14Donald Alexander FowlerJuly 19211925Apprentice 
Item 2 of 14Robert Carruthers-Ballantyne (or Robert Ballantyne Carruthers; or Roy Carruthers Ballantyne)July 1921c. 1933Partner 
Item 3 of 14William John TaylorJuly 1921c. 1933Partner 
Item 4 of 14Leo DurninJuly 1922August 1923Assistant 
Item 5 of 14Neil Ross1923 Apprentice 
Item 6 of 14James Stott Dawson1924Late 1924Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 14Alexander James CruickshankApril 1926August 1926Improver 
Item 8 of 14Neil MacLeodJune 1926August 1928Apprentice 
Item 9 of 14Jessie Knowles (Mrs Ingoldsby)20 September 192631 August 1929Apprentice 
Item 10 of 14Neil Ross1928 Assistant 
Item 11 of 14Donald Alexander FowlerJune 19281929Draughtsman 
Item 12 of 14John Baillie Noble19291932Apprentice 
Item 13 of 14David Gordon WilsonSeptember 19321933 or 1934Apprentice 
Item 14 of 14Donald James MacDonaldc. 1948 Assistant 

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 231921Moness HouseAberfeldy PerthshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 2 of 231922Cantray LodgeGollanfield Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 3 of 231922Holylee HouseWalkerburn PeeblesshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 4 of 231922St Michael's ChurchInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations and renovation
Item 5 of 231923Corrie LodgeBroadfordSkyeInverness-shireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 6 of 231923Edward Housing SchemeForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 7 of 231923West Parish ChurchInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations and renovation
Item 8 of 231924Forestry Commission HoldingsFort Augustus (area) Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 9 of 231924Glencarron Lodge  Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 10 of 231924Killilan Lodge  Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 11 of 231925Caledonian BankInverness Inverness-shireScotlandInterior reconstruction
Item 12 of 231926Bank of ScotlandWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 13 of 231926Inverness Housing Scheme, 5th developmentInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 14 of 23Before 1926Cantray House(II)Croy Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 15 of 23Before 1926Kinless House  Inverness-shire Scotland 
Item 16 of 231927Picture HouseForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 17 of 231928Inverinate HouseKintail Ross & CromartyScotland 
Item 18 of 23Before 1930(?)Playhouse CinemaInverness Inverness-shireScotlandIt is unclear whether Carruthers Ballantyne was responsible for the building on his own, or in partnership, as the date has not been established
Item 19 of 231931Playhouse CinemaPeterhead AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 20 of 231932 or 1933House for H H WardInverness? Inverness-shire?Scotland 
Item 21 of 231932 or 1933House for J M MackintoshCulcabock Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 22 of 231932 or 1933House for Miss E M StevensonCulcabock Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 23 of 231933Public HallBroadfordSkyeInverness-shireScotland 

References

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 L no3422 (box 11); F no3194 (box 18) (Carruthers Ballantyne; F no2637 (box 9) (Taylor)