Basic Biographical Details

Name: A B & J Crombie
Designation:  
Born: c. 1876(?)
Died: 1881
Bio Notes: Alan Burgess Crombie and James Crombie were born in 1845, the sons (presumably twins) of architect Alexander Crombie of Dumfries. Both were articled to their father in 1860. Alan subsequently sought experience in London with Henry Astley Darbishire from 1864 to 1866, returning to assist his father in the latter year before being taken into partnership in 1870. James had a rather more adventurous career than his brother, seeking experience in the offices of Ewan Christian, Christopher Obee Ellison and Cubitt and Co's in London and Charles Dexter Gambrill and Henry Hobson Richardson in New York, returning c.1876 to become his brother's partner.

Alexander Crombie died in 1880. His sons' partnership was dissolved by 1881 when James became the partner of Patrick James Byrne of Windsor, with an office address at Lyons Inn Chambers, 303 Strand, London, and a home address at Rutland Lodge, Dulwich. Alan Burgess was elected FRIBA on 20 March that year, his proposers being John Honeyman, Darbishire, and John Baird. James must have passed the RIBA's qualifying exam as he was elected ARIBA on 9 January 1882, his proposers being Christian, Professor Robert Kerr and John Thomas Wimperis. He continued to practise from London, competing against his brother for the Ewart Library in 1900. He died in 1909.

Alan predeceased his brother on 29 November 1904. The practice was taken over by his twenty-two-year-old son Wilfrid Fitzalan Crombie (born 30 January 1882), who had been articled to his father for two years from September 1896, leaving to attend eight months of day classes at Glasgow Technical College before being placed with Honeyman and Keppie (from 1901 Honeyman and Mackintosh) from 1899 to 1903, when he had returned to his father's practice.

Despite this interesting architectural lineage the work of the younger Crombies is notably interesting only in the decade following Alan and James's return from London and New York, notably at the Gothic board schools of the 1870s and the huge Victorian palazzo façade of Rosefield Mills which was presumably the inspiration for William Leiper's still finer Templeton Factory façade at Glasgow Green a few years later. Alan's later work is neo-Jacobean as at Maxwelltown Courthouse and neo-baroque as at the Ewart Library.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandBusiness   

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 2Alan Burgess Crombiec. 1876 *1881Partner 
Item 2 of 2James Crombiec. 1876 *1881Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 101876SchoolsDumfries and neighbourhood DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 2 of 101876St Michael's SchoolDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 3 of 101877Spinning and Dye Works for Provost ShortridgeDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAlan Burgess Crombie responsible
Item 4 of 101878Kirkpatrick-Fleming ManseKirkpatrick-Fleming DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 5 of 101878St Mary's ChurchDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAlterations
Item 6 of 101878Villas in Lovers Walk and Newall TerraceDumfries DunfriesshireScotland 
Item 7 of 101879United Associate ChurchDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandExtension - Alan Burgess Crombie responsible
Item 8 of 101880Farm buildings for Lord Mansfield  DumfriesshireScotlandAlan Burgess Crombie responsible
Item 9 of 101880Gretna ManseGretna Green DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 10 of 101880St Andrews RC Pro-CathedralDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandDecoration - Alan Burgess Crombie responsible

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 2Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 

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 A v8 p85 (microfiche 31/F4); F v6 p144 (microfiche 96/E1)