Basic Biographical Details

Name: (Sir) Matthew Montgomerie Ochterlony
Designation:  
Born: 28 February 1880
Died: 4 October 1946
Bio Notes: Sir Matthew Montgomerie Ochterlony was born on 28 February 1880 in Juniper Green, the elder son of Sir David F Ochterlony and his wife Somerville Grahame, daughter of Barron Grahame of Morphie, Kincardineshire. He was educated at the Edinburgh Institution from 1892-94.

In 1899 he was articled to Kinross & Tarbolton and studied at the Edinburgh School of Applied Art, but his training was interrupted by ill health in 1902, on account of which he was obliged to spend the next two years engaged in 'outdoor employment in forestry and market gardening' whilst receiving private tuition. It may have been at that time that he began to be a skilful craftsman in wood and metal and ultimately stained glass. His health having recovered, he returned to the Kinross & Tarbolton office in 1905, eventually being promoted to principal draughtsman (where he valued his position, writing to Kinross's son in 1931: 'My appreciation of your father and his work has increased with my own maturity and I suppose there is no one who admires his ability and judgement more than I did') before leaving to join Dick Peddie & Forbes Smith in 1911. In 1915 he spent a short spell with J N Scott & A Lorne Campbell before enlisting as a private in the Royal Army Service Corps in January 1916. His war service took him to France, and on his demobilisation in May 1919 he returned to Dick Peddie's office for a year before joining Frank Edward Belcombe Blanc of Hippolyte J Blanc & Son, 25 Rutland Square, as chief assistant. That office did not have much business and by arrangement with Blanc, he began to carry out some independent commissions from that office, finally leaving in 1923 to commence practice on his own account from 18 Melville Street. He formed a brief association with William Davidson (born 1875) in 1928, and in 1929 moved his office to 2 Coates Crescent. In 1921 he had married Eleanor Mary Lawrie Fogo, daughter of David F L Row Fogo of Row, Perthshire and granddaughter of the architect John Laurie Row Fogo. He succeeded to the baronetcy in 1931, becoming 4th Baronet.

Ochterlony was admitted LRIBA in mid-1932, his proposers being Harold Ogle Tarbolton, James Alexander Arnott and Alexander Lorne Campbell. He applied for Fellowship in November that year, proposed by Tarbolton, Arnott and Burnett Napier Henderson Orphoot, and was admitted late that year or early the next. By the time of his application he had merged his practice with Tarbolton's at 4 St Colme Street. He was living at Spylaw Cottage, Colinton, a building which he had altered for his own occupation.

Tarbolton was elected ARSA in 1931 and RSA in 1934, Ochterlony ARSA in 1939. In 1938 Tarbolton succeeded Sir George Washington Browne as a Royal Fine Art Commissioner, serving for ten years. He was also a member of the Amenity Committee which considered the work carried out under the Galloway Water Power Act of 1929. He acted as advisory architect and designed the housing schemes. This appointment led to him becoming an advisory architect to the North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board in 1944, and to commissions for the power stations at Loch Sloy and Pitlochry on the Tummel-Garry scheme. He was elected a member of the Institute of British Engineers in October 1939.

In his later years Ochterlony devoted much of his time to stained glass, working in collaboration with his artist friend Andrew Watson Turnbull. His first wife died on 31 December 1938 and three-and-a-half years later, on 25 May 1942, his engagement to Mary Alfreda Meiklejon was announced. He had a long-standing connection with St Cuthbert's Episcopal Church in Colinton and he served as church warden and honorary secretary and treasurer.

Ochterlony died in Edinburgh on 4 October 1946 and Tarbolton at 4 East Castle Street on 31 July of the following year, while his power station schemes were still under construction. The practice continued under the existing name of Tarbolton & Ochterlony. He was succeeded to the Baronetcy by his brother Charles Francis (born 27 June 1891).

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 98, Albyn Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1914 Peddie & Fornbes Smith's office
Item 2 of 9Balmadie, Colinton, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1916  
Item 3 of 925, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness19201923 
Item 4 of 918, Melville Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness19231929 
Item 5 of 9Spylaw Cottage/3, Spylaw Park, Colinton, Midlothian, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1923 *1946 
Item 6 of 9Spylaw Cottage, Colinton, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1923c. 1924 
Item 7 of 926, Melville Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1927 From PO Directories
Item 8 of 92, Coates Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1928After January 1932 
Item 9 of 94, St Colme Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore November 19331939 or after 1940As Tarbolton & Ochterlony

* 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 8Kinross & Tarbolton18991902Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8Kinross & Tarbolton19051905Assistant 
Item 3 of 8John Kinross19051911Chief Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 8J M Dick Peddie & Forbes Smith19111914Assistant 
Item 5 of 8J N Scott & A Lorne Campbell (or Scott & Campbell)1915January 1916Assistant 
Item 6 of 8John More Dick PeddieMay 19191920Assistant 
Item 7 of 8Hippolyte J Blanc & Son19201923Chief Assistant 
Item 8 of 8Tarbolton & OchterlonyLate 19321946Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6James Alexander ArnottLate 1932 or early 1933for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6James Alexander ArnottMid 1932for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 6Alexander Lorne CampbellMid 1932for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 6Burnett Napier Henderson OrphootLate 1932 or early 1933for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Harold Ogle TarboltonLate 1932 or early 1933for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Harold Ogle TarboltonMid 1932for Licentiateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4George Hay8 March 1937for Associateship
Item 2 of 4Reginald William Johnston24 October 1938for Associateship
Item 3 of 4John Stevenson junior21 October 1941for Associateship
Item 4 of 4William John Urquhart9 July 1946For 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 48 St Mark's Episcopal ChurchPortobello EdinburghScotlandStained glass (date not known) and furnishings - with Andrew Watson Turnbull. Perhaps also with Tarbolton, depending on date
Item 2 of 48 St Martin of Tours Episcopal ChurchGorgie EdinburghScotlandStained glass (date not known)
Item 3 of 481914BalmadiesColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 48After 192317 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotlandAdditions and reconstruction
Item 5 of 48After 1923FenellaColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 48After 1923Spylaw CottageColinton EdinburghScotlandAdditions and alterations, for himself
Item 7 of 48After 1923St Columba's Episcopal ChurchGruline/Salen/DruimlangMullArgyllScotlandAlterations
Item 8 of 481925St Cuthbert's Episcopal ChurchColinton EdinburghScotlandChurch hall
Item 9 of 481926St Peter's Episcopal Church and RectoryMontrose AngusScotlandTriptych and new chancel with Andrew Watson Turnbull (information from NMRS, although all other sources point to Tarbolton alone)
Item 10 of 481927BalmadiesColinton EdinburghScotlandAdditions. Perhaps also the 1934 additions
Item 11 of 481927CraigiehallCramond EdinburghScotlandFurther work planned - unclear if executed
Item 12 of 481927FullartonColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 481927OverburnCurrie MidlothianScotland 
Item 14 of 481928HarefieldColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 15 of 481928Kirkside HouseSt Cyrus KincardineshireScotlandAlterations and additions to front and staircase - in association with William Davidson
Item 16 of 481928St Anne'sColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 17 of 481929Muir HouseJuniper Green EdinburghScotlandAddition of music room
Item 18 of 481929The Lodge  EdinburghScotlandConversion of stables to house - in association with William Davidson
Item 19 of 481930Dunfermline Abbey, lecternDunfermline FifeScotlandIn association with William Davidson, who supervised the work
Item 20 of 481931FalingeColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 21 of 481931Kirkside HouseSt Cyrus KincardineshireScotlandUpper walled garden
Item 22 of 4819339 Easter Belmont Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 23 of 481933Harmony CottageLongniddry East LothianScotland 
Item 24 of 481933St Cuthbert's Episcopal ChurchColinton EdinburghScotlandThree bays added to the nave and other alterations, including furnishings in chapel - furnishing in conkjunction with Andrew Watson Turnbull (Also stained glass - though date not known)
Item 25 of 481933St John's Episcopal ChurchForfar AngusScotlandFurnishings, panelling and redecoration of roof. Gifford gives date as 1947 (and Tarbolton in partnership at this date)
Item 26 of 481933St Sadwen's Church, oak font cover   Wales 
Item 27 of 481934BowmoreColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 28 of 481934Old Sailor's Ark  EdinburghScotland 
Item 29 of 481934 or 1935Kelso Union PoorhouseKelso RoxburghshireScotlandReconstruction after fire
Item 30 of 481935Dalzell HouseMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandAlterations and gazebo
Item 31 of 481935St Cuthbert's Episcopal ChurchColinton EdinburghScotlandAdditions and alterations to hall
Item 32 of 481936Inverewe HousePoolewe Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 33 of 481936Kelso Union PoorhouseKelso RoxburghshireScotlandFurther extensions
Item 34 of 481936Melrose District Asylum, Nurses' HomeMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 35 of 481936St John's Episcopal ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandOak parclose screen (in memory of Sir John Henry Kerr)
Item 36 of 481936St Ninian's Episcopal CathedralPerth PerthshireScotlandCloister, entrance and recreation hall; school also added
Item 37 of 481937House for Mr and Mrs Hughes  EdinburghScotland 
Item 38 of 481937St Columba's Episcopal ChurchGruline/Salen/DruimlangMullArgyllScotlandLectern, chair and desk
Item 39 of 481938Commercial Bank and Caledonian United Services Club Building (Mather's Bar part of scheme))  EdinburghScotlandRemodelling of ground floor of Caledonian United Services Club (Commercial Bank)
Item 40 of 481939Elsie Inglis Memorial Hospital  EdinburghScotlandMain gateway - built as memorial to Maud Chalmers Watson
Item 41 of 481939St David of Scotland Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 42 of 481939St Salvador's Episcopal Church and hallsStenhouse EdinburghScotland 
Item 43 of 481939WesteringInverleith EdinburghScotland 
Item 44 of 481940St Cuthbert's Episcopal ChurchColinton EdinburghScotlandChoir vestry built
Item 45 of 481940St Fillan's Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 46 of 481940St Fillan's Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 47 of 481945Proposed Episcopal ChurchSt Fillans PerthshireScotland 
Item 48 of 48c. 1960All Saints Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotlandRood; carved by Thoms Good and painted by Harry Lintott.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Scottish Biographies1938  E J Thurston (pub.) 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 8Builder18 October 1946  p394 - obituary
Item 2 of 8RIBA JournalMarch 1947v54London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp286 - obituary
Item 3 of 8Scotsman7 October 1946  Obituary p3
Item 4 of 8The Times17 January 1933  Announcement of his admittance as FRIBA
Item 5 of 8The Times31 December 1938  Death notice of his wife Eleanor Mary
Item 6 of 8The Times17 March 1939  Announcement of admittance as ARSA
Item 7 of 8The Times25 May 1942  Announcement of engagement to Mary Alfreda Meiklejon
Item 8 of 8The Times9 October 1946  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 L no4149 (box 21); F no3077 (box 16)