Basic Biographical Details

Name: Reid & Forbes
Designation:  
Born: c. 1926
Died: 1962
Bio Notes: George Reid was born on 17 July 1893 and was articled to Scott Morton & Co from 1910 for five years, attending classes at Edinburgh College of Art where he obtained firsts in each year of his studies as well as two bursaries. Whilst serving his apprenticeship he was seconded to the offices of Robert Lorimer, George Washington Browne and James Bow Dunn.

Reid's movements during the five years following his apprenticeship are unknown, but it may be assumed that he undertook war service. When war was over in 1919 he joined forces with Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie and J Smith Forbes (of whom no details are known) for the purposes of the competition for the Northfield Housing Scheme in Edinburgh, their partnership being known as Fairlie, Reid & Forbes. After producing and executing the winning scheme, Fairlie gradually withdrew from the partnership about 1926 (Post Office directories show the firms running concurrently in this year) to practise alone whilst Reid and Forbes remained in partnership. They soon proved themselves as skilful designers, Reid's experience with Scott Morton & Co showing in the attention given to detailing of their woodwork. The practice specialised in school work and had particularly good connections in the Border counties and with the Roman Catholic church.

James S Forbes retired from practice in 1961. George Reid arranged to sell the office at 116 Haniver Street and pass over the commissions he had in hand to Cairns & Ford who were in practice at that point at 48 Melville Street. Reid then acted as a consultant for a limited period for the jobs for which he was personally responsible.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 47, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1927c. 1930 
Item 2 of 41 and 2, Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness19281929 
Item 3 of 417, Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1931After 1951(?) 
Item 4 of 4116, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland Before 1960After 1964 

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 6James Sheills Forbes19261961Partner 
Item 2 of 6George Reid19261962Partner 
Item 3 of 6William Collyer16 August 19261931Apprentice 
Item 4 of 6Eric Hutton CrosbeeMarch 19301935Apprentice 
Item 5 of 6William CollyerAugust 1931October 1939Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 6Robert Walker Rennie Mackenzie19331938Apprentice 

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 521921Housing Scheme, MoffatMoffat DumfriesshireScotlandWith Reginald Fairlie
Item 2 of 52After 1921Bank of Scotland, Marchmont BranchMarchmont EdinburghScotland 
Item 3 of 52After 1921Coldstream Secondary SchoolColdstream BerwickshireScotland 
Item 4 of 52After 1921Housing schemeTranent East LothianScotland 
Item 5 of 52After 1921Housing scheme  EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 52After 1921Primary and Secondary SchoolsInnerleithen PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 7 of 52After 1921Richmond Congregational ChurchCraigmillar EdinburghScotland 
Item 8 of 521924St John's RC School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 521924St John's RC SchoolPortobello EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 521926Jedburgh Grammar SchoolJedburgh RoxburghshireScotlandNorth-west extension
Item 11 of 521928Edinburgh Castle, Bruce and Wallace Memorial  EdinburghScotlandIn collaboration with Clapperton, Lorimer & Carrick
Item 12 of 521928George Watson's College  EdinburghScotlandCompetition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium
Item 13 of 521928Leith Academy Secondary SchoolLeith EdinburghScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 14 of 521928Lodge Roman Eagle no 160  EdinburghScotland 
Item 15 of 521928Offices for Roxburghshire Education CommitteeNewtown St Boswells RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 16 of 521929RC College and Schools, Melville Grange FarmGilmerton EdinburghScotlandWon competition and selected as architects
Item 17 of 521930Victoria SchoolNewhaven EdinburghScotlandExtension
Item 18 of 521931Alexander's garage  EdinburghScotland 
Item 19 of 521931Primary SchoolMorebattle RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 20 of 521931Royal High Primary School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 21 of 521932Inverness High SchoolInverness Inverness-shireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 22 of 521932St Mary's RC Cathedral  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction of nave with aisles; also pulpit
Item 23 of 521932Union Bank, West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place  EdinburghScotlandBank - remodelling?
Item 24 of 521933Bank of Scotland, North West Circus PlaceStockbridge EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 25 of 521933Eldin HouseBonnyrigg/Lasswade MidlothianScotlandAddition of dormitory and school block
Item 26 of 521933George Heriot's School, Preparatory Department and technical classrooms  EdinburghScotland 
Item 27 of 521933Kelso AcademyKelso RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 28 of 521934Maxime's Ballroom  EdinburghScotland 
Item 29 of 521934Niddrie Church and HallsCraigmillar EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 521934Trinity Primary SchoolHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 31 of 521935Broughton SchoolBroughton PeeblesshireScotlandExtension, also gates and railings
Item 32 of 521935Eyemouth High SchoolEyemouth BerwickshireScotlandExtension
Item 33 of 521935Jedburgh Grammar SchoolJedburgh RoxburghshireScotlandAdditions
Item 34 of 521935LaundryStenhouse EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 521935Niddrie Marischal Junior Secondary School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 36 of 521935Wardie Hotel  EdinburghScotlandExtension
Item 37 of 521936Primary SchoolHobkirk/Hopekirk RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 38 of 52c. 1936Peebles High SchoolPeebles PeeblesshireScotlandExtension and reconstruction
Item 39 of 521937Central SchoolChirnside BerwickshireScotland 
Item 40 of 521937Wilkies Buildings, Shandwick Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 41 of 521938Primary SchoolWest Linton PeeblesshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 42 of 521938St Joseph's RC SchoolInverness Inverness-shireScotlandLarge extensions
Item 43 of 521938Tanfield Primary School  EdinburghScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 44 of 521949George Heriot's Hospital  EdinburghScotlandAdditions and repairs to war memorial
Item 45 of 521949Powderhall Stadium  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to stadium.
Item 46 of 521951Hotel, Buchanan Street  GlasgowScotlandFor additions and alterations
Item 47 of 521951Moredun Church and Halls  EdinburghScotland 
Item 48 of 52c. 1955Dalkeith High SchoolDalkeith MidlothianScotlandLater school
Item 49 of 52c. 1955Holyrood School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 50 of 521956Coldstream Primary SchoolColdstream BerwickshireScotland 
Item 51 of 5220 May 1960Midlothian County Council Buildings, Lawnmarket and Melbourne Place  Edinburgh, MidlothianScotlandplaced 1st in competition per Builder p957
Item 52 of 52Before 1962Royal High School  EdinburghScotlandCairns & Ford who took over the practice mainly responsible.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp25 Midlothian County Buildings, Edinburgh
Item 2 of 3Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 3 of 3Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder1 July 1949  p26
Item 2 of 4Builder1 June 1951  p803
Item 3 of 4Builder20 March 1964  p635
Item 4 of 4Builder3 April 1964  p737

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Courtesy of Mr William TerrellInformation via 'Contact Us' on website Sent February 2015. Mr Terrell was the penultimate apprentice draughtsman in the Reid & Forbes practice. He began in 1960.
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no5017 (Combined Box 56)