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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 7, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1927 | c. 1930 | | | 1 and 2, Johnston Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1928 | 1929 | | | 17, Great Stuart Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1931 | After 1951(?) | | | 116, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | | Before 1960 | After 1964 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1921 | Housing Scheme, Moffat | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | With Reginald Fairlie | | After 1921 | Bank of Scotland, Marchmont Branch | Marchmont | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Coldstream Secondary School | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Housing scheme | Tranent | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Housing scheme | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Primary and Secondary Schools | Innerleithen | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | After 1921 | Richmond Congregational Church | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1924 | St John's RC School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1924 | St John's RC School | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1926 | Jedburgh Grammar School | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | North-west extension | | 1928 | Edinburgh Castle, Bruce and Wallace Memorial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In collaboration with Clapperton, Lorimer & Carrick | | 1928 | George Watson's College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium | | 1928 | Leith Academy Secondary School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1928 | Lodge Roman Eagle no 160 | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1928 | Offices for Roxburghshire Education Committee | Newtown St Boswells | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1929 | RC College and Schools, Melville Grange Farm | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won competition and selected as architects | | 1930 | Victoria School | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension | | 1931 | Alexander's garage | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1931 | Primary School | Morebattle | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1931 | Royal High Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1932 | Inverness High School | Inverness | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1932 | St Mary's RC Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction of nave with aisles; also pulpit | | 1932 | Union Bank, West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Bank - remodelling? | | 1933 | Bank of Scotland, North West Circus Place | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1933 | Eldin House | Bonnyrigg/Lasswade | | Midlothian | Scotland | Addition of dormitory and school block | | 1933 | George Heriot's School, Preparatory Department and technical classrooms | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1933 | Kelso Academy | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Maxime's Ballroom | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1934 | Niddrie Church and Halls | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1934 | Trinity Primary School | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Broughton School | Broughton | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Extension, also gates and railings | | 1935 | Eyemouth High School | Eyemouth | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1935 | Jedburgh Grammar School | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1935 | Laundry | Stenhouse | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1935 | Niddrie Marischal Junior Secondary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1935 | Wardie Hotel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension | | 1936 | Primary School | Hobkirk/Hopekirk | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | c. 1936 | Peebles High School | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Extension and reconstruction | | 1937 | Central School | Chirnside | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1937 | Wilkies Buildings, Shandwick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1938 | Primary School | West Linton | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1938 | St Joseph's RC School | Inverness | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Large extensions | | 1938 | Tanfield Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design - not successful | | 1949 | George Heriot's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions and repairs to war memorial | | 1949 | Powderhall Stadium | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations to stadium. | | 1951 | Hotel, Buchanan Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | For additions and alterations | | 1951 | Moredun Church and Halls | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1955 | Dalkeith High School | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | Later school | | c. 1955 | Holyrood School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1956 | Coldstream Primary School | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 20 May 1960 | Midlothian County Council Buildings, Lawnmarket and Melbourne Place | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | placed 1st in competition per Builder p957 | | Before 1962 | Royal High School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Cairns & Ford who took over the practice mainly responsible. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p25 Midlothian County Buildings, Edinburgh | | Municipal Annual | 1964 | Scottish Municipal Annual | 1964-1965 | | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 1 July 1949 | | | p26 | | Builder | 1 June 1951 | | | p803 | | Builder | 20 March 1964 | | | p635 | | Builder | 3 April 1964 | | | p737 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Courtesy of Mr William Terrell | Information via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent February 2015. Mr Terrell was the penultimate apprentice draughtsman in the Reid & Forbes practice. He began in 1960. | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no5017 (Combined Box 56) |
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