Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Gray
Designation:  
Born: 15 October 1881
Died: 14 October 1933
Bio Notes: James Gray was born in Selkirk on 15 October 1881, the elder son of Andrew Gray. He was articled to James M Thomson of George Street, Edinburgh in 1896 and studied at Heriot-Watt College, where he was a medallist in the Session 1898-99; he also attended classes at Edinburgh School of Applied Art from 1900 to 1901. In the latter year he spent six weeks as a temporary assistant to John Alexander Carfrae of Queen Street, before joining the office of Thomas Purves Marwick of York Place. He practised as a principal from an office in Bonnyrigg from December 1910, whilst continuing to work for Marwick as an assistant, and was elected LRIBA on 24 June 1912, proposed by James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association.

Gray temporarily ceased to practise during the First World War, when he served in France for two years as a Lieutenant in the Royal Engineers. After the war he had offices at 140 Princes Street, Edinburgh and later at 4 Stafford Street, whilst continuing to work as assistant to Marwick until c. 1920 when he was promoted to principal assistant. He was still working both independently and in Marwick's office when he was elected ARIBA in 1922, his proposers being John Wilson, John Jerdan and Alexander Lorne Campbell. He was also an Associate of the RIAS and a Fellow of the Chartered Surveyors' Institute.

He died on 14 October 1933, survived by a son and daughter from the first of two marriages. After his death his practice was carried on by James S Bennet at 16 Rutland Square, Edinburgh.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 8Selkirk, Selkirkshire, ScotlandPrivate1881Before 1896Place of birth
Item 2 of 87, High Street, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, ScotlandBusiness1912 *  
Item 3 of 8Viewpark Gardens, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, ScotlandPrivate1912 *  
Item 4 of 8Eldondean Road, Bonnyrigg, Midlothian, ScotlandPrivate1914 *  
Item 5 of 843, York Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1921 * In the office of T P Marwick & Son
Item 6 of 8113, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1921c. 1923 
Item 7 of 8140, Princes Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1924After 1930Same address as Cousin Ormiston & Taylor - but after they closed
Item 8 of 84, Stafford Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1928c. 1933 

* 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 5James M Thomson15 July 18961901Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Thomas Purves Marwick19011912Assistant 
Item 3 of 5John Alexander CarfraeMid 1901Mid 1901AssistantSix weeks only - presumably during summer?
Item 4 of 5T P Marwick & Son1912c. 1920AssistantWith the exception of two years' war service
Item 5 of 5T P Marwick & Sonc. 1920After 1922Chief Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4Alexander Lorne CampbellLate 1922for Associateship
Item 2 of 4James Bow Dunn24 June 1912for Licentiateship - as President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association
Item 3 of 4John JerdanLate 1922for Associateship
Item 4 of 4John WilsonLate 1922for 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 16 Housing scheme, PenicuikPenicuik MidlothianScotland 
Item 2 of 161901National Bank of Scotland, Trongate  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 3 of 161901St Cuthbert's Co-operative Association Tenements, Shop and Bakery with stables  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 4 of 16After 1901St Cuthbert's Co-operative Society Bakeries  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 5 of 161904Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick - enlargement of original premises
Item 6 of 161904National Bank of Scotland, Portobello BranchPortobello EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 7 of 161904National Bank of Scotland, Sauchiehall Street Branch  GlasgowScotlandAlterations - as assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 8 of 161904St Cuthbert's Wholesale Co-operative Association Headquarters  EdinburghScotlandWestern extension - as assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 9 of 161909St Cuthbert's Co-operative Association Slaughterhouses and Cattle DepotGorgie EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 10 of 161910Bonnyrigg Elementary SchoolBonnyrigg MidlothianScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 11 of 16After 1910Billiard Saloon etc, 15-17 High StreetBonnyrigg MidlothianScotland 
Item 12 of 16After 1910Business premises, 7-11 High StreetBonnyrigg MidlothianScotland 
Item 13 of 16After 1910Dairy premisesLasswade MidlothianScotland 
Item 14 of 161911Cockpen SchoolCockpen MidlothianScotland 
Item 15 of 16After 1918Royal High School, war memorial  EdinburghScotland 
Item 16 of 161923Moorfoot View, Local Authority Housing SchemeBonnyrigg MidlothianScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIAS Quarterly193344Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) 
Item 2 of 2RIBA Journal27 January 1934v41London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp316 - 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 v24 no1949; A no3543 (microfilm reel 27)