Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Hendry Langlands (senior)
Designation:  
Born: 27 September 1861
Died: 9 June 1932
Bio Notes: James Hendry Langlands was born in Dundee on 27 September 1861, the son of James Langlands and his wife Elizabeth McIntosh Henderson. He was articled to Ireland & Maclaren, remaining as assistant and later undertaking most of the work of the practice from 1884 when Maclaren fell ill and totally from 1886 when Ireland died. On Maclaren's death in December 1887 Langlands succeeded to the practice and took over the office at 31 Murraygate having secured the confidence of the Dundee School Board Management.

Langlands worked in a style deriving from Ireland & Maclaren's until 1904 when William Gillespie Lamond, previously of Thomas Martin Cappon's office, became chief assistant. The work of the practice then assumed a bold Harrison Townsend-derived character.

In June 1912 Lamond died and the design work then fell chiefly into the hands of Langlands's son, also James Hendry Langlands, born c.1894. J H Langlands Junior was educated at Dundee High School and articled to his father c.1908, working under Lamond's supervision. While an apprentice he studied architecture at Dundee Technical College under Patrick Hill Thoms and concurrently qualified as a surveyor and structural engineer. He took over the detail design work of the Eastern School, Broughty Ferry and largely designed the Morgan Academy extension before seeking wider experience in London at an office which has yet to be identified.

As architect to Dundee School Board and several other boards, the elder Langlands became extremely prosperous and lived in some style in a late Georgian mansion at Cunmont, Newbiggin. But in 1919 as a result of local government changes Dundee School Board was absorbed into the Corporation of the City of Dundee and the schools were taken over by the City Architect's Department. The Langlands practice was almost wholly dependent on school work and as some of the School Board architects had retained office in Aberdeen and other places, Langlands unsuccessfully sued for the loss of office, an action which alienated the Town Council and caused further damage to the practice.

James H Langlands Senior died in a Dundee nursing home on 9 June 1932, leaving moveable estate of £264 18s 8d. His main interest was bee-keeping. His son built little, specialising in structural engineering, particularly shop alterations. He is recorded in his obituary as having designed the 23 bridges on the Kinlochleven Road but whether on his own account or as an assistant in a practice to which he had gone to gain experience has still to be established.

James Hendry Langlands Junior closed the practice in the mid-1960s, by which date it was at a very low ebb; the office was still at 31 Murraygate and had remained unchanged since the First World War. His last major work was the extensive stone repairs of St Mary's Parish Church, Dundee, work which he carried out with great care and skill without losing the original coursing or the polished face of the ashlars. He died in April 1992 at the great age of 98, still living in the house built by his father for his aunts. He never married, the great interest of his life being motorcars: because of their home at Cunmont, outside the city, the Langlands family had acquired a motorcar very early.

The practice archive which had remained complete was unfortunately destroyed, although a few framed presentation drawings were deposited with the buildings.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 131, Murraygate, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1887After 1930Some handwritten documents (including ames Lowe's and A Lawrence Chapman's LRIBA papers) appear to give the address as 81 Murraygate, but printed RIBA Kalendars give number as 31.

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 3Ireland & Maclarenc. 1877c. 1882Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Ireland & Maclarenc. 1882c. 1884Assistant 
Item 3 of 3Ireland & Maclarenc. 18841887Chief Assistant 

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 9David Wishart Galloway18871892Apprenticeat Ireland & Maclaren
Item 2 of 9James Lowe18891901Assistant 
Item 3 of 9Alexander Lawrence Chapman1901 or 1902August 1902AssistantIn full charge of office
Item 4 of 9William Gillespie Lamond19041912Assistant 
Item 5 of 9James Hendry Langlands (junior)c. 1908 ApprenticeLater partner
Item 6 of 9Donald (F?) Ross19121916Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 9Robert Dron19141916Apprentice 
Item 8 of 9Robertson Reid GrantDecember 1921June 1927(?)Apprentice 
Item 9 of 9James Stratton Paterson1922Before 1926Improver 

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 351887Binrock and Lodge  DundeeScotlandStables and lodge at 454A- continuing practice of Ireland & Maclaren after the death of both partners
Item 2 of 351888Blackness Road School  DundeeScotland 
Item 3 of 351888Cowgate School  DundeeScotland 
Item 4 of 351888Liff Road School  DundeeScotland 
Item 5 of 351888Tay Street School  DundeeScotland 
Item 6 of 351888Villa for Professor Carnelley  DundeeScotland 
Item 7 of 351891Original Secession Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 8 of 351892Hawkhill School  DundeeScotland 
Item 9 of 351892North Clepington School  DundeeScotland 
Item 10 of 351893Dudhope School  DundeeScotland2-storey east block
Item 11 of 351893Mitchell Street School  DundeeScotlandUpper storey added
Item 12 of 351897Liff Board School and schoolhouseLiff AngusScotlandNew building to N
Item 13 of 351898Forfar Parish ChurchForfar AngusScotlandAlterations
Item 14 of 351899Liff Board School  DundeeScotlandSecured job
Item 15 of 351901Business premises for Messrs Malcolm Ltd, Auctioneers  DundeeScotland 
Item 16 of 351901Monikie Parish ChurchMonikie AngusScotlandRestoration
Item 17 of 35After 1904Fairmuir Special SchoolFairmuir DundeeScotlandCompetition drawing
Item 18 of 35190513 Lammerton Terrace  DundeeScotland 
Item 19 of 351905Ancrum Road School  DundeeScotlandReconstruction
Item 20 of 351905Houses, Lammerton Terrace  DundeeScotlandSpecifically mentioned in Courier article.
Item 21 of 351905Semi-detached bungalow, Forfar Road  DundeeScotland 
Item 22 of 351905St Joseph's RC Schools  DundeeScotlandOriginal building
Item 23 of 351905St Margaret's Episcopal SchoolsLochee DundeeScotlandRear addition
Item 24 of 351906Villa, Kerrington CrescentBarnhill DundeeScotland 
Item 25 of 35c. 1906Villas, Maryfield Terrace  DundeeScotland 
Item 26 of 351907Dens Road School  DundeeScotland 
Item 27 of 351907Dundee Technical Institute  DundeeScotlandWon competition to secure job (front block to Bell Street)
Item 28 of 351907Stobswell Public School  DundeeScotland 
Item 29 of 351908Auction Rooms for Robert Curr  DundeeScotland 
Item 30 of 351909School Board Offices  DundeeScotland 
Item 31 of 351911Eastern SchoolBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 32 of 351911Glebelands School  DundeeScotlandRebuilding
Item 33 of 35c. 1911Harris Academy, Park Place  DundeeScotlandReconstruction of Ireland & MacLaren building with additional floor. Extension not built because of the war.
Item 34 of 351913Morgan's Hospital  DundeeScotlandEnlargement
Item 35 of 351920Engineering shop, Dock Street East  DundeeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RCAHMS1992Dundee on Record RCAHMSDrawing of Eastern School by D M Walker (1955) p44

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Architectural ReviewApril 1958  pp269-271
Item 2 of 2Dundee Courier and Advertiser16 April 1992  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from J H Langlands and Robert Dron, who worked in the office in 1913-14