Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Smith Birrell
Designation:  
Born: c. 1838
Died: 26 March 1876
Bio Notes: George Smith Birrell was born c.1838, the son of Hugh Birrell, a builder architect based at Drumeldrie, near Largo and brother of John Birrell, professor of Hebrew at St Andrews. He practised in St Andrews from 1869 and may have taken over the practice of George Rae. He probably employed James Ross Gillespie as assistant from 1873 and when Birrell died suddenly at the age of thirty-three on 26 March 1876, Gillespie decided to continue the practice which he did on his own until 1888 when he took James Scott into partnership.

Birrell settled in St Andrews in 1871 when his brother John became professor of Hebrew. He took James Ross Gillespie into partnership in 1873. Birrell died in March 1876, aged 38.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2St Andrews, Fife, ScotlandBusinessAfter 1871  
Item 2 of 2Largo, Fife, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1871  

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 1James Ross GillespieBefore 18731876Assistant 

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 361859Largo CemeteryLargo FifeScotlandUnspecified work
Item 2 of 361866Park Hall, farmsteadingLinlithgow West LothianScotlandOr perhaps Hugh Birrell?
Item 3 of 361870sProperty at Albany PlaceSt Andrews FifeScotlandReconstruction
Item 4 of 361870HouseLargo FifeScotlandWith Gillespie?
Item 5 of 361870New feus for James ForganLargo FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 6 of 361870Villa for David Cook, writerAnstruther FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 36c. 1870170 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandPossibly with James Ross Gillespie as apprentice
Item 8 of 361871Barnslee Farmstead  FifeScotlandProbably Birrell - additions and alterations
Item 9 of 361871Edenwood FarmCupar FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations to farmstead
Item 10 of 361871Thirdpart Farm, labourer's cottagePitscottie FifeScotlandMaybe by George S Birrell?
Item 11 of 361872Rires Farm Steading, two cottages  FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 361873Kilrenny ManseKilrenny FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 13 of 361874Block of housesSt Monans/St Monance FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 361874Carnbee SchoolCarnbee FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 361874Falkland Public SchoolFalkland FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 16 of 361874Feuing of Miss Leslie's gorundMarkinch FifeScotlandPerhaps Birrell from date
Item 17 of 361874Freuchie Public SchoolFreuchie FifeScotland 
Item 18 of 361874Kingskettle Board SchoolKingskettle FifeScotlandNew teacher's house
Item 19 of 361874Lambo Letham farmhouse and farmsteading and piggeries  FifeScotlandFarmhouse
Item 20 of 361874Largo harbourLargo FifeScotlandUnspecified work
Item 21 of 361874Strathkinness Parish ChurchStrathkinness FifeScotlandProposed belfry
Item 22 of 361875Dr McDonald's houseMarkinch FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 23 of 361875Gillespie Road?St Andrews FifeScotlandWith Gillespie as assistant?
Item 24 of 361875House (and Cottage?) at Strathkinness with stable and byreStrathkinness FifeScotlandCottage
Item 25 of 361875Kettle UP ChurchKingskettle FifeScotlandPlan of ground belonging to church (purpose unclear)
Item 26 of 361875Lambo Letham farmhouse and farmsteading and piggeries  FifeScotlandFarmsteading and piggeries
Item 27 of 361875Monksholm Farmhouse  FifeScotland 
Item 28 of 361875Property of William BraidsColinsburgh FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 29 of 361875Public SchoolDrumeldrie FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 30 of 361875Wester Kellie Farm  FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 31 of 3618761 Ellice PlaceSt Andrews FifeScotlandUnspecified work
Item 32 of 361876Kingskettle Board SchoolKingskettle FifeScotland 
Item 33 of 361876Thirdpart Estate, two new cot housesEast Pitscottie FifeScotland 
Item 34 of 361876VillaLower Largo FifeScotland 
Item 35 of 361897University HallSt Andrews FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 36 of 361901CemeteryAuchtermuchty FifeScotlandPlan of ground; bundary walls, gates, railings etc

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Frew, J (ed.)1984Building for a New Age St Andrews: Crawford Centre for the Arts, University of St Andrews (undated but pub. 1984)pp45-46
Item 2 of 3Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Cupar Sheriff Court Sc20/50/50
Item 3 of 3St Andrews Preservation Trust1991Three Decades of Historical Notes  p30

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1St Andrews Gazette1 April 1876  Obituary