Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Houston
Designation:  
Born: 1853
Died: 7 May 1937
Bio Notes: John Houston was born in 1853, the son of John Houston, master builder and quarryman, and who was a partner in Houston & Westwood and his wife Jean MacRobie. Houston obtained some experience with his father in the building trade before serving his articles with Shiells & Thomson of Edinburgh.

At some point before Houston senior's death in 1878, John Houston junior had become a partner in his father's business by then styled John Houston & Son Builders. The younger Houston inherited from his father a tenement in Dunfermline which had 19 tenants. In May 1878 an advertisement appeared in a local newspaper which announced that he was both builder and architect and that he would carry on his father's business as well as preparing plans and specifications.

Houston was responsible for a number of housing schemes for the Fife Coal Co. He also undertook work for the Distillers Company at Markinch and Cameron Bridge and designed housesx for employees as well as for officers of HM Cistoms & Excise.

Houston served on Dunfermline Town Council for many years (councillor of the fourth ward 1894-1911 and 1919 and served on several committees (Contagious deseases, Carnegie Baths, Burgh Commissions for streets and drainage and the slaughterhouse) as well as serving as a Magistrate for two terms.

Outwith his profession he was an enthusiastic bowler and one of the original members of the Dunfermline Northern Club. He was president for some time and played regularly at the green in Dewar Street until 'last season'. He was a Past Master of Dunfermline masonic lodge and an elder at Dunfermline Abbey.

He was survived by his son and his daughter who is married.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 39, Randolph Street, Dunfermline, Fife, ScotlandBusiness1883 *  
Item 2 of 3St Margaret Street, Dunfermline, Fife, ScotlandBusiness1889  
Item 3 of 3Roy Lodge/135, Grieve Street, Dunfermline, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1889 *  

* 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 1Shiells & ThomsonBefore 1878 Apprentice 

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 3William Meek Page18951897Assistant 
Item 2 of 3Joseph WeekesDecember 1901May 1902Assistant 
Item 3 of 3James Bennett19031907Apprentice 

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 941882Dunfermline Co-operative Society Store, GolfdrumDunfermline FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 2 of 941883Co-operative Society, branch storeDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 3 of 941883House, North QueensferryNorth Queensferry FifeScotland 
Item 4 of 941883Two semi-detached villasDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 5 of 941884Novar CottageDunfermline FifeScotlandLaying out grounds, forming walks etc
Item 6 of 941885Co-operative Society, branch storeDunfermline FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 7 of 941885CottageInverkeithing FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 941886CottageInverkeithing FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 941886Offices for the Fife Coal CoLeven FifeScotland 
Item 10 of 941887Two semi-detached villasLeven FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 941889Crossgates InnCrossgates FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 12 of 941889Fernlee CottageDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 13 of 941889Housing for the Fife Coal CoHill of Beath FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 941889Roy LodgeDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 941890Atholl CottageDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 16 of 941890Kelty Co-operative Society, bakery and stableKelty FifeScotlandAdditions to bakery and new stable
Item 17 of 941891Blairhall, CottageBlairhall FifeScotland 
Item 18 of 941891CemeteryInvekeithing FifeScotlandBuilding walls etc
Item 19 of 941891Hill of Beath SchoolBeath FifeScotland 
Item 20 of 941891House for A ScotlandHalbeath FifeScotland 
Item 21 of 941891Kelty SchoolKelty FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 22 of 941891SchoolDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 23 of 941892Balbougie, farmhouseNorth Queensferry FifeScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 24 of 941892Cairneyhill UP ChurchCarnock FifeScotlandReseating, renovation, repairs
Item 25 of 941892Co-operative Store buildingsKelty FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 26 of 941892Cottage and milkhouse, KeirsbeathDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 27 of 941892Middlebank HouseDunfermline FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 28 of 941893Abbey ManseDunfermline FifeScotlandRepairs
Item 29 of 941893Byres, milkhouse and other buildings, KeirsbeathDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 30 of 941893Twenty workmen's houses for the Fife Coal CoKelty FifeScotland 
Item 31 of 941893Warehouse, MaygateDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 32 of 941894Kelty Established ChurchKelty FifeScotland 
Item 33 of 941895Bakery premises for the Kelty Co-operative Society, OakfieldKelty FifeScotland 
Item 34 of 941895Kelty Infant SchoolKelty FifeScotland 
Item 35 of 941896Geddes InstitutionCulross FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 36 of 941896Library and Moray InstituteKelty FifeScotland 
Item 37 of 941896Sands Farm, steadingKincardine FifeScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 38 of 941896Sixteen houses for the Fife Coal Co, Chapel StreetCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 39 of 941897Cemetery, KirkfordBeath FifeScotlandEnclosure walls, walks, entrance lodge and toolhouse
Item 40 of 941897Dalgety ManseDalgety FifeScotlandAdditions and repairs after fire
Item 41 of 941897Dunfermline Abbey, entrance gateways and walls including toolhouseDunfermline FifeScotlandToolhouse
Item 42 of 941897Erskine ChurchDunfermline FifeScotlandAdditions including recasting of interior
Item 43 of 941897Lassodie HouseLassodie FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 44 of 941897Two blocks of houses for Fife Coal Co LtdCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 45 of 941898Bowling green and pavilionHill of Beath FifeScotland 
Item 46 of 941898Hill of Beath SchoolBeath FifeScotlandSchoolmaster's house and additions to school
Item 47 of 941899Low Valleyfield, CottageLow Valleyfield FifeScotland 
Item 48 of 941899Shops and bakehouse for the Kelty Co-operative SocietyKelty FifeScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 49 of 941899Twenty-four workmen's housesLeven FifeScotland 
Item 50 of 941899Twenty-four workmen's houses for the Fife Coal CoLumphinnans FifeScotland 
Item 51 of 941900Aitken Public BathsKelty FifeScotland 
Item 52 of 941900Double cottage for John BeveridgeLumphinnans FifeScotland 
Item 53 of 941900Eighteen workmen's houses for the Fife Coal CoLumphinnans FifeScotland 
Item 54 of 941900Formation of Arthur Place and road leading to itCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 55 of 941900Forty workmen's housesKelty FifeScotland 
Item 56 of 941900House for George A TaylorLochgelly FifeScotland 
Item 57 of 941900Houses for Robert Watson, FlockhouseLochore FifeScotland 
Item 58 of 941900Kelty SchoolKelty FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 59 of 941900Library and Moray InstituteKelty FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 60 of 941900Shops and houses for L CorioKelty FifeScotland 
Item 61 of 941900Thirty-two workment's houses for Fife Coal Co, FoulfordCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 62 of 941900Workmen's housesCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 63 of 941901Forty-six houses for Lochgelly Iron and Coal CoLochgelly FifeScotland 
Item 64 of 941901Kelty SchoolKelty FifeScotlandCookery and industrial classrooms
Item 65 of 941901Reading roomHill of Beath FifeScotland 
Item 66 of 941901Shop and houseCrossgates FifeScotland 
Item 67 of 941902Abbey Church HallDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 68 of 941902Building for Messrs HoeyDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 69 of 941902Kelty Infant SchoolKelty FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 70 of 941902Public School, Broad StreetCowdenbeath FifeScotlandAdditions to infants' school
Item 71 of 941902Stables and carter's houseCowdenbeath FifeScotland 
Item 72 of 941902Tenement, TownhillDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 73 of 941902Twelve houses for the Fife Coal Co, Mary PitLochore FifeScotland 
Item 74 of 941903Forty houses in two blocks for the Fife Coal CoKelty FifeScotland 
Item 75 of 941904Inverkeithing Paper MillInverkeithing FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 76 of 941904Masonic LodgeDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 77 of 941906Inverkeithing Paper MillInverkeithing FifeScotlandOffices and machine room
Item 78 of 941906One block of twelve workmen's houses for the Fife Coal CoLochore FifeScotland 
Item 79 of 941907Cemetery, KirkfordBeath FifeScotlandExtension
Item 80 of 941907Lumphinnans, bowling clubLumphinnans FifeScotland 
Item 81 of 941907Primary School, SalineSaline FifeScotlandAddition
Item 82 of 941909Licensed premisesNewmills FifeScotland 
Item 83 of 941909Low Valleyfield, Double Cottage for Fife Coal CoLow Valleyfield FifeScotland 
Item 84 of 941909Low Valleyfield, houseLow Valleyfield FifeScotland 
Item 85 of 941909Ninety-six workmen's housesLochore FifeScotland 
Item 86 of 941909Union Office for Fife Miners' AssociationDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 87 of 941909West Fife TavernTorryburn FifeScotland 
Item 88 of 941910House for Miss McGregorLochgelly FifeScotland 
Item 89 of 941910Somewhere ElseDunfermline FifeScotlandRefronting of earlier building
Item 90 of 941911Overton, steading  FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 91 of 941911Stables and shed for Robert PhilipDunfermline FifeScotlandReconstruction
Item 92 of 941912Torryburn Primary SchoolTorryburn FifeScotland 
Item 93 of 941913Double villa, Garvock HillDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 94 of 941913SchoolDunfermline FifeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   
Item 2 of 2Pride, Glen L1999The Kingdom of Fife2nd EditionThe Rutland Pressp14

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Dunfermline Press8 May 1937