Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Gray
Designation:  
Born: c. 1878
Died: 1946
Bio Notes: John Gray was born in Springfield, Fife c.1878 and educated at Dollar Academy. In or about 1896 he was articled to John Melvin Junior in Alloa and he remained as assistant. He was taken into partnership by William Kerr in 1912. Up to that point Gray was probably largely self-taught as an early-twentieth-century architect but once Kerr had taken over the office he quickly assimilated his style and they worked so closely together that buildings reputedly designed by Gray are virtually indistinguishable in style from those by Kerr. Despite the accomplished qualities of their best work neither Gray nor Kerr sought publicity or exhibited at the RSA.

Gray served in the Royal Engineers during the First World War. He became sole partner when Kerr died in September 1940. At that time he was serving on the Council of the Stirling Society of Architects, the Stirling chapter of the RIAS, although he never sought RIBA membership. He took the firm's chief assistant Gordon Biggar into partnership on his return from war service in 1946 but died later in the same year.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 17, Mar Street, Alloa, Clackmannanshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19101939 or 1940(?)Perhaps later than this

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 3John Melvin (junior)1896c. 1901Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3John Melvin (junior)c. 19011912Assistant 
Item 3 of 3John Melvin & Son19121940Partner 

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 421912The GeanAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 2 of 421913Bothy, 79 ClaremontAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 3 of 421913Claremont GroveAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandNew wing added
Item 4 of 421914Temperance Young Men's Christian Association clubroomsAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 5 of 421919Minto Gardens Council HousingAlva ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 6 of 421919Walker InstituteTillicoultry ClackmannanshireScotlandRear extension
Item 7 of 421920Council HousingTillicoultry ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 8 of 42After 1920Houses, Academy PlaceDollar ClackmannanshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 9 of 42192339 Ashley TerraceAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 10 of 42192345-47 High StreetAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 11 of 421923Lethangie HouseMilnathort Kinross-shireScotlandAlterations and additions - perhaps East wing
Item 12 of 421923Wellington HouseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandRelocation of Georgian House from War Memorial site
Item 13 of 421924Paton's Sports PavilionAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 14 of 421924Remony LodgeLoch Tay PerthshireScotlandClaimed for Gray by both Gray's daughter and Duncan Millar's son
Item 15 of 421925Bowling ClubAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 16 of 421925Coalsnaughton Public Hall and LibraryCoalsnaughton ClackmannanshireScotlandSecond hall added at rear
Item 17 of 421925Council housing, Ashley TerraceAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 18 of 421926Alloa Parish Church hallAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 19 of 421926County OfficesAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandBuilt in the garden of Fentoun House, then owned by Gray, thus probably by Gray.
Item 20 of 421929Cochrane HallAlva ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 21 of 421930sCouncil housing, Argyll Street, Sorley Brae and BurnsideDollar ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 22 of 421930Fishcross Miners' Welfare InstituteFishcross ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 23 of 421930Housing, Broad StreetAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 24 of 421931Co-operative OfficesAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 25 of 421934MeadowbankDollar ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 26 of 421935Alloa Gas Undertaking premisesAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 27 of 421935Lethangie HouseMilnathort Kinross-shireScotlandRebuilding after fire
Item 28 of 421935Park Primary SchoolAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 29 of 421935Parkhead UF ManseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 30 of 421936Cochrane Park, pavilionAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 31 of 421936Four houses, Henderson AvenueAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 32 of 421936HousingAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 33 of 421936Kilncraigs OfficesAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandExtension
Item 34 of 421936Kilncraigs warehouseAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 35 of 421936Temperance Young Men's Christian Association clubroomsAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandRear hall extension in Mar Street
Item 36 of 421937Dollar Academy, Preparatory SchoolDollar ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 37 of 421938Alloa County BuildingsAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandSecond extension 1938 in Drysdale Street (Police Offices)
Item 38 of 421938Clackmannan County Infectious Diseases HospitalSauchie ClackmannanshireScotlandNorth block added
Item 39 of 421938The PinesDollar ClackmannanshireScotlandWith Patrick McNeil
Item 40 of 421938Tillicoultry Primary SchoolTillicoultry ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 41 of 421939Paton's Sports PavilionAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandAdded lodge
Item 42 of 421940Tillicoultry Secondary SchoolTillicoultry ClackmannanshireScotlandDesign - not executed

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS QuarterlyFebruary 194767Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2DMW ArchiveLetters from Eric Compton & Mrs Compton to Adam Swan (latter dated 4 February 1988)  
Item 2 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from A Bryce Kerr, Alfred G Lochhead, John Watson, Alan Reiach, Robert Scott Morton and Gordon Biggar (Kerr)