Basic Biographical Details Name: | David McArthy | Designation: | | Born: | 1854 | Died: | 6 July 1926 | Bio Notes: | David McArthy was born in 1854, the son of John McArthy, coachmen's yardsman, and Christine Durran. He was articled to Robert Rowand Anderson and John Starforth but his RIBA nomination paper does not give dates or the reason for the change. He then acted as an assistant in an unspecified practice, spending his holidays travelling to Berlin, Hamburg, Leipzig, Dresden, Brussels, Antwerp and elsewhere. He commenced business on his own account in Edinburgh in 1880 with a practice at 2 Lothian Road. In 1884 McArthy was described as 'sole agent for Cook's patent continuous baking ovens' suggesting that in the early years bakeries had been among his more important clients.
In or shortly after 1884 McArthy entered into a partnership with John Watson, hitherto Robert Rowand Anderson's chief assistant, their office being first at 33 South Castle Street and moving to 137 George Street c.1889 and then to 25 Frederick Street in 1900. Of Watson, Thomas Forbes Maclennan remarked: 'In competitive work, he frequently had the hardest of luck. While in partnership with McArthy, their design for the SSC Library was placed first, and again their design for Ayr Public Library was placed first but in neither case did the work come their way.'
In 1906 the partnership was dissolved. Watson moved out and set up his own office first at 24 Castle Street and then at 27 Rutland Street where he seems to have remained until at least 1923. McArthy remained at 25 Frederick Street. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association.
McArthy was active in public life. He entered the Town Council in 1903, becoming a magistrate in 1914 and senior Baillie in 1916-17, but after the completion of the Royal Dick Veterinary College he does not seem to have much business. He was an amateur photographer and historian and held a series of lantern lectures on the Royal Mile.
He was in poor health for some years before his death on 6 July 1926. He was survived by his widow Agnes McCracken. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 15, West Catherine Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1877 | | | | 2, Lothian Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1878 | 1884 or c. 1885 | | | 33, South Castle Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1884 | c. 1889 | | | 23, Maitland Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1885 | c. 1887 | | | Viewbank Villa, Viewforth, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1887 | c. 1891 | | | 137, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1889 | 1900 | | | 12, North Park Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1892 | c. 1925 | | | 25, Frederick Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1895 | c. 1919 | Watson separates c.1906. McArthy remains at this address | | 6, Albyn Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before 1918 | c. 1925 | In practice on his own | | 12, Stafford Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1926 | | In practice on his own | | 14, Thirlestane Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1926 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | James Bow Dunn | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | | Fountainhall | | | East Lothian | Scotland | Repairs and restoration - date unknown | | | Tron Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Repairs and redecoration - date unknown | | 1881 | Tenements on Marchmont Crescent | Marchmont | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1883 | Tenement, Marchmont Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1884 | 126 Princes Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension/reconstruction | | After 1884 | Craigleith Poorhouse, probationer's pavilion | Craigleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1884 | Cramond Parish Church Hall | Cramond | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1884 | Gorebridge Free Church | Gorebridge | | Midlothian | Scotland | Interior decoration | | After 1884 | Mission Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1884 | Newton Don | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Interior plasterwork; additions; reconstruction of stables | | 1887 | 62-76 West Port | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1888 | Library for Solicitors to the Supreme Courts of Scotland | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | First premiated competition design (entered jointly with George Mackie Watson); James Bow Dunn received commission | | 1889 | 1-8 East Fettes Avenue | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1889 | The Hirsel | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Alterations - date unknown | | 1891 | Ayr Public Library | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Competition design - placed third: apparently initially placed first. Design prepared jointly with George Mackie Watson | | 1893 | St Cuthbert's Parish Church Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won in competition | | 1894 | Nos 1-3 George Pape's Widows' Cottages | Roseburn | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1895 | Gorgie Free Church and Hall | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1895 | Rubislaw | Morningside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1896 | 26-28 Polwarth Terrace | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1898 | Bangour Village Asylum | Uphall | | West Lothian | Scotland | Won competition for design of administration block - and awarded first premium, but not the job | | 1899 | Forfar Fever Hospital | Whitehills, Forfar | | Angus | Scotland | Won competition, but T M Cappon awarded job | | 1899 | Midlothian County Council Buildings | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Placed third in competition (entered jointly with John Watson) | | 1899 | Tenement, Westgate | North Berwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1900 | Beechmount House | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | House, lodge, stable and approach road | | 1900 | Falkirk Public Library | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1900 | St Stephen's UF Church | Comely Bank | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design - not successful | | 1901 | House for Mr Dott | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1902(?) | 1-7 Roseburn Cliff | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1902 | Roseburn Cliff gatepiers | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1903 | Industrial School for Girls | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1903 | Pinkhill | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions | | 1904 | Hamilton Municipal Buildings and Public Library | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Awarded 2nd prize in competition | | 1905 | 27 Wester Coates Avenue | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1905 | St Adrian's Church | Anstruther Easter | | Fife | Scotland | Internal refit, including elaborate scheme of redecoration and refurnishingefit | | 1906 | Dublin Street Baptist Church School | Canonmills | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Remodelling of school | | 1909 | University of Edinburgh, Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1911 | Cramond Parish Church | Cramond | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Acted on behalf of the heritors as consulting architect. | | 1912 | Dean Bank House Girls Institution | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1921 | Longstone Housing Estate | Longstone | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v19 no1431 |
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