Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Macdonald
Designation:  
Born: 30 December 1894
Died: 28 June 1958
Bio Notes: William Macdonald was born on 30 December 1894, the son of Duglad Macdonald, gardener, and his wife Annie Hossack. He was articled to A Maitland & Sons of Tain in 1913. His apprenticeship was interrupted by military service from 1916 to 1919, but he resumed his training with the same firm in 1920 and was soon appointed chief draughtsman. He acted as a temporary Clerk of Works for Tain Burgh Housing Scheme in 1921 and the following year took over the business of the Maitland firm, James Maitland having retired to Bournemouth and his nephew and partner Andrew Gordon Maitland having apparently left to join a firm of solicitors in Edinburgh.

The economic depression caused Macdonald to suspend business in 1930; he secured a post in the Architectural and Surveying Branch of the Department of Agriculture for Scotland, and was employed in that department's district office in Inverness when he was admitted LRIBA on 2 December 1935, his proposers being William John Taylor and Robert Carruthers Ballantyne.

Macdonald died on 28 June 1958 aged 63 at 8 Chalmers Crescent in Edinburgh. His wife, Isabella Ferguson, survived him.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4113, Marchmont Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate 1958 
Item 2 of 4Tain, Ross and Cromarty, ScotlandBusiness19201930 
Item 3 of 4Glenmhor, Muirtown, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandPrivate1935 *  
Item 4 of 411, Queensgate, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness1935 *After 1938 

* 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 4A Maitland & Sons19131920ApprenticeWith the exception of war service, 1916-19
Item 2 of 4A Maitland & Sons19201922Chief Assistant 
Item 3 of 4A Maitland & Sons19221930Partner 
Item 4 of 4Department of Agriculture for Scotland (later Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland)1930After 1935  

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2Robert Carruthers-Ballantyne (or Robert Ballantyne Carruthers; or Roy Carruthers Ballantyne)2 December 1935for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 2William John Taylor2 December 1935for Licentiateship

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 371921Tarbat Old ChurchPortmahomack Ross and CromartyScotlandFurther alterations
Item 2 of 371922Bungalow, ScotsburnBalnagown Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 3 of 371922Caledonian HotelUllapool Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 4 of 371922Renovation of dwellinghouseTain Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 5 of 37After 1922Addition to houseHilton Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 6 of 37After 1922Addition to shopAlness Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 7 of 37After 1922Balnagown Castle  Ross and CromartyScotlandMeasurement and floor plans - unclear whether any work carried out
Item 8 of 37After 1922BungalowInvergordon Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 9 of 37After 1922BungalowTain Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 10 of 37After 1922Dunskaith HouseNigg Ross and CromartyScotlandAugmentation of water supply; asphalting of roofs
Item 11 of 37After 1922Geanies HouseFearn Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions to house, and installation of domestic hot water
Item 12 of 37After 1922Pitcalzean HouseNigg Ross and CromartyScotlandInstallation of domestic hot water
Item 13 of 37After 1922Post OfficeEdderton Ross and CromartyScotlandAlterations
Item 14 of 37After 1922Railway HotelTain Ross and CromartyScotlandAlterations
Item 15 of 37After 1922Tain Parish ChurchTain Ross and CromartyScotlandElectric lighting and redecoration
Item 16 of 371923Edderton (Balnagown Estate), farmhouseBalnagown Ross and CromartyScotlandUnspecified work to house and additions to farmstead
Item 17 of 371923Scotsburn Estate, new boundary walls, gates and railingsBalnagown Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 18 of 371923Tarlogie (Home Farm?), steadingTain Ross and CromartyScotlandRestoration after fire
Item 19 of 371924Alterations to shopTain Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 20 of 371924Fraser's HotelTain Ross and CromartyScotlandAlterations
Item 21 of 371924Two dwellinghouses on the Geanies EstateFearn Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 22 of 371925Bridge HotelBonar Bridge SutherlandScotlandNew bar, dining room, lounge, bedrooms and bathrooms
Item 23 of 371925Edderton Estate, new gate lodge  Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 24 of 371926Alterations to houseBonar Bridge SutherlandScotland 
Item 25 of 371926Cottage, Geanies EstateFearn Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 26 of 371926Mansion houseTain Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 27 of 371926VillaTain Ross and CromartyScotlandAlterations
Item 28 of 371927Church hallTain Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 29 of 371927Eight houses for Tain Burgh CouncilTain Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 30 of 371928Garage and additions to houseTain Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 31 of 371928House for district nurseNigg Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 32 of 371928Station HotelInvershin SutherlandScotlandNew glass lounge
Item 33 of 371929Bridge HotelBonar Bridge SutherlandScotlandFurther additions and alterations
Item 34 of 371929Farm house, OrdInvergordon (near) Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 35 of 371929Farmhouse, BalacherryTain Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions
Item 36 of 371930Farmhouse, PitnelliesTain Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions
Item 37 of 371930Star InnTain Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions and alterations

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Gifford, John1980Architects of the Highlands in the Nineteenth Century, A SketchNo 7, September 1980, pp29-48The Scottish Georgian Society Bulletin, Edinburgh, 1980 
Item 2 of 2Mackenzie, Rosemary and Durham, Jane1984The Maitland Family, Tain, 1840s-1930s   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no4507 (combined box 18)