Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Donald Mills | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 12 January 1872 | Died: | 26 January 1958 | Bio Notes: | John Donald Mills was born at 16 Paton's Lane, Dundee on 12 January 1872, the fourth of the five sons of James Smith Mills, a solicitor and messenger-at-arms, and his wife Rebecca Donald. He was educated at Morgan Academy and Dundee High School, and was articled to Charles & Leslie Ower from 1888 to 1891. Thereafter he became an assistant in the office of John Murray Robertson, with whom he remained for five years and by whom he was profoundly influenced. During that period he attended classes at the Dundee Technical Institute and University College. In 1896 he sought wider experience with Larner Sugden of Leek, the connection probably being made through the Rev E S Sugden, an Episcopal architect-priest in Dundee who was of that family. He greatly enjoyed drawing and during these early years made numerous sketching tours in Britain and abroad, spending a month in Italy (Milan, Como, Florence, Vicenza, Verona, Venice, Siena and Ravenna) and visiting France (including Brittany) several times, once with London architect George Alexander Thomas Middleton, as well as travelling to Germany (including Dresden and Nuremberg), Austria and Prague.
In 1899 Mills returned from Leek to commence independent practice in Tayport, concentrating on domestic work, but in October 1900 he moved to Dundee and formed a partnership with Godfrey Daniel Bower Shepherd (born 1874), who had worked under him as an apprentice in Murray Robertson's office from 1893 to 1896. Shepherd had moved to London in 1897 as an assistant in the office of Alfred Walter Saxon Snell, and remained there until 1899. While there he had passed the qualifying exam, but did not immediately seek admittance as ARIBA, moving instead to the office of the London Dundonian James Glen Sivewright Gibson. The Mills & Shepherd office was then at 10 Tay Square.
Mills was admitted FRIBA in 1906, his proposers being Gibson, David Barclay Niven of London and Patrick Hill Thoms, a friend from C & L Ower's office. Shepherd was admitted FRIBA in September of the following year, his proposers being Snell, Thoms and Gibson.
On 19 September 1908 Mills married Madeline Hill Newton, daughter of the Broughty Ferry shipowner John P Newton, which widened the firm's already extensive connections. When first married they lived at Marsbank, Tayport, but within a few years they had moved to Dauphin Hill, St Andrews, where the practice quickly made a name for very stylish Arts and Crafts houses. From around 1910 they began to replace Gillespie & Scott as architects to the University of St Andrews, sharing its patronage with the London architect Paul Waterhouse in the inter-war years.
In 1919-22 there were considerable changes in the practice. In 1919 the Mills family left Dauphin Hill for 99 North Street, St Andrews and the office moved to a much larger house at 9 South Tay Street. In April the same year Herbert Morgan Smail, in later years better known as Colonel Smail, joined the practice as chief draughtsman, probably having served his apprenticeship with the firm several years before; two months later he was made a partner, although the practice title remained unchanged. By the mid-1920s Mills was spending much of his time in St Andrews, part of the ground floor of 999 North Street becoming am office dealing mainly with University work.
As a result of having carried out some garden work at Blair Castle for the Duke of Atholl, the ADC to King George V, Mills & Shepherd came to the notice of Queen Mary and they were commissioned to carry out a considerable amount of garden and estate work at Balmoral in 1922-24. In the 1920s they superseded Lorimer on at least two occasions, Auchterhouse and Fingask. From about 1933 the practice's domestic manner changed somewhat, Crittall metal-framed windows of distinctive proportions becoming a feature.
Shepherd died on 21 December 1937, and shortly thereafter William M Guild was taken into partnership. Mills kept the practice going through the Second World War, operating mainly from St Andrews, while Smail and Guild were on war service.
Throughout his career Mills produced work of exceptional quality, his most important patron being Sir James Irvine, principal of the University of St Andrews for whom he built St Salvator’s Hall in 1927 and 1935, American Tudor-collegiate in character and brilliantly fitted into a difficult site of left-over spaces at United College. Mills died in retirement at his home, 99 North Street, on 26 January 1958. At his own wish his ashes were scattered at 99 North Street where he had created a fine garden (now erased as a University car park) and in the grounds of West House, St Andrews, presumably because he thought it his best domestic work. He was a past president of the Royal & Ancient Golf Club to which he had long been architect. His estate amounted to £17, 951 5s 4d. He was survived by his wife Madeline and by his son and three daughters, the younger of whom were twins.
The practice title of Mills & Shepherd was retained after Mills’ death but did not long survive him.
Smail died soon after Mills, and Guild closed the Tay Street practice in 1966, continuing to practise for some years thereafter from his home in Cupar.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 16, Paton's Lane, Dundee, Scotland | Private | 1872 | | Place of birth |  | 10, Tay Square, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1899 | | |  | Marsbank, Tayport, Fife, Scotland | Private | 1908 | | |  | Dauphin Hill, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland | Private | After 1908 | 1919 | |  | 9, South Tay Street, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1919 | 1958 | |  | 99, North Street, St Andrews, Fife, Scotland | Private | 1919 | 1958 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | 1900 | Glenmarkie House | | | Angus | Scotland | Main house, stables, kennels and other estate buildings |  | 1900 | St Paul's Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Extensive stone repairs |  | After 1900 | House for J P Curran Esq | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Additions |  | 1901 | Nevay Park | Newtyle/Meigle (near) | | Angus | Scotland | |  | 1902 | Castle Cynicus, Lucklaw | Balmullo | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1903 | Craigower | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1903 | House | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Addition |  | 1903 or 1904 | The White House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Also 1911 addition |  | 1904 | 9 Abbotsford Crescent | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | c. 1904 | Balgillo | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Billiard room |  | c. 1904 | Ballumbie Castle | | | Angus | Scotland | Internal furnishings - commission taken over from James Findlay, probably because of over-commitment |  | c. 1904 | Blebo House | | | Fife | Scotland | Stable block and offices - work taken over from James Findlay, probably because of over-commitment |  | 1904 or 1905 | University College Dundee Fleming Gymnasium and Fives Courts | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1905 | Belsize, Stannergate | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1905 | Harecraig House | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Internal decorations and finishings |  | 1905 or 1906 | Greymount | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1906 | The Weisha, Hazel Hall | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1907 | Ardvreck | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1907 | Plans for a large block of offices for an insurance company | | | Dundee | Scotland | Unexecuted plans |  | 1907 | Priory Acres | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1907 | St Leonard's School, convalescent house | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1907 | West House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Further work 1911 and 1926 |  | 1908 | Electric Laboratory, University College Dundee | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1908 | Strips of Craigie | Craigie | | Dundee | Scotland | For Shepherd |  | 1909 | House on Craigie Avenue | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1909 | Monifieth Episcopal Church | Monifieth | | Angus | Scotland | |  | c. 1909 | Hillside | Broughty Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1910 | University Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Major addition |  | After 1910(?) | Cricket pavilion | Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Trinity College Glenalmond | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Cricket pavilion |  | 1913 | Glenisla Reservoir | Glenisla | | Angus | Scotland | |  | After 1913 | Montpellier | Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1914 | Ardconnel Chapel and schoolroom | | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1914 | Ardconnel Lodge | | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1914 | Dalbeathie House | Dunkeld | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1914 | The Swilken | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1916 | Glentulchan | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Drawing room (alterations?) |  | 1916 | Howbury | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | House and Chauffeurs House at 87 Hepburn Gardens |  | 1916 | University of St Andrews, Students' Dining Room | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1919 | Memorial in Portland Stone | | | | Scotland | |  | 1920 | Abernethy War Memorial | Abernethy | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1920 | Auchterhouse | | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations and restoration |  | 1920 | Blair Castle | Blair Atholl | | Perthshire | Scotland | Garden work |  | 1920 | Leuchars War Memorial | Leuchars | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1920 | Lochton House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1920 | University College, War memorial | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | c. 1920 | Almondbank War Memorial | Almondbank | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1920 | Kidds Rooms | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations: conversion from church |  | c. 1920 | Tayport War Memorial | Tayport | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1921 | 7 St Leonard's Road | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1921 | 9 The Scores | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1921 | Sunnymede | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1922 | Balmoral Castle | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Gates, also garden work (no date) |  | 1922 | Drumskaith | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1922 | St David of Scotland Episcopal Church | Inverbervie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | |  | 1922 | The Swilken | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Second phase of work |  | 1923 | Ashcliff and gatelodge | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1923 | Baile-na-Coille | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1923 | Little Hayes | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1923 | Rebreck | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1923 | The Glean | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1923 | The White House | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Cottage and garage |  | 1923 | Union Club | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Rebuilding of north east corner to uniform height of 3 storeys, panelling of first floor dining room |  | 1923 | University College Dundee, Men's Hostel | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1923 | University of St Andrews, Chemical and Physical Laboratories | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Additions |  | March 1923 | House for General B C Fellows | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Plans - possibly unexecuted |  | c. 1923 | Abergeldie Mains | Abergeldie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |  | c. 1923 | Auchterhouse mansion house, lodge | | | Angus | | Extension |  | c. 1923 | Auchterhouse, coach house, stable and squash court | | | Angus | Scotland | Extended and converted old brewhouse into squash court |  | 1924 | 1 Donaldson Gardens | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Binrock and Lodge | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1924 | Cryanreuch | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Gerrards Cross | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Glenmuick | Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Lodge and gates |  | 1924 | House at Duntrune for Claude Bilton | Duntrune | | Angus | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Rhebreck | Easter Balmoral | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1924 | Rufflets | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Trinity College Glenalmond | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Eastern extension of N range (the Matheson building) |  | c. 1924 | 71-73 Hepburn Gardens | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1925 | Ashstead | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1925 | Fingask Castle | Kilspindie | | Perthshire | Scotland | Restoration |  | 1925 | Rea House, Glamis Drive | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1926 | Trinity College Glenalmond | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Gladstone Cloister |  | 1926 | University of St Andrews, St Mary's College | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Additions |  | 1927 | 10 Middleshade Road | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1927 | Langlands | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1927 | Middleton | Friockheim | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1927 | Pitalpin House | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations at NW corner of the house and creation of outbuildings to include laundry room and washhouse. |  | 1927 | University of St Andrews, St Salvator's Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1928 | Ardvreck | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1928 | Clepington Estate | Clepington | | Dundee | Scotland | Additions |  | 1928 | Ellenbank | | | Dundee | Scotland | Linking block to Union Mount |  | 1928 | Kincaple House | | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction with wings |  | 1928 | Megginch Castle | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations partly reversed following a fire, inlcuding removal of porch, new entrance and other alterations |  | 1928 | University of St Andrews Old Parliament Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Panelling |  | 1929 | Riechip | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1929 | Smith and Valentine Premises | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1930s | 112 South Street, second house in close and last house in close | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Restoration |  | 1931 | Dean's Court | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Conversion to hall of residence |  | 1931 | Lochton House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1931 | University of St Andrews, Botany Department building | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1931 | University of St Andrews, Geology Department building | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1931 | University of St Andrews, St Mary's College | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Repairs and alterations; panelling of College Hall |  | 1933 | Dinmont | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1933 | Greenacres | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Trinity College Glenalmond | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Various schemes for additions, partially executed |  | 1935 | Balgavies | | | Angus | Scotland | Additions (Plans in NMRS) |  | 1935 | Beech Hill | Forfar | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1935 | Cromalt | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Greyfriars Cottage | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Trinity College Glenalmond | Glenalmond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Warden's house addition |  | 1935 | University of St Andrews, St Salvator's Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Extension |  | 1937 | University Court of St Andrews | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | Before 1937 | Banff House | | | Banffshire | Scotland | Minor alterations |  | 1938 | East Haugh | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1938 | St Leonard's Parish Church Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1939 | Lude House | Blair Atholl (near) | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1939 | Observatory | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1939 | University of St Andrews Observatory | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1940s | Bank of Scotland | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1940s | Clydesdale Bank | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1940s | House | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1940s | Houses | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1940s | Housing scheme | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1940s | Housing scheme | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1941 | 41 North Castle Street | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Renovation and alterations |  | 1942 | Balmyle | West Ferry | | Dundee | Scotland | Gates - survey for alterations? |  | 1947 | Seaside House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1948 | Blairgowrie Creamery | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1950s | Centres for Territorial Army (TA) Association | | | Dundee | Scotland | Perhaps not involved |  | 1950s | Head office and warehouse for Singer Sewing Machines Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1952 | St Mary Magdalene's Episcopal Church | | | Dundee | Scotland | Unexecuted scheme for conversion to a Territorial Army centre |  | 1955 | Ardblair Castle | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations--possibly still involved |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | p217 |  | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | |  | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | |  | Lidstone, Anna | 1989 | J Donald Mills: architect: His St Andrews career | | University of St Andrews: Unpublished MA dissertation | |  | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 7 February 1958 | v194 | | p271 - obituary |  | Dundee Courier and Advertiser | 28 January 1958 | | | Obituary |  | RIBA Journal | December 1958 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p69 - obituary |  | Scotsman | 28 January 1958 | | | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Frank Thomson, William Guild, Charles Mills and Jan Donald Elboth. |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v17 p63 no1128 (microfilm reel 12) |
Images © All rights reserved. See separate image for identification of individuals in image.
Courtesy of Charles Mills. © All rights reserved. © All rights reserved. Taken at 99 North Street in 1933. From left to right the figures are – Enid Mills, later Elboth; Mrs Mills; Mary Monica Donald Mills; Ken (?) Mills; Margaret Cynthia Donald Mills (Monica’s twin); John Donald Mills.
Courtesy of Charles Mills.
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