Basic Biographical Details Name: | Godfrey Daniel Bower Shepherd | Designation: | | Born: | 1874 | Died: | 21 December 1937 | Bio Notes: | Godfrey Daniel Bower Shepherd was born in Dundee in 1874, and was an apprentice in John Murray Robertson's office from 1893 to 1896, where he worked under John Donald Mills. He remained there as draughtsman until 1897 when he moved to London as an assistant in the office of Alfred Walter Saxon Snell. While there he 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 in 1899. In October 1900, he was taken into partnership by Mills, who had commenced practice in Tayport the previous year and had recently moved to Dundee. The office was then at 10 Tay Square.
Shepherd was admitted FRIBA in September 1907, his proposers being Snell, Thoms and Gibson. By that time Mills had travelled in Italy, France, Germany, Austria and Czechoslovakia, and Shepherd, whose family was well-off, 'in Europe'. At that date Shepherd was living at 11 Briarwood Terrace, but shortly thereafter he built a sizeable house at Strips of Craigie.
The practice quickly made a name for very stylish arts-and-crafts houses and from around 1910 began to replace Gillespie & Scott as architects to the University of St Andrews, Mills having settled in St Andrews at Dauphin Hill. 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 April 1919 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. In the same year the practice moved to a larger house at 9 South Tay Street.
Shepherd died on 21 December 1937. Mills and Smail continued the practice, Mills keeping it going through the Second World War, operating mainly from St Andrews, while Smail and William M Guild, who had succeeded to Shepherd's partnership, were on war service. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 10, Tay Square, Dundee, Scotland | Business | c. 1900 | c. 1920 | | | 11, Briarwood Terrace, Dundee, Scotland | Private | 1907 * | | | | Strips of Craigie, Craigie, Dundee, Scotland | Private | After 1907 | | | | 9, South Tay Street, Dundee, Scotland | Business | 1919 | 1937 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
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 | | | Smith and Valentine Premises | | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 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 himself | | 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 | 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 | 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, 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. | | 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 | | 1930s | 112 South Street, second house in close and last house in close | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Restoration | | 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 | | | 1937 | University Court of St Andrews | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | Before 1937 | Banff House | | | Banffshire | Scotland | Minor alterations | | 1938 | St Leonard's Parish Church Hall | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | 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 | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 31 December 1937 | v153 | | p1191 - obituary | | RIBA Journal | 7 February 1938 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p362 - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | 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 and William Guild | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v19 p65 no1384 (microfilm reel 12) |
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