Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Wittet
Designation:  
Born: 21 April 1901
Died: 26 April 1990
Bio Notes: William Wittet was born on 21 April 1901, the son of architect John Wittet of Elgin. He served in the Royal Navy during the First World War. After the war he was articled to his father on 3 February 1919 and attended Aberdeen School of Architecture from 1920, obtaining his diploma in June 1922. He became his father's assistant on 22 January 1923, a salaried partner on 1 January 1925 and a share partner three years later, the firm becoming J & W Wittet. He was admitted LRIBA in early 1932, his proposers being Robert Leslie Rollo, Robert Gordon Wilson Junior and James Lochhead.

In the 1930s the Wittets had an office in Skye, probably continuing the Highland and west coast practice established by William Reid.

During the Second World War Wittet served with the Royal Engineers/MOD.

William continued the business under the existing name after his father's death on 18 March 1952. In 1973 an office was opened once again on the Isle of Skye in the Pier Hotel, Broadford. The following year the office moved to the home of the assistant in charge, Bill Simpson, at 12 Scullamus and it moved again in 1974 to the Old Post Office Buildings, Broadford. In 1975 on the departure of Bill Simpson, Magnus Gunnarsson took over as assistant in charge. He was assumed into partnership two years later. Wittet retired in 1976.

The practice continued to flourish, becoming a limited company in 1986, having moved to 26 Hay Street, Elgin.

Outwith his work Wittet's interests included scouting, Freemasonry, rugby, politics (he was awarded the OBE for his servoces to the Conservative Party), opera and theatre and amateur dramatics.

William Wittet died om 26 April 1990.

The NMRS holds a collection of his student work dating from 1920-22.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 526, Hay Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusiness1931 *  
Item 2 of 5Bheim Lhora, St Catherines Place, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1931 *  
Item 3 of 581, High Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1950Before 1964It is not yet clear when the practice moved to Moss Street. They may have returned to High Street after 1970.
Item 4 of 56, Moss Street, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1964After 1970 
Item 5 of 5Dunbarney, West Road, Elgin, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate1970 *  

* 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 4John Wittet3 February 191922 January 1923Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4John Wittet22 January 19231 January 1925Assistant 
Item 3 of 4John Wittet1 January 19251 January 1928PartnerSalaried partner
Item 4 of 4J & W Wittet1 January 1928After 1986PartnerShare partner

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3James LochheadEarly 1932for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Robert Leslie RolloEarly 1932for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)Early 1932for 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 441921Portgordon War MemorialBuckie BanffshireScotlandAs apprentice to his father
Item 2 of 441925Glenerney LodgeEdinkillie MorayshireScotlandFurther extension
Item 3 of 441928Dunphail House  MorayshireScotlandRenovations
Item 4 of 44After 1928Cairnfield HouseBuckie BanffshireScotlandUnspecified work
Item 5 of 441929BungalowHopeman MorayshireScotland 
Item 6 of 441930Aldroughty HouseSpynie MorayshireScotlandNorth west wing added
Item 7 of 441930Elgin Building Company housesElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 8 of 441930Lossiemouth Town Hall and LibraryLossiemouth MorayshireScotlandExtension
Item 9 of 441932Bishopmill Public HallBishopmill, Elgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 10 of 441932Gordon BarracksOld Machar AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 441933Aberlour Parish ChurchAberlour BanffshireScotlandApse and vestry added and interior remodelled
Item 12 of 441933Skirinish SkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 13 of 44c. 1933Connet HillElgin MorayshireScotlandAlteration to left bay - giving it a bowed termination. Also flat-roofed porch to south east
Item 14 of 441935Darnaway Castle, chauffeur's cottage  MorayshireScotland 
Item 15 of 44193627 Clifton RoadLossiemouth MorayshireScotland 
Item 16 of 44193712 and 12A Princes StreetHuntly AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 17 of 441937Baptist churchHopeman MorayshireScotlandFurther alterations
Item 18 of 441937Kinsteary House, entrance gates  NairnshireScotland 
Item 19 of 441937United Free ChurchLossiemouth MorayshireScotland 
Item 20 of 44193817-17A Simpson StreetNairn NairnshireScotland 
Item 21 of 441938British Linen BankForres MorayshireScotlandRemodelling of frontage
Item 22 of 441939Wooden houses   Scotland 
Item 23 of 44c. 1940Lynedale Home Farm SkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 24 of 44194731 Wittet DriveElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 25 of 441948Leuchars House  MorayshireScotlandRebuilt after a fire
Item 26 of 44c. 1959Lhanbryde ChurchLhanbryde MorayshireScotlandAlterations to pulpit
Item 27 of 44Late 1950sShop(s)Elgin MorayshireScotlandRestoration
Item 28 of 441960sBroadford HotelBroadfordSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 29 of 441960sCameron Knitware FactoryGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotland 
Item 30 of 441960sCity Sawmills, timber storage production unitsElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 31 of 441960sCoolin Hills Hotel SkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 32 of 441960sEllon brickworksEllon AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 33 of 441960sFootball standElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 34 of 441960sHousingForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 35 of 441960sHousing for G Kirkman & SonsFochabers MorayshireScotland 
Item 36 of 441960sHousing for Nairn County Council  NairnshireScotland 
Item 37 of 441960sHousing, for G Kirkman & SonsCullen BanffshireScotland 
Item 38 of 441960sHousing, High StreetAberlour BanffshireScotland 
Item 39 of 441960sKinkell Castle  Ross and CromartyScotlandRestoration
Item 40 of 441960sOffice for Pearl AssuranceWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 41 of 441960sPublic abattoirGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotland 
Item 42 of 441960sSocial clubElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 43 of 441960sWoollen Mill for G & G KynochKeith AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 44 of 441970Gordon CastleFochabers MorayshireScotlandAlterations including laerge farm court to rear.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS NewsletterJune 1990Vol 1 no 12  

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSRIAS Collection Student drawings
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no4123 (box 22)