Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Colville Cunningham
Designation:  
Born: 10 February 1899
Died: 9 August 1968
Bio Notes: John Colville Cunningham was born on 10 February 1899, the son of William Wallace Cunningham, joiner, and his wfie Eliza Jane Farquharson. He registered as a student member of the RIBA in 1925 but never qualified and was therfore never a member of the RIBA. He was an assistant to Thomas Forbes Maclennan before 1931 and was taken into partnership by 1933. The practice operated both from 1 Gregory Place, St Andrews where it seems that Cunningham was in charge while Maclennan operated mainly from Edinburgh. The partnership seems to have been dissolved by 1933. By c.1939 Cunningham's office had moved to 10 Alexandra Place, St Andrews. Maclennan's address at this date was 57 Melville Street.

Cunningham was the original partner in the practice Cunningham Jack Fisher Purdom which was formed in the 1960s (W Murray Jack, Peter Fisher and Ken Purdom being partners with Cunningham). The practice later became Jack Fisher Partnership.

Cunningham died in the Royal Infirmary Edinburgh on 8 August 1968 after an abdominal operation. He was survived by his wife, Lilian Mary Knights.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 41, Gregory Place, St Andrews, Fife, ScotlandBusiness1930 *  
Item 2 of 47, South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19311936 
Item 3 of 410, Alexandra Place, St Andrews, Fife, ScotlandBusiness1939After 1960 
Item 4 of 47, Alexandra Place, St Andrews, Fife, ScotlandPrivate1965 *  

* 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 3Maclennan & CunninghamBefore 1931c. 1936Partner 
Item 2 of 3Cunningham & Jack1960s Partner 
Item 3 of 3Cunningham Jack Fisher Purdom1960s1968Architect 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Thomas Whytock Reid19351936Assistant 

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 411930Dunfermline High SchoolDunfermline FifeScotlandWon first premium in limited competition, but plans too expensive
Item 2 of 41Between 1930 and 1939University HallSt Andrews FifeScotlandDrawing not dated
Item 3 of 411931Leith Methodist ChurchLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 411933House at LuffnessLuffness East LothianScotland 
Item 5 of 411933Houses for Fife County CouncilGuardbridge FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 411933St Margaret's Chapel-SchoolDunfermline FifeScotlandPlans prepared for alterations
Item 7 of 411934Balgavies  AngusScotlandAdditions (HS List)
Item 8 of 411934Bonnington Road Oatmills  EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 411934Premises of the Scottish Motor Traction Co  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 10 of 411934Premises of the Scottish Motor Traction Co  EdinburghScotlandExtension
Item 11 of 411934Printing works, 115-119 Rose Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 411934Thornton's Warehouse  EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 411934Warehouse for Messrs Smarts  EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 411935University Park Housing SchemePittenweem FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 411936Clarendon Hotel and Shopping Arcade  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 16 of 411936Housing, Lamond Drive site, for Town CouncilSt Andrews FifeScotlandAppointed architect - acting in association with Walker & Pride?
Item 17 of 411936Methodist Central Hall  EdinburghScotlandInternal alterations
Item 18 of 41193854 North StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandReconstruction
Item 19 of 411938Eighty-four houses for Burgh CouncilSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 20 of 4119391-2 Louden's Close, South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandReconstruction as hall
Item 21 of 411939146-148 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandRestoration proposed (but delayed by war)
Item 22 of 411939Two houses, 45 Nethergate for Town CouncilCrail FifeScotland 
Item 23 of 411941St Andrews Cinema HouseSt Andrews FifeScotlandAddition of west wing
Item 24 of 4119443-4 Louden's Close, South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandReconstruction
Item 25 of 411945146-148 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandRestoration carried out
Item 26 of 411946Housing, Lamond Drive site, for Town CouncilSt Andrews FifeScotlandDesign exhibited for layout of ground south of Lamond Drive
Item 27 of 411946Semi-detached villas, Park RoadDalmuir DunbartonshireScotlandReinstatement after war damage
Item 28 of 411947Boys Brigade HallSt Andrews FifeScotlandAddition to caretaker's rooms
Item 29 of 411949College GateSt Andrews FifeScotlandNew building
Item 30 of 411954Houses and shopsAnstruther Easter FifeScotlandRemodelling
Item 31 of 411959Primary SchoolKennoway FifeScotland 
Item 32 of 417 July 1961Municipal HousesSt Andrews FifeScotlandper Builder p43
Item 33 of 411962University of St Andrews, Buchanan Arts BuildingSt Andrews FifeScotlandRedesign of building to make it fit into townscape
Item 34 of 411963St Leonard's School, Science Block and Gymnasium BlockSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 35 of 411964St Andrews Univeristy, Botanic GardensSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 36 of 411966Local Authority HousingCrail FifeScotland 
Item 37 of 411966Local Authority housing developmentSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 38 of 411967Golf PavilionSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 39 of 411967Pittenweem PrioryPittenweem FifeScotlandRehabilitation.
Item 40 of 411968Clydesdale BankSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 41 of 411968Pitfour Castle  PerthshireScotlandRestoration of Castle, including removal of overlaid Adam entrance front.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 4RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1965The RIBA Kalendar   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building25 August 1968  p59

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information sent to website by Angus McGhie, partner, Jack Fisher Partnership