Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alastair Marshall McMichael
Designation:  
Born: 13 September 1888
Died: 14 February 1955
Bio Notes: Alastair Marshall McMichael was born on 13 September 1888 in Perthshire. There is conflicting information on his early years in his ARIBA and FRIBA nomination papers but it seems that he began his higher education studying Fine Arts and modern languages at Edinburgh University, being awarded the degree of MA c.1909. He appears to have been briefly articled to Hugh Campbell from September of the latter year before embarking on three years of full-time studies at Glasgow School of Architecture under Eugène Bourdon, during which period he spent summers working as improver in the office of John Archibald Campbell's firm, Campbell & Hislop. Whilst at the School he also became acquainted with William James Smith (later Professor) and the younger Alexander Cullen (later Colonel).

After completing his studies in Glasgow it seems that he moved back to Edinburgh to become a draughtsman in the office of Hippolyte Jean Blanc, and while there developed a 'flair for church work'. He made a study tour in England in July 1914, making measured drawings in Ely and also visiting Canterbury, Lincoln, York and Durham.

During the First World War he served with the Royal Engineers as a Surveyor in the 19th Army Heavy Brigade. After his demobilisation he passed the qualifying exam in London in July 1919 and entered the office of Ebeneezer Simpson in Stirling. He was admitted ARIBA on 1 March 1920, his proposers being Walter Symington Athol Gordon, James Glen Sivewright Gibson and Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth; and was made a partner in Simpson's practice in the same year, the firm becoming Simpson McMichael & Davidson as Simpson had already taken George McCallum Davidson into partnership sometime before. On Simpson's retirement in 1924 he continued with Davidson.

McMichael was admitted FRIBA in late 1932, his proposers being James Glen Sivewright Gibson, Walter Symington Athol Gordon and Oliver Frederick Savege. His partnership with Davidson was dissolved at the end of the Second World War and McMichael practised on his own until he entered into partnership with his son William A McMichael as A M & W McMichael. William A McMichael continued the practice after his father's death on 14 February 1955.

According to his obituarist Alastair Marshall McMichael's practice was a busy one. He designed many industrial buildings before the Second World War, chiefly paper mills in England, and later general work in Scotland including that on many county estates and country houses in Stirling and Perthshire. He was working on the restoration of St Ninian's Church Stirling at the time of his death.

He was married with one son and one daughter. He was a Past President of the Stirling Society of Architects, a Councillor and Magistrate and was Provost for three-and-a-half years.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Commercial Bank House, Callander, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate1920 *  
Item 2 of 316, King Street, Stirling, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate1920After 1939 
Item 3 of 311, Manse Gardens, Stirling, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness1932 *After 1950 

* 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 6Hugh CampbellSeptember 1909c. 1910(?)Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Campbell & Hislopc. 1910(?)c. 1913(?)ImproverIn summers only, whilst studying
Item 3 of 6Hippolyte Jean Blancc. 1913(?)c. 1914(?)Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 6Ebeneezer Simpson19201920Assistant(?) 
Item 5 of 6Simpson, McMichael & Davidson1920c. 1945Partner 
Item 6 of 6A M & W McMichaelAfter 19451955Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6James Glen Sivewright Gibson1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 2 of 6James Glen Sivewright GibsonLate 1932for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Walter Symington Athol Gordon1 March 1920for Associateship
Item 4 of 6Walter Symington Athol GordonLate 1932for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Oliver Frederick SavegeLate 1932for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth1 March 1920for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 7Alexander John Macaskill Currell21 October 1941for Associateship
Item 2 of 7Robert Mather Godfrey2 February 1954for Associateship
Item 3 of 7Arthur Hunter11 February 1947for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 7Alexander Jamieson Smith6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 5 of 7Lawrence Henry Twigg12 November 1940for Associateship
Item 6 of 7Henry ('Harry') Wilson17 November 1942for Licentiateship
Item 7 of 7Henry ('Harry') Wilson15 June 1943for Fellowship

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 34 Buildings for John Dickinson & So LtdCroxley Greem, Watford HertfordshireEnglandNew building and additions
Item 2 of 34 Carpet Factory for Messrs A F Stoddard (or Stoddart)Stirling StirlingshireScotlandAdditions
Item 3 of 34 Clyde Paper MillsEastfield, Rutherglen LanarkshireScotlandLarge additions
Item 4 of 34 Coating factoryTadcaster YorkshireEngland 
Item 5 of 34After 1920Allan Water HydropathicBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotlandAdditions?
Item 6 of 34After 1920Bowaters Paper mills, Ellesmere PortThe Wirral LiverpoolEngland 
Item 7 of 34After 1920Bridge HouseWestfield  Scotland 
Item 8 of 34After 1920Crianlarich HotelCrianlarich PerthshireScotland 
Item 9 of 34After 1920Dreadnought HotelCallander PerthshireScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 34After 1920Dunblane CathedralDunblane PerthshireScotlandAlterations
Item 11 of 34After 1920Factory or housing at NorthfleetNorthfleet KentEngland 
Item 12 of 34After 1920GlencairnaigCallander PerthshireScotland 
Item 13 of 34After 1920Glenpatrick FactoryElderslie RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 14 of 34After 1920Housing for Callander Burgh CouncilCallander PerthshireScotland 
Item 15 of 34After 1920Housing for Doune Burgh CouncilDoune PerthshireScotland 
Item 16 of 34After 1920Housing for Dunblane Burgh CouncilDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 17 of 34After 1920Housing for Perthshire County Council  PerthshireScotland 
Item 18 of 34After 1920Kingshouse HotelBalquhidder PerthshireScotland 
Item 19 of 34After 1920Longcroft HouseLinlithgow West LothianScotland 
Item 20 of 34After 1920Macfarlane Museum and Art GalleryBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotlandAlterations?
Item 21 of 34After 1920Premises for J Pullar & SonsDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 22 of 34After 1920Premises for J Pullar & SonsBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotland 
Item 23 of 34After 1920Royal HotelTyndrum StirlingshireScotland 
Item 24 of 34After 1920The GartCallander PerthshireScotland 
Item 25 of 34After 1920Trossachs InnCallander PerthshireScotlandAlterations?
Item 26 of 34After 1920Westfield Paper MillsBathgate West LothianScotland 
Item 27 of 341926Victoria HallDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 28 of 341929Bowater's Mersey Paper Mill, NetherpoolEllesmere Port CheshireEnglandEstimated cost £1,000,000
Item 29 of 341932Stirling District and County Savings BankAlva StirlingshireScotland 
Item 30 of 341933Masonic TempleBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotland 
Item 31 of 341933New Co-operative storeStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 32 of 341937St Ninian's Parish ChurchStirling StirlingshireScotlandAlterations (this was McMichael's own church)
Item 33 of 34Before 1955Falkirk Old Parish ChurchFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandInterior renovation
Item 34 of 34c. 1955St Ninian's Parish ChurchStirling StirlingshireScotlandRestoration

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIAS QuarterlyMay 1955100Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)p53
Item 2 of 2RIBA JournalAugust 1955 London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp430 Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v25 no2893 (microfilm reel 23); F no3056 (box 16)