Basic Biographical Details

Name: Sydney Houghton Miller
Designation:  
Born: 14 May 1884
Died: 31 March 1938
Bio Notes: Sydney Houghton Miller was born in Edinburgh on 14 May 1884 and educated at George Watson's College. He was articled to Sir Robert Rowand Anderson from 1902, attending Anderson's School of Applied Art where he won a National Art Survey travelling scholarship. From c.1907 he gained experience as an assistant to Anderson, Alexander Hunter Crawford, Hippolyte Jean Blanc, George Washington Browne and William Thomas Oldrieve at the Edinburgh Office of Works. He won the Pugin Studentship in 1909 and collaborated with William James Walker Todd (born February 1884) on several designs before entering a formal partnership with him at 19 Young Street in 1914. What should have been the partnership's major work, St David's Church at Dundee, was never realised despite a reduction in the design. The practice closed in 1915 when the partners were called up: Walker Todd served in France with the Royal Scots, reaching the rank of Captain. Around this time Miller taught in the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art.

In January 1920 John More Dick Peddie (born 1853) merged his practice with theirs as J M Dick Peddie & W J Walker Todd. Peddie retired in November 1920 and appears to have taken most of the practice's library with him: his copy of Garner and Stratton's 'Domestic Architecture of England during the Tudor Period', now in the possession of Mrs Scott Duncan, has an inscription recording its gift to Walker Todd at that time.

In the earlier Todd and Miller years of the Peddie practice an important figure appears to have been David William Crawford who made the fine perspective of the first design for the Royal Bank in Hope Street, Edinburgh but nothing is as yet known of his subsequent career. Miller redesigned it but left the partnership in 1927. The reasons are not known; the office was not short of work, but the continued omission of his name from the practice title may have rankled. He opened his own office at 15 York Place, and was admitted FRIBA on the recommendation of the Council on 22 April 1929. He is not known to have designed anything significant in independent practice prior to his retirement in 1935. He died on 31 March 1938.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 319, Young Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1914c. 1917As partner in Todd & Miller, then with Peddie & Walker Todd, with gap when office closed during last year of war
Item 2 of 3The Bungalow, Hailes Gardens, Colinton, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1921  
Item 3 of 315, York Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1927c. 1935 

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 10(Sir) Robert Rowand Anderson19021903Apprentice 
Item 2 of 10Rowand Anderson & Paul1903c. 1907Apprentice 
Item 3 of 10Hippolyte Jean BlancAfter 1907Before 1909Assistant(?) 
Item 4 of 10George Washington BrowneAfter 1907Before 1909Assistant(?) 
Item 5 of 10Alexander Hunter CrawfordAfter 1907Before 1909Assistant 
Item 6 of 10H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)After 1907Before 1909Assistant(?)In Edinburgh office, working under William Thomas Oldrieve
Item 7 of 10William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve)After 1907Before 1909Assistant(?)In H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
Item 8 of 10Rowand Anderson & Paulc. 1907Before 1909Assistant 
Item 9 of 10Todd & Miller1914December 1919PartnerWith the exception of war service, 1915-19
Item 10 of 10J M Dick Peddie & Walker ToddJanuary 19201927Partner 

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 2George Samson Tosh19281930Assistant 
Item 2 of 2David Gray Kirk1931Before 1932Junior Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Council22 April 1929for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Robert Hogg MatthewMid 1931for Associateship

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 1061910St David's in the West Church  DundeeScotlandPlans drawn up in collaboration with William James Walker Todd but not executed (World War I caused delay)
Item 2 of 1061912(?)St Michaels and All Angels Episcopal Church HallHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandPlans for addition of a hall - presumably rejected in favour of those by Anderson & Paul
Item 3 of 1061919Housing and women's hostel at Tweedholme AvenueWalkerburn PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 4 of 1061919Innerleithen War Memorial HallInnerleithen PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 5 of 1061919Liverpool London & Globe Insurance Office  EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 1061919St David's in the West Church  DundeeScotlandAmended plans (more modest scheme)
Item 7 of 1061919Troqueer, Lanark RoadColinton EdinburghScotlandGardener's cottage
Item 8 of 1061920sBritish Linen Bank war memorial  EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 1061920sDrumsheugh Toll, house and studio  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 1061920sRoyal Bank of Scotland war memorial  EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 1061920sSt Giles Cathedral, Memorial to the 17th Royal Scots Battalion  EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 10619203 Montrose Terrace  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 13 of 1061920Abbotsford LodgeMorningside EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 1061920Broom Farmhouse and CottageGogar StirlingshireScotland 
Item 15 of 1061920Colonial Life Assurance Co  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to houses of 1775 to form commercial offices
Item 16 of 1061920County Council housing, Buccleuch StreetInnerleithen PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 17 of 1061920Gogar Cottage  MidlothianScotland 
Item 18 of 1061920Gourdie HouseCaputh PerthshireScotlandAlterations
Item 19 of 1061920Kells War MemorialNew Galloway KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 20 of 1061920St Catherine of Sienna Episcopal ChurchBo'ness / Borrowstouness West LothianScotland 
Item 21 of 1061920Woodbank HotelDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions?
Item 22 of 106c. 1920Murrayfield Golf ClubhouseMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandAdditions?
Item 23 of 106c. 1920Selkirk Bowling ClubSelkirk SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 24 of 106c. 1920The DeanLongniddry East LothianScotland 
Item 25 of 106c. 1920VillaPolwarth EdinburghScotlandProposed
Item 26 of 10619217 Clifton TerraceHaymarket EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 27 of 1061921Double cottages, Park Avenue areaWalkerburn PeeblesshireScotland 
Item 28 of 1061921Fishcuring store for R MainNewhaven EdinburghScotland 
Item 29 of 1061921Flatted houses and cottagesTrinity EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 1061921House for Messrs BrodieSelkirk SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 31 of 1061921St Ninian's Episcopal Church and church hallComely Bank EdinburghScotland 
Item 32 of 1061921Toftcombs HouseBiggar LanarkshireScotlandAlterations?
Item 33 of 1061921Woodville  EdinburghScotlandAlterations?
Item 34 of 106192219 Ainslie Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 106192240 Drumsheugh Gardens  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 36 of 1061922Fettes Mount House and CottagesLasswade MidlothianScotland 
Item 37 of 1061922Premises for Messrs Trail & Fletcher  EdinburghScotlandAlterations?
Item 38 of 1061922Selkirk Golf ClubSelkirk SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 39 of 1061922Shop for Messrs Hoys House Furnishers  EdinburghScotland 
Item 40 of 106c. 1922Royal Bank of Scotland  EdinburghScotlandFinal scheme
Item 41 of 1061923143-146 Princes Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to elevation
Item 42 of 106192330 Abercromby Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to Royal Scots Club
Item 43 of 1061923British Linen Bank, South Bridge Branch  EdinburghScotlandDesigns
Item 44 of 1061923Double villa for Messrs MacAndrewCraiglockhart EdinburghScotland 
Item 45 of 1061923Gracemount HouseLiberton EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 46 of 1061923House for James PeacockCraiglockhart EdinburghScotland 
Item 47 of 1061923House for Mr ForresterSaughton EdinburghScotland 
Item 48 of 1061923KilmalieuBarnton EdinburghScotland 
Item 49 of 1061923KirnaWalkerburn PeeblesshireScotlandAlterations
Item 50 of 1061923Premises for Darling & Co  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 51 of 1061923St Michael's ChurchEarlsferry FifeScotland 
Item 52 of 1061923Tweedmouth MemorialTweedmouth NorthumberlandEngland 
Item 53 of 10619243 Tipperlin Road  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 54 of 106192435-37 Shandwick Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 55 of 106192441 Manor Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 56 of 1061924Blackford Park House  EdinburghScotlandAlterations?
Item 57 of 1061924Corstorphine BankCorstorphine EdinburghScotland 
Item 58 of 1061924Craiglockhart House  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 59 of 1061924House for J B WhitelawNorth Berwick East LothianScotland 
Item 60 of 1061924House in the grounds of MarchfieldCramond EdinburghScotland 
Item 61 of 1061924Northern Insurance Company Building  EdinburghScotlandDrawings showing details of furniture and fittings
Item 62 of 1061924Premises for National Guarantee Office  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to no 17
Item 63 of 1061924Vogrie HouseBorthwick MidlothianScotlandAlterations
Item 64 of 10619259 Albyn Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 65 of 106192591-93 George Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 66 of 1061925British Linen BankColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 67 of 1061925Bungalow for Mrs WemyssBlackhall EdinburghScotland 
Item 68 of 1061925ChettiscombeColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 69 of 1061925House for John B PedenBarnton EdinburghScotland 
Item 70 of 1061925House for Mrs KennedyPortobello EdinburghScotland 
Item 71 of 1061925House for W T BellDavidson's Mains EdinburghScotland 
Item 72 of 1061925HousesCorstorphine EdinburghScotland 
Item 73 of 1061925HousesCraiglockhart EdinburghScotland 
Item 74 of 1061925HousesBlackhall EdinburghScotland 
Item 75 of 1061925Semi-detached housesCraiglockhart EdinburghScotland 
Item 76 of 1061925St Andrews Home of Mercy and ChapelJoppa EdinburghScotlandConversion of existing house
Item 77 of 106192616 Seafield RoadPortobello EdinburghScotland 
Item 78 of 1061926British Linen Bank  EdinburghScotland 
Item 79 of 1061926British Linen BankOban ArgyllScotland 
Item 80 of 1061926Colinton HouseColinton EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions to Colinton House, gates and gatekeeper's lodge
Item 81 of 1061926Garage for J C Todd  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to garage
Item 82 of 1061926Marshall and Sons Jewellers  EdinburghScotlandAlterations for the BBC (upper floors?)
Item 83 of 1061926Merchiston Castle School, Rogerson Boarding House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 84 of 1061926Merchiston Castle School, War Memorial Hall  EdinburghScotlandWorking in association with Burnet, Son & Dick
Item 85 of 1061926Prestonpans Police Station and HousesPrestonpans East LothianScotland 
Item 86 of 1061926Royal Bank of Scotland  EdinburghScotland 
Item 87 of 106c. 1926Merchiston Castle School, Stables  EdinburghScotland 
Item 88 of 106192740 Moray Place  EdinburghScotlandConversion
Item 89 of 1061927British Linen BankHaymarket EdinburghScotland 
Item 90 of 1061927British Linen Bank, South Bridge Branch  EdinburghScotlandRebuilding on new site
Item 91 of 1061927Crown HotelBiggar LanarkshireScotlandAlterations
Item 92 of 1061927Garage for MacAndrew  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 93 of 1061927Merchiston Castle School, The Castle Gates  EdinburghScotland 
Item 94 of 1061927Royal HotelPortobello EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 95 of 1061927Scottish Life Assurance Co  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 96 of 1061927Shop, Rose Street  EdinburghScotlandShopfront
Item 97 of 106After 1927Royal Insurance Offices  EdinburghScotlandAlterations or rebuilding
Item 98 of 1061928Edinburgh Castle, Bruce and Wallace Memorial  EdinburghScotlandProposed design for Wallace bronze memorial niches
Item 99 of 106c. 1928St Giles Cathedral, Memorial to the 15th Royal Scots Battalion  EdinburghScotland 
Item 100 of 1061929Dundas Castle  MidlothianScotlandNew gates
Item 101 of 1061929Exchange Bank of Scotland  EdinburghScotlandScottish Banks Clearing House building on St Andrews Lane, on site of David Bryce Free Tolbooth Church
Item 102 of 106Before 1929143-146 Princes Street  EdinburghScotlandExtension
Item 103 of 10619303 Hope Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 104 of 1061930Eglinton Castle, house and stables  AyrshireScotlandAlterations to stables?
Item 105 of 1061930John O'Groats HotelJohn O'Groats? Caithness?ScotlandAlterations
Item 106 of 1061936British Linen Bank, St Andrew Square  EdinburghScotlandAlterations

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 2 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1923    
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal31 March 1938v45London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp721 - obituary (partnership dates appear to be incorrect)

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 F no2700 (box 10)