Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Reid | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 17 July 1893 or 17 August 1893 | Died: | 12 October 1984 | Bio Notes: | George Reid was born on 17 July 1893 (nomination Paper) or 17 August 1893 (Death Register), the eldest son of David M Reid, commercial traveller, and his wife Margaret. He was articled to Scott Morton & Co from 1910 for five years, attending classes at Edinburgh College of Art where he obtained firsts in each year of his studies as well as two bursaries. Whilst serving his apprenticeship he was seconded to the offices of Robert Lorimer, George Washington Browne and James Bow Dunn.
Reid joined the Royal Scots at the outbreak of the First World War. He was wounded in France in January 1916. In 1914 he had a design hung at the Society of Artists and in 1915 exhibited a 'colour design' was hung at the Royal Scottish Academy. At the cease of hostilities he returned to Edinburgh and in 1919 joined forces with Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie and J Smith Forbes for the purposes of the competition for the Northfield Housing Scheme in Edinburgh, their short-lived partnership being known as Fairlie, Reid & Forbes. In his Nomination Paper Reid states that he designed 400 houses while in this partnership. After producing and executing the winning scheme, Fairlie continued to practise alone whilst Reid and Forbes remained in partnership. Reid & Forbes designed a further 1400 houses for Edinburgh Town Council but it is not clear if this was a continuation of the Northfield scheme or elsewhere.
Reid was admitted FRIBA in 1955. Forbes retired from practice in 1961. Reid was appointed Lord Dean of Guild about this time and sold the office building to Cairns & Ford who also took over the major part of the commissions in hand, with Reid acting as consultant for a limited period.
He died at Bournemouth on 12 October 1984. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 9, Almondbank Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1918 * | | Gave this address in the RSA exhibition in 1918. This was the family home from before 1911 (see 1911 Census). |  | 7, Ainslie Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1919 | c. 1930 | Still listed here despite being no longer in partnership with Fairlie |  | 17, Great Stewart Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1931 | | |  | Lufra House, Granton Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1955 * | | |  | 116, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1955 * | Early 1960s | |  | Flat 8/Canford Court/7, Cliff Drive, Poole, Dorset, England | Private | 1970 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | | Holyrood School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1918 | Design for Chancel Finishings | | | | | Staff Sergeant George Reid - Builder reference |  | 1918 | Suggested design for the entrance hall and main staircase in a public building | | | | | |  | 1919 | Northfield Housing Estate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | After 1921 | Bank of Scotland, Marchmont Branch | Marchmont | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | After 1921 | Coldstream Secondary School | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | After 1921 | Housing scheme | Tranent | | East Lothian | Scotland | |  | After 1921 | Housing scheme | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | After 1921 | Primary and Secondary Schools | Innerleithen | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | |  | After 1921 | Richmond Congregational Church | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1924 | St John's RC School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1924 | St John's RC School | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1926 | Jedburgh Grammar School | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | North-west extension |  | 1928 | Edinburgh Castle, Bruce and Wallace Memorial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In collaboration with Clapperton, Lorimer & Carrick |  | 1928 | George Watson's College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design - not selected, but awarded 100-guinea premium |  | 1928 | Leith Academy Secondary School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won competition to secure job |  | 1928 | Lodge Roman Eagle no 160 | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1928 | Offices for Roxburghshire Education Committee | Newtown St Boswells | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | |  | 1929 | RC College and Schools, Melville Grange Farm | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Named as architect responsible after winning competition |  | 1930 | Victoria School | Newhaven | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension |  | 1931 | Alexander's garage | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Primary School | Morebattle | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | 'Buildings of Scotland' say Forbes responsible |  | 1931 | Royal High Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Inverness High School | Inverness | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job |  | 1932 | St Mary's RC Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction of nave with aisles; also pulpit |  | 1932 | Union Bank, West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Bank - remodelling? |  | 1933 | Bank of Scotland, North West Circus Place | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1933 | Eldin House | Bonnyrigg/Lasswade | | Midlothian | Scotland | Addition of dormitory and school block |  | 1933 | George Heriot's School, Preparatory Department and technical classrooms | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1933 | Kelso Academy | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Maxime's Ballroom | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Niddrie Church and Halls | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Trinity Primary School | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Broughton School | Broughton | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Extension, also gates and railings |  | 1935 | Eyemouth High School | Eyemouth | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Extension |  | 1935 | Jedburgh Grammar School | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1935 | Laundry | Stenhouse | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Niddrie Marischal Junior Secondary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Wardie Hotel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension |  | 1936 | Primary School | Hobkirk/Hopekirk | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1936 | Peebles High School | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Extension and reconstruction |  | 1937 | Central School | Chirnside | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Wilkies Buildings, Shandwick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Primary School | West Linton | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | 1938 | St Joseph's RC School | Inverness | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Large extensions |  | 1938 | Tanfield Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design - not successful |  | 1949 | George Heriot's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions and repairs to war memorial |  | 1951 | Moredun Church and Halls | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | c. 1955 | Dalkeith High School | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | Later school |  | 1956 | Coldstream Primary School | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1962 | Royal High School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Cairns & Ford who took over the practice mainly responsible. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | |  | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Census records online | Censuses | | |  | Courtesy of Mr William Terrell | Information via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent February 2015. |  | Courtesy of Neill Gilhooley | Information sent to Dictionary | | Sent November 2015 |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no5107 (combined box 57) (filed with note indicating that Reid died before May 1985) |
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