Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Alexander Tait
Designation:  
Born: 16 December 1879
Died:  
Bio Notes: David Alexander Tait was born on 16 December 1879 and articled to George Deas Page of Falkirk in June 1897, remaining with him as an assistant from 1902 until 1903. During his time with Page he attended Falkirk School of Science and Art and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. In 1903 he commenced practice on his own account in Grangemouth, entering into partnership with a slightly younger apprentice at Page's, Henry Wilson, the firm being named Wilson & Tait. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911 without proposers, his nomination being supported by a character reference from the chairman of Grangemouth Public School Board. He appeared in 'Who's who in architecture' in 1914 but not in 1923.

Wilson & Tait appear to have briefly had an office in Edinburgh at 122 George Street from about 1913-15. Presumably this was to to enable them to undertake a particular job in the city but this has not yet been traced. They also had a branch office in Jedburgh in the mid-1930s, presumably to oversee projects there.

Tait retired in 1937. In the same year Henry Wilson merged his practice with that of Strang & Wilson, James Strang also having retired in that year, the combined practice of Wilson & Wilson being now based in Strang's office at 39 Vicar Street, Falkirk.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Sunnylea, Ronaldshay Crescent, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate1911 *  
Item 2 of 3122, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1913c. 1915 
Item 3 of 3Mo-Dhachaidh, Findhorn, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1939 *  

* 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 3George Deas Page18971902Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3George Deas Page19021903Assistant 
Item 3 of 3Wilson & Tait19031937Partner 

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 24After 1903Business premises for A G TaylorPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 2 of 24After 1903Business premises for P M UriePolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 3 of 24After 1903Licensed premises and billiard rooms for A G TaylorPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 4 of 24After 1903Royal Bank of ScotlandPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 5 of 24After 1903Villa for J P MacKenziePolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 6 of 241904Co-operative bakery, stables, byre, van shed etcGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 7 of 241906Redding and Westquarter ChurchRedding StirlingshireScotland 
Item 8 of 241908Grangemouth High SchoolGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 9 of 241910Grangemouth Parish ChurchGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 10 of 24c. 1910Grange House, stables and stables cottageLinlithgow West LothianScotland 
Item 11 of 24191961 High StreetDunbar East LothianScotland 
Item 12 of 241923Larbert East Church HallLarbert StirlingshireScotland 
Item 13 of 241925Two blocks of Flatted Dwellings, The NurseriesFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 14 of 241929Kerse Parish Church HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 15 of 241930sHousing scheme for Stirling County CouncilGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 16 of 241932St Helen's Church of ScotlandHigh Bonnybridge StirlingshireScotland 
Item 17 of 241933Silk FactorySelkirk SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 18 of 24193525 Callendar RiggsFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 19 of 241935The KnoweAncrum RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 20 of 241936Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction and additions
Item 21 of 24c. 1936CairnmountJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 22 of 241937Forthill housing schemeJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 23 of 241937Grangemouth Public LibraryGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandAddition to W
Item 24 of 241937Roadhouse and tearooms, Stirling RoadGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

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 L v21 no1616