Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Wood
Designation:  
Born: c. 1888
Died: 18 June 1954
Bio Notes: James Wood was born c.1888 and commenced his training in 1904 as a pupil of William Hendry, a contractor of Buckie, Banffshire. He moved to Edinburgh in 1908 to study architecture at Edinburgh College of Art and on obtaining his diploma in 1912 joined H M Office of Works, Edinburgh. He left that office in 1914 and it was presumably at this time that he withdrew from practice for a time and went to Oban High School to work as an art master. He volunteered for service in the First World War, joining the 23rd Manchester Regiment. He was awarded the MC, was twice mentioned in dispatches and attained the rank of major.

At the end of the war he returned to teaching as an art master but moved Banffshire and took advantage of the war exemption scheme to be admitted ARIBA in 1920. In 1926 he was working in the County Education Department at Buckie, and in 1928 he was appointed county architect of Banffshire, designing schools and hospitals and, outwith the county, designed the Academy at Nairn. He still held the post in 1950.

During the Second World War Wood served in the Home Guard as second in command of the Banffshire Battalion. He retired as County Architect and Planning Officer in 1950, but continued in private practice from Cullen. He died on 18 June 1954.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 33, Strathaven Terrace, Oban, Argyll, ScotlandPrivate1919 *  
Item 2 of 3Education Offices, East Church Street, Buckie, Banffshire, ScotlandBusiness1926 *  
Item 3 of 3Cullen, Banffshire, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 19501954In County Architect's office

* 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 5William Hendry1904 Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)19121914AssistantWorking under William Thomas Oldrieve, in Edinburgh office
Item 3 of 5William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve)19121914AssistantWorking in H M Office of Works, Edinburgh
Item 4 of 5Banffshire County Education Authority1926 *   
Item 5 of 5Banffshire County Architect's OfficeBefore 1928After 1950Chief Architect 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 4John Flett Duncan17 August 192827 December 1928AssistantIn Banffshire County Architect's Office
Item 2 of 4George Flett3 September 1928September 1929ApprenticeIn Banffshire County Architect's Department
Item 3 of 4John Flett Duncan5 June 19348 October 1934AssistantIn Banffshire County Architect's Office
Item 4 of 4George Flett (junior)September 1937September 1939Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve)Mid 1920for Associateship
Item 2 of 3John WatsonMid 1920for Associateship
Item 3 of 3James Cumming WynnesMid 1920for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1William James Geddes14 January 1935for 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 91920Caledonian MansionsOban ArgyllScotlandReconstruction
Item 2 of 91920War memorialFindochty BanffshireScotland 
Item 3 of 91923Banff AcademyBanff BanffshireScotlandReconstruction and additions
Item 4 of 91923Fordyce AcademyFordyce BanffshireScotlandSouth block added
Item 5 of 91926High SchoolBuckie BanffshireScotlandAs architect with Banff County Education Authority
Item 6 of 91930Junior School at BuckpoolBanff BanffshireScotland 
Item 7 of 91936Primary SchoolPortessie BanffshireScotlandAs County Architect
Item 8 of 91938Cluny Primary SchoolBuckie BanffshireScotland 
Item 9 of 91952Chalmers HospitalBanff BanffshireScotlandMaternity Block

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 5RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 5RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 5Who's Who in Architecture1923    
Item 5 of 5Who's Who in Architecture1926    

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 no3059 (microfilm reel 24)