Basic Biographical Details

Name: Gabriel Steel
Designation:  
Born: 14 January 1888
Died: 3 June 1962
Bio Notes: Gabriel Steel was born on 14 January 1888, the son of James Steel, burgh surveyor, and his wife Jeannie Alison Wardrop. He was articled to an unidentified firm of architects for six years from May 1903, studying at the School of Art and Technical College in Kilmarnock. He subsequently worked for three years as assistant and three years as chief assistant in the office of James Scott Hay in the same town. During his training and the early years of his career he spent six months travelling in England and two abroad.

Steel served in the armed forces during the First World War and returned to Hay's office thereafter. He was made a junior partner in May 1920. Hay and Steel are believed to have fallen out in the early 1920s over plans for Galston Town House, and thereafter Steel practised from the main address at 13 West George Street, Kilmarnock, whilst Hay appears to have practised from his house, 'Dunscaig', 19 Racecourse Road, Ayr.

Steel continued the practice as sole partner after Hay's death on 21 January 1929. He was awarded an OBE some time before 1937, and was elected FRIBA by the RIBA Council on 13 January 1942.

After the Second World War the practice became Hay Steel and MacFarlane and later Hay Steel & Partners. Steel died on 3 June 1962 aged 74 at the Infirmary in Kilmarnock. His wife Jessie Fourston Brass had predeceased him.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 313, West George Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1924After 1950 
Item 2 of 314, Glasgow Road, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1942 * House possibly designed by Hay & Steel
Item 3 of 31, Glasgow Road, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1953 *  

* 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 3James Scott Hay19081911Assistant 
Item 2 of 3James Scott Hay1911May 1920Chief AssistantWith the exception of war service
Item 3 of 3Hay & SteelMay 1920After 1942PartnerSole partner from 1929

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Council13 January 1942for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 11John Peter Coia15 April 1944for Associateship
Item 2 of 11Alexander Dunlop16 May 1944for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 11David Ferguson19 June 1956For Licentiateship
Item 4 of 11William Eric Attenburrow Hurcomb10 February 1948For Licentiateship
Item 5 of 11Thomas Kerr Irving9 October 1956For Licentiateship
Item 6 of 11Andrew Mason15 April 1947For Licentiateship
Item 7 of 11William McKendrick McLean6 February 1951For Licentiateship
Item 8 of 11Arthur Frank ShapleyEarly 1943for Licentiateship
Item 9 of 11William Ramsay Wark6 May 1947For Associateship
Item 10 of 11Allan Barrowman Wilson7 October 1952For Licentiateship
Item 11 of 11John Wilson19 June 1956For Licentiateship

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 481913Galston Parish ChurchGalston AyrshireScotlandChancel
Item 2 of 481920Local Authority housing schemeKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 3 of 48After 1920Beith Parish ChurchBeith AyrshireScotlandRestoration
Item 4 of 48After 1920Bus StationKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 5 of 48After 1920Bus StationGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 48After 1920Bus StationArdrossan AyrshireScotland 
Item 7 of 48After 1920Bus StationLargs AyrshireScotland 
Item 8 of 48After 1920Bus StationPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 9 of 48After 1920Drapery warehousesKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 10 of 48After 1920Factory for Saxone Shoe Company LtdKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 11 of 48After 1920Garage and workshopsKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 12 of 48After 1920Kilmarnock Infirmary and Fever Hospital, Mount PleasantKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandExtensive additions
Item 13 of 48After 1920Kilwinning Parish ChurchKilwinning AyrshireScotlandRestoration
Item 14 of 48After 1920Kirklandside HospitalKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandAdditions?
Item 15 of 48After 1920Municipal OfficesKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 16 of 48After 1920Offices and Welfare buildings for Saxone Shoe Company LtdKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 17 of 48After 1920Offices for Southhook PotteriesKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 18 of 48After 1920Portland Road UP ChurchKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandChancel and other additions/alterations
Item 19 of 48After 1920Stewarton Parish ChurchStewarton AyrshireScotlandRestoration
Item 20 of 48After 1920Two schoolsKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 21 of 481922George HotelKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 22 of 481923War MemorialDarvel AyrshireScotland 
Item 23 of 481924Bus StationAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 24 of 481925Galston Municipal Offices and Council ChambersGalston AyrshireScotland 
Item 25 of 481925Old ManseKilmaurs AyrshireScotlandExtension
Item 26 of 481926St Ninian's Episcopal ChurchPrestwick AyrshireScotland 
Item 27 of 48192712 Glasgow RoadKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 28 of 481927WestlandsNewmilns AyrshireScotland 
Item 29 of 481928Offices for Ayrshire Electricity BoardKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 30 of 481929Fenwick Parish Church  AyrshireScotland 
Item 31 of 481930Fenwick Parish ChurchFenwick AyrshireScotlandRestoration after fire
Item 32 of 481931Garage and workshops, Dellinburn (?)Greenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 33 of 481931LibraryNewmilns AyrshireScotland 
Item 34 of 481931Offices and garage for LMS Railway CoGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 35 of 481931Premises of G Murray & SonKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandAlterations and extensions
Item 36 of 481931Villa, no 9 Cessnock RoadGalston AyrshireScotland'Probably' by Steel (Buildings of Scotland)
Item 37 of 48c. 1934Kilmarnock Technical SchoolKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandExtension
Item 38 of 481935Fire StationKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 39 of 481936Galston Parish ChurchGalston AyrshireScotlandFont and other fittings?
Item 40 of 481937Galston Community Education CentreGalston AyrshireScotland 
Item 41 of 481937Riccarton Fire StationRiccarton AyrshireScotland 
Item 42 of 48c. 1937(?)Grants Furniture StoreKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 43 of 481945Catrine MillCatrine AyrshireScotland 
Item 44 of 481945SpringhillKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandAlterations for conversion to Eventide Home
Item 45 of 481947Kilmarnock Corn ExchangeKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandExtensive alterations
Item 46 of 481951Dalry Parish ChurchDalry AyrshireScotlandReconstruction of interior
Item 47 of 481952New Cumnock Parish Church HallsNew Cumnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 48 of 481956Parish ChurchMauchline AyrshireScotlandReconstruction of interior

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Close, Rob and Riches, Anne2012The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran New Haven and London: Yale University Pressp330
Item 2 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no3861 (box 29)