Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Sandilands | Designation: | | Born: | 10 March 1883 | Died: | 10 December 1967 | Bio Notes: | George Sandilands was born in Leith on 10th March 1883, the son of James Sandilands journeyman iron moulder and his wife Janet Bryson. His parents had married in Leith the previous year.
George married Catherine Inglis in Abbeymount, Edinburgh on 7th June 1907. Catherine was the daughter of William Inglis, a journeyman joiner and his wife Margaret Johnston. As George was also recorded as a journeyman joiner at this date its likely the couple met through William. George and Catherine would go on to have two sons and two daughters, the first of whom died young.
In 1908 he joined the School Board in Edinburgh and by 1911 was working as a Teacher of Manual Training for Leith School Board. In the middle of 1912 he moved to Fife to a job with Fife & Kinross Secondary Education Committee.
During the First World War Sandilands served with the Royal Engineers playing a prominent part in the erection of the ‘secret’ port at Richborough near Sandwich. The port provided the Government with a new departure point for heavy machinery, tanks and railway stock, and by 1918 covered an area of 2000 acres.
In 1919 he became Master of Works for Fife Education Authority, and when, by 1932, the Authority had been taken over by the County he became Master of Works to Fife County Council. The title of Master of Works was analogous to Architect although could involve additional Quantity Surveying and Clerk of Works roles. In 1932 he was President of the National Association of Local Government Officers, Fife & Kinross branch.
In 1934, when his salary was being reassessed, Sandiland’s workload had increased threefold. He was responsible for the design of housing and several schools including Bell Baxter in Cupar, Dunfermline High School, Waid Academy (additions), Anstruther, Sinclairtown School, Kirkcaldy and Mining Schools in Buckhaven and Cowdenbeath. He also designed the County Police Station HQ in Cupar and the St Andrew’s Police Station, the latter in a historicist style to respect its location.
At the time of his retirement Sandilands was a registered architect and a Fellow of the Institute of Architects and Surveyors. He was also a Member of the Royal Sanitary Institute and held a teaching diploma, lecturing at Madras College in St Andrews.
Sport played a large part in his life. When young he gained international recognition as a member of the Scottish Athletic team and later served as a judge and timekeeper for the Scottish Amateur Athletic Association for over 35 years. He became President of Kirkcaldy YMCA Harriers, was Fife’s representative on the Physical Education Committee of the YMCA and a member of the Scottish Cross-Country Union. He was well known in gymnastic circles and was also a keen swimmer and boxer. On the football field he played for Heart of Midlothian FC and later became a director of Raith Rovers FC, being once reprimanded in 1918 for attending a match in work time. His son George (1914-85) would follow in his sporting footsteps. Sandilands retired from Fife County Council on 15th March 1948 after 29 years of service as Master of Works. He received a silver tea service from the Education Authority in recognition of his service and was replaced in the role by Mr RS Laurie.
His wife died in Kirkcaldy on 1st December 1964 and he died three years later at 3 West Fergus Place, Kirkcaldy in 10th December 1967 aged 84.
Biography courtesy of Steven Robb. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | County Buildings, Cupar, Fife, Scotland | Business | 1934 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Fife County Architect's Department | 1930s * | | Chief Architect | |
* earliest date known from documented sources. Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Robert Leggat Hume | c. February 1928 | September 1929 | Assistant | | | John Methven Mitchell | 1933(?) * | | | Probably working under Sandilands in Fife County Architect's Office at this time, judging by address |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | 1921 | Buckhaven Infant School | Buckhaven | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1921 | School | Lundin Links | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1922 | Primary School, Saline | Saline | | Fife | Scotland | South extensions | | 1925 | Kincardine-on-Forth Public School | Kincardine-on-Forth | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1925 | Star Public School | Star | | Fife | Scotland | East addition and alterations to roofs | | 1927 | Aberhill Public School, Bayview Park | Aberhill, Methil | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1928 | Buckhaven Infant School | Buckhaven | | Fife | Scotland | South addition | | 1928 | Elie School | Elie | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1928 | Police Station | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1928 | Public School | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1929 | Baxter Institute for Female Education | Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | Remodelling and extension to west | | 1929 | Markinch Board School | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | Additions - new classrooms art rear | | 1929 | RC Higher Grade School | Kelty | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1930 | Public School, Broad Street | Cowdenbeath | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction after fire | | 1930 | Sinclairtown School | Sinclairtown, Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction - as County Education Architect | | 1930 | Waid Academy | Anstruther Easter | | Fife | Scotland | East additions | | 1931 | Boarhills School | Boarhills | | Fife | Scotland | Rear addition | | 1931 | Milton Road School with schoolmaster's house and janitor's house | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1932 | Housing scheme for Fife County Council | Kincardine-on Forth | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Mining School, Broad Street | Cowdenbeath | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1932 | Sixty houses, Bowhill | Bowhill, Auchterderran | | Fife | Scotland | As Fife County Architect | | 1933 | Kirkcaldy High School, Technical and Elementary Schools | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Addition of two gymnasia and assembly hall | | 1934 | Dunfermline High School | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Prepared revised plans as earlier winning ones too expensive | | 1934 | Fifty houses | East Wemyss | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1934 | Forty-four houses for Fife County Council, Drumsink estate | Kelty | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1934 | Houses for Fife County Council | Crossgates | | Fife | Scotland | As Fife County Architect | | 1934 | Houses for Fife County Council, East Wemyss-Rosie site | East Wemyss | | Fife | Scotland | 50 houses and 90 houses | | 1934 | Houses for the County Council | Newmills|Newhills | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1934 | Houses, Gerrytown | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1934 | Housing scheme | Kinglassie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1934 | Ninety houses | Rosie | | Fife | Scotland | Plans in hand | | 1934 | Strathmiglo Primary School | Strathmiglo | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1935 | Foulford School, Drill Hall | Cowdenbeath | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1935 | Milton Road School with schoolmaster's house and janitor's house | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Addition of harled classroom | | 1935 | Springfield Police Station | Springfield, Cupar | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1936 | Junior Instruction Centre | Buckhaven | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1936 | Leslie Higher Grade School | Leslie | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | | 1936 | Thirty-six houses, Parkneath site | Kinglassie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1937 | Ballingry Cemetery | Ballingry | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1937 | Houses for Fife County Council, East Wemyss-Rosie site | East Wemyss | | Fife | Scotland | 112 houses | | 1937 | Library | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1937 | Police Station | Earlsferry | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1937 | Primary School | Crombie | | Fife | Scotland | Extension | | 1937 | School | Coaltown of Balgonie | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1937 | School | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1937 | School | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1937 | The Priory, Junior Instruction Centre | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | As Fife County Architect | | 1938 | Ballingry - Lochgelly School | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | Higher Grade School | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | Madras Parish School and teacher's residence | Newburgh | | Fife | Scotland | Harled front block | | 1938 | Moonzie School and schoolhouse | Moonzie | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1938 | Police Station | Thornton | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | Police Station and 94 North Street | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | As County Architect | | 1938 | Primary School | Thornton | | Fife | Scotland | Rear additions | | 1938 | Primary School | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1938 | School | St Andrews | | Fife | Scotland | Extension | | 1938 | School House | Auchterderran | | Fife | Scotland | Plans to be prepared for new school | | 1938 | St Margaret's Chapel-School | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Additions | | 1938 | Viewforth School | Gallatown, Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | Reinstatement, additions and alterations - as County Architect | | 1938 | Wemyss Public School | East Wemyss | | Fife | Scotland | Extensions | | 1939 | Leslie Higher Grade School | Leslie | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction and extensions | | 1939 | Leslie Parish School | Leslie | | Fife | Scotland | Plans to be prepared for alterations and adiditons (domestic and housewifery departments) | | 1939 | School | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Extension and reconstruction | | 1939 | Slaughterhouse | Leven | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1940 | Police Station | Falkland | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions for new police offices and house | | 1941 | Police Station | Auchtermuchty | | Fife | Scotland | Plans in hand | | 1942 | Cowdenbeath Police Station | Cowdenbeath | | Fife | Scotland | New building? |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Evening Telegraph | 12 May 1948 | | | Article titled ‘Built under his watchful eye’ recording Sandilands retiral.
| | Scotsman | | | | Various dates. |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | |
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