Basic Biographical Details

Name: Walker & Duncan
Designation:  
Born: 1891
Died: 1957
Bio Notes: The practice of Walker & Duncan was the result of the merger in 1891 of two rural firms specialising in agricultural business.

The Walker element was George James Walker, born in 1835 or 1836, the son of Robert Walker, farmer and his wife Margaret Gordon. Nothing is known of his training or early career. He was a distant relative of David Walker who was in partnership with the Aberdeen architect, civil engineer and garden designer James Forbes Beattie in the 1820s and 1830s. George James Walker formed a second Walker & Beattie partnership in 1877, the year of the death of James Forbes Beattie, with the latter's son James Alexander Beattie who had been born around 1846. It is probable that the new firm of Walker & Beattie inherited the practice of James Forbes Beattie. In about 1888 or 1889 (not 1913 as Muriel Barnett writes), the Walker & Beattie partnership was dissolved.

The Duncan element of Walker & Duncan was Thomas Duncan, born about 1856, the son of John Duncan, law stationer and his wife Mary Hunter. Nothing is yet known of his early years, though he would appear to have been trained as both architect and civil engineer. He took over the practice of land surveyor and engineer Andrew Jamieson Ironside following the latter's death on 27 November 1887.

The purpose of the Walker & Duncan merger in 1891 was perhaps the better to compete with Jenkins & Marr, another firm specialising in agricultural business which was also formed from the merger of two separate rural practices.

Thomas Duncan died on 18 March 1892 at the early age of 36. The cause of his death was recorded as tuberculosis of the prostate and bladder. He was survived by his wife, Mary Ann Moir.

Walker continued the practice under the existing title Walker & Duncan thereafter. Duncan’s place in the partnership was filled by William Dalton Ironside, son of Andrew Jamieson Ironside and his wife Tamar Proud, who may have been involved in his father’s practice before the latter’s death. The practice title did not change.

In around 1913, James Crane Cruickshank was taken into partnership, the practice still retaining the title of Walker & Duncan. Cruickshank had been born on 3 July 1882 and articled to Walker & Duncan in 1898, remaining as assistant until 1906. He had then spent a year carrying out drainage constructional work with London contractors S Pearson & Son before returning to Walker & Duncan as Principal Assistant, having charge of about fifteen assistants and pupils and three Inspectors of Works.

Walker - who was the seventh-generation owner of Portlethen farm and was a fine breeder and judge of Aberdeen-Angus cattle and a crack shot, representing Scotland on more than one occasion - died aged 68 on 20 February 1914, coincidentally the same day as his former partner James Alexander Beattie. William Dalton Ironside senior died aged 49 from phthsis on 12 June 1915, survived by his wife, Emma Yates. Cruickshank relinquished his position in the practice prior to joining the Army in 1917 to serve in Aberdeen and Kincardine, continuing his career after the war as a District Surveyor in the Department of Agriculture for Scotland.

The firm continued under the same name despite the changes in its members. George James Walker’s son Colonel Robert W Walker in charge from at least the 1930s onwards. He ran the Walker & Duncan firm from 3 Golden Square, Aberdeen until 1947. He was a Fellow of the Aberdeen Society of Architects, but does not appear to have joined the RIBA.

The practice closed in 1957.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 23, Golden Square, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessBefore 18941940s 

Employment and Training

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 11Thomas Duncan18911892Partner 
Item 2 of 11George James Walker18911914Partner 
Item 3 of 11William Dalton Ironside18921915Partner 
Item 4 of 11James Crane Cruickshank18981902 or 1903Apprentice 
Item 5 of 11James Crane Cruickshank1902 or 19031906Assistant 
Item 6 of 11James Crane Cruickshank1907c. 1913Principal Assistant 
Item 7 of 11James Crane Cruickshankc. 19131917Partner 
Item 8 of 11James HunterAugust 19281933Apprentice 
Item 9 of 11James Hunter19331939Assistant 
Item 10 of 11William Farquharson Smith19361940Assistant 
Item 11 of 11(Colonel) Robert W Walker Before 1931947Partner 

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 184 Crathes CastleCrathes Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandGarden layout - date unknown
Item 2 of 184 Fetteresso Estate, farm buildings  KincardineshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 3 of 184 Five houses, Hartington Road  AberdeenScotlandDate unknown
Item 4 of 184 Hillside Cottages  KincardineshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 5 of 184 Newtonhill VillageNewtonhill KincardineshireScotlandUnspecified work - date unknown
Item 6 of 184 Northern Agriculture & Lime Co Ltd premsies  AberdeenScotlandDate not recorded in NMRS Architects File
Item 7 of 184 Tullos Home Farm  AberdeenshireScotlandProposed improvement - date unknown
Item 8 of 1841869Mains of CraibstoneCraibstone AberdeenshireScotlandSteading
Item 9 of 1841875Newemill FarmTillyfour AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 10 of 18418789 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandHS attribution
Item 11 of 184c. 1884Two dwelling houses, St Swithin Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 12 of 1841889Stocket Farm South  AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations to house and steading
Item 13 of 1841891Cammachmore estate, Cobblebeards SteadingCammachmore KincardineshireScotlandAlterations?
Item 14 of 1841891(?)Cammachmore HotelCammachmore KincardineshireScotland 
Item 15 of 1841891Charlestown estate, various steading and farm buildingsCammachmore KincardineshireScotland 
Item 16 of 1841891Premises of Alexander Hadden & Sons  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 17 of 1841891Union Grove Baptist Church  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 1841892Claylands (Kirkville)Skene AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 19 of 1841892Findon, farm buildings and other buildingsFindon KincardineshireScotlandAlterations to farm buildings and other buildings
Item 20 of 1841892Four houses for J Green, carpenter  AberdeenScotland 
Item 21 of 1841892Four houses for Masson & AdamsTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 22 of 1841892House for Arthur Hunter  AberdeenScotland 
Item 23 of 1841892House for W Murray  AberdeenScotland 
Item 24 of 1841892Newtonhill EstateNewtonhill Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotland'Work on estate'
Item 25 of 1841892Quiddies Mill and farmsteadMilton of Cullerlie KincardineshireScotlandAlterations to steading and mill
Item 26 of 1841892Tooley Farm  AberdeenshireScotlandFarm buildings
Item 27 of 1841893Badentoy, steadingBadentoy AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions to farm buildings
Item 28 of 1841893Clark Brothers Office  AberdeenScotland 
Item 29 of 1841893Four houses for J Green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 30 of 1841893Hattonburn FarmHattonburn KincardineshireScotlandAdditions
Item 31 of 1841893House for Alex Hood  AberdeenScotland 
Item 32 of 1841893House for J Green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 33 of 1841893House for John Grant and G MacdonaldTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 34 of 1841893House for John Ross  AberdeenScotland 
Item 35 of 1841893Houses for J GreenTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 36 of 1841893Houses in Gladstone Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 37 of 1841893North Hirn, farmsteadHirn KincardineshireScotlandAlterations
Item 38 of 1841893Tillygreig SteadingTillygreig AberdeenshireScotlandFarm buildings
Item 39 of 1841893Tillymorgan Farm  AberdeenshireScotlandFarm buildings
Item 40 of 1841893Torry feuingTorry AberdeenScotlandFeuing plan
Item 41 of 1841893Two houses for George Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 42 of 1841893Two houses for J Green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 43 of 1841894Blervie Mills  KincardineshireScotlandImprovements
Item 44 of 1841894Cookney, farm buildingsCookney KincardineshireScotlandAdditions?
Item 45 of 1841894Four houses, Mile End Avenue  AberdeenScotland 
Item 46 of 1841894Hilton Lands feuing  AberdeenScotland 
Item 47 of 1841894House for Adam Buchan  AberdeenScotland 
Item 48 of 1841894House for J Green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 49 of 1841894Muchalls CastleMuchalls KincardineshireScotlandProposed addition and new stable
Item 50 of 1841894Ten houses, Mid Stocket Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 51 of 1841894Two houses for George Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 52 of 1841894Two houses for J Green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 53 of 1841894Two houses for J Green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 54 of 1841895Druggan Farm  KincardineshireScotlandAlterations
Item 55 of 1841895House for William Ironside  AberdeenScotland 
Item 56 of 1841895Jessiebank feuing  AberdeenScotlandFeuing plan
Item 57 of 1841895Muchalls Estate, farm buildingsMuchalls KincardineshireScotland 
Item 58 of 1841895Rubislaw feuing plan  AberdeenScotlandFeuing plan
Item 59 of 1841895Two houses for G Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 60 of 1841896Carlogie Cottage and stableCarlogie AberdeenshireScotlandStable
Item 61 of 1841896Dwellinghouse, King Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 62 of 1841896Five houses for C Maitland  AberdeenScotland 
Item 63 of 1841896Four houses for George Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 64 of 1841896Gillybrands FarmGillybrands Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandNew farm buildings?
Item 65 of 1841896House for Gammie  AberdeenScotland 
Item 66 of 1841896House for R S Cooks  AberdeenScotland 
Item 67 of 1841896Houses for Hugh McDonald  AberdeenScotland 
Item 68 of 1841896Portlethen MansePortlethen KincardineshireScotlandProposed improvements
Item 69 of 1841896Premises for Gammie  AberdeenScotland 
Item 70 of 1841896Steading at Little SauchenCorsindae AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 71 of 1841896Three houses for Gammie  AberdeenScotland 
Item 72 of 1841896Three houses for George Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 73 of 1841897Burnside and Rosehill feuing  AberdeenScotland 
Item 74 of 1841897Dwelling house in the south side of Blenheim Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 75 of 1841897Four houses for J GreenWoodside AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 76 of 1841897House and shops for City Property Association  AberdeenScotland 
Item 77 of 1841897House and shops for City Property Association  AberdeenScotland 
Item 78 of 1841897House and shops, Belmont Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 79 of 1841897House and shops, George Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 80 of 1841897House for Maitland  AberdeenScotland 
Item 81 of 1841897House for W Duncan  AberdeenScotland 
Item 82 of 1841897Houses and shops for City Property Association  AberdeenScotland 
Item 83 of 1841897Houses for Masson & ChristieTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 84 of 1841897Nigg Public HallNigg KincardineshireScotland 
Item 85 of 1841897Potarch Bridge InnPotarch AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 86 of 1841897Six houses for J Petrie  AberdeenScotland 
Item 87 of 1841897Stranathro VillageStranathro (now Muchalls) Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandImprovements to village
Item 88 of 1841897Two houses, Desswood Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 89 of 1841898Cattle MartEllon AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 90 of 1841898Fourteen houses for G Duguid  AberdeenScotland 
Item 91 of 1841898House, Milk Shop, Stable and Coachhouse for A Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 92 of 1841898Houses for Hammermen  AberdeenScotland 
Item 93 of 1841898Houses in Holburn Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 94 of 1841898Seven houses between Orchard Street and Spittal  AberdeenScotland 
Item 95 of 1841898Seven houses for I EmslieTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 96 of 1841898Seventeen houses for A & G Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 97 of 1841898Six houses for G Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 98 of 1841898Two houses for C Maitland  AberdeenScotland 
Item 99 of 1841898Two houses for Walker, Robertson and Cormack  AberdeenScotland 
Item 100 of 1841898Woodside HouseWoodside AberdeenScotlandStables
Item 101 of 184After 1898Alford Infectious Diseases HospitalAlford AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 102 of 1841899Four-bay double villa, Forest Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 103 of 1841899House for Miss CampbellCammachmore AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 104 of 1841899Kincorth and Craigieshaw feuing  AberdeenScotland 
Item 105 of 1841899Mill of Benholm  KincardineshireScotlandAddition
Item 106 of 1841899Three houses for Green  AberdeenScotland 
Item 107 of 1841899Three houses for J Skene  AberdeenScotland 
Item 108 of 1841899Three houses, Spittal  AberdeenScotland 
Item 109 of 1841899Two houses for A C Tait  AberdeenScotland 
Item 110 of 1841900Fettercairn Parish Church and churchyardFettercairn KincardineshireScotlandEast part of churchyard wall rebuilt
Item 111 of 1841900Fintray MillsFintray AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 112 of 1841900Heathcot home farmArdo KincardineshireScotlandAlterations
Item 113 of 1841900House for Robert Sutherland  AberdeenScotland 
Item 114 of 1841900Tenement house for James ChristieTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 115 of 1841901Carlogie Cottage and stableCarlogie AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations to cottage
Item 116 of 1841901Craigieshaw farmsteadNigg AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 117 of 1841901Cranhill farmhouseBanchory Devenick KincardineshireScotland 
Item 118 of 1841901House for Robert Stewart  AberdeenScotland 
Item 119 of 1841901House for Robert Sutherland  AberdeenScotland 
Item 120 of 1841901House, Blackdog Croft  AberdeenScotland 
Item 121 of 1841901Mains of CammachmoreCammachmore KincardineshireScotlandAlterations
Item 122 of 1841901Six houses for George Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 123 of 1841901Steading and two cottar housesBelhelvie AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 124 of 1841901Tenement houses for Robert SutherlandTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 125 of 1841902Ashgrove Road Sale Ring  AberdeenScotland 
Item 126 of 1841902Captain Lauder's premises  AberdeenScotland 
Item 127 of 1841902Fawsyde FarmFawsyde Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandAdditions
Item 128 of 1841902Four houses for B Main  AberdeenScotland 
Item 129 of 1841902Seventeen houses for Park  AberdeenScotland 
Item 130 of 1841903Eight houses for G Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 131 of 1841903Four houses for Corbett  AberdeenScotland 
Item 132 of 1841903Tarland Meal MillTarland AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 133 of 1841903William Milne's premises  AberdeenScotland 
Item 134 of 1841904Five houses for Park  AberdeenScotland 
Item 135 of 1841904House for Alex Walker  AberdeenScotland 
Item 136 of 1841904House for Hall  AberdeenScotland 
Item 137 of 1841904House, shops and dairy for J D Mackie  AberdeenScotland 
Item 138 of 184190580 Bon Accord Street  AberdeenScotlandAddition of mansard roof
Item 139 of 1841905Balnacraig SteadingBalnacraig AberdeenshireScotlandRestoration after fire
Item 140 of 1841905Tenement, Constitution Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 141 of 18419062,4,6,8 George Street and Upperkirkgate  AberdeenScotlandAlterations to shopfront
Item 142 of 18419063 Golden Square  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 143 of 1841906Pitfichie BridgeMonymusk AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 144 of 1841906Seven houses for J Corbett  AberdeenScotland 
Item 145 of 1841906Tillymorgan Farm  AberdeenshireScotlandFarm buildings
Item 146 of 1841907Netherley EstateNetherley Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotland'Work on estate'
Item 147 of 1841908North of Scotland Bank  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 148 of 1841909LibraryDrumoak AberdeenshireScotlandProposed
Item 149 of 1841909Skateraw villageSkateraw (now Newtonhill) Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotland'Work in village'
Item 150 of 1841910Ballater Isolation HospitalBallater AberdeenshireScotlandPlans drawn up - W Dalton Ironside responsible
Item 151 of 1841910Dunecht Estate, Gardener's bothy and cottages for workmenEcht AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 152 of 1841911Upper Mastrick FarmMastrick AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 153 of 1841912Culsalmond ManseKirkton of Culsalmond AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 154 of 1841912Housedale and walled garden  AberdeenshireScotlandSouth wing addition
Item 155 of 1841912Innes HouseElgin MorayshireScotlandAlterations and additions, including windows at first floor and garages and stables. List description states Walker & Duncan were responsible for the east wing.
Item 156 of 1841913Altries House  KincardineshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 157 of 1841913Tarland SchoolTarland AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 158 of 1841913Torphins Auction MarketTorphins AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 159 of 1841914Innes HouseElgin MorayshireScotlandNorth forecourt rearranged - Tennants transferred entrance to north.
Item 160 of 1841914Mains of CraibstoneCraibstone AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 161 of 1841916Innes HouseElgin MorayshireScotlandGarden layout
Item 162 of 1841923Inchmarlo House  KincardineshireScotlandAddition to south lodge
Item 163 of 1841924Altries House  KincardineshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 164 of 1841925Bungalow for J Craig, Broomhill Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 165 of 1841925Eight Houses, Woodstock Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 166 of 1841925Elsick Estate, farm buildingsElsick KincardineshireScotlandAdditions to various buildings
Item 167 of 184c. 1926Ballogie Home Farm, including gamekeeper's bothy and kennels  AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 168 of 184c. 1926(?)Ballogie House  AberdeenshireScotlandAddition of dining room window
Item 169 of 1841927Luther Bridge Cottages  KincardineshireScotlandImprovements
Item 170 of 1841928Altries estate, Mill of Crynoch Farm  KincardineshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 171 of 1841935Drill Hall for Aberdeenshire TerritorialsPeterhead AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 172 of 1841936Farque House  KincardineshireScotlandProposed renovations
Item 173 of 1841936Old Maryculter HouseMaryculter KincardineshireScotlandAlterations
Item 174 of 1841937Cults HouseCults AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 175 of 184c. 1940HousesFettercairn KincardineshireScotlandAlterations
Item 176 of 1841945Blackhall Castle, gamekeeper's house  KincardineshireScotland 
Item 177 of 1841945Blackhall Castle, gate lodge  KincardineshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 178 of 1841945Rattray House, Lodge  AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations to lodge
Item 179 of 1841946Arnhall Mill  KincardineshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 180 of 1841946Berryhill HousePeterhead AberdeenshireScotlandProposed improvements
Item 181 of 1841947North of Scotland Bank  AberdeenScotlandAlterations - uncertain as to which partners involved at this date
Item 182 of 1841949Castle Forbes, Castle Farm  AberdeenshireScotlandImprovements to house and steading
Item 183 of 1841950Castle ForbesAlford AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations to east wing
Item 184 of 1841954Drum CastleDrum AberdeenshireScotlandLodge

References

Currently, there are no references for this . The information has been derived from: the British Architectural Library / RIBA Directory of British Architects 1834-1914; Post Office Directories; and/or any sources listed under this individual's works.