Basic Biographical Details

Name: Archibald G Welsh
Designation:  
Born: 7 October 1878
Died: 8 March 1957
Bio Notes: Archibald Welsh was born in Kirkcaldy on 7 Ocotber 1878, the son of Alexander Welsh, joiner, and his wife, Mary Beall. he would appear to have trained in Glasgow and by 1901 was an architectural draughtsman lodging in Shamrock Street, Glasgow. He returned to Kirkcaldy and would seem to have opened business on his own account about 1911. He became architect to the Kirkcaldy and District (previously Pathhead and Sinclairtown) Co-operative Societies.

In 1936 Welsh took James Hutchon Junior, who had recently obtained his diploma from Dundee College of Art, into partnership. The practice of Welsh & Hutchon was based in High Street. In 1940 he appears to have held the post of Burgh Architect and Surveyor in Kinghorn. Fife Council Archives hold a large number of drawings by Welsh which were submitted to Kirkcaldy Dean of Guild, the dates ranging from 1895 (is this an error?) until 1953. The drawings at bthis date, although not many, are submitted under Welsh's name alone and not the partnership. These jobs are yet to be added to the Dictionary.

Hutchon served with the Royal Engineers as a 2nd Lieutenant during the Second World War but the partnership was resumed after the cease of hostilities. It was finally dissolved in 1947. Shortly thereafter the much younger Alexander Stewart Tod passed Welsh a commission to carry out work on John Carroll's textile factory at East Wemyss, Tod being reluctant to do the work himself since he was a salaried employee on the Wemyss estate. Welsh then invited him to become a partner, the practice becoming Welsh & Tod.

Welsh died on 8 March 1957 at victoria Hospital Kirkcaldy. He was survived by his wife, Emma Arnott.

Alexander Stewart Tod died on 9 January 1964 and was succeeded as master of works of the Wemyss estate by his son Charles Robert, a surveyor, who had been articled to Archibald Welsh in 1946. The Welsh & Tod practice then became Stewart Tod & Sons, although Stewart Tod Junior remained an associate in David Carr's practice which he had joined in 1955. The architectural side of the Tod practice in Kirkcaldy was also looked after by his wife Vivienne until 1970 when Carr took Stewart Tod into full partnership and the practices merged.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 320, William Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandPrivate 1957 
Item 2 of 3233, High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1911(?)After 1939(?)Conflict of information: RIBA Kalendars say 233 High Street, Jim Hutchon (son of James) says 92. Dean of Guild records show 233 High Street, Kirkcaldy from 1911.
Item 3 of 392, High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandBusiness1936(?) * Conflict of information: RIBA Kalendars say 233 High Street, Jim Hutchon (son of James) says 92

* 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 2Welsh & Hutchon19361947Partner 
Item 2 of 2Welsh & Todc. 1950c. 1964Partner 

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 2William Farquharson Smith20 September 19211925Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2Charles Robert Tod1947c. 1951Apprentice 

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 101911Shed for Mr Adam Fernie, Sands RoadKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 2 of 101911Women's InstituteDunfermline FifeScotlandPlaced fourth but appointed after competition
Item 3 of 101913Pathhead Board SchoolPathhead, Kirkcaldy FifeScotlandAwarded fourth place in competition
Item 4 of 101919Dairy, Viewforth Street for Pathhead and Sinclairtown Reform Co-operative SocietyKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 5 of 101923Four shops for Pathhead and Sinclairtown Reform Co-operative Society LtdKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 101930Golf PavilionKinghorn FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 101931Town HallKinghorn FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 101934Shop, High StreetKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 101936Shop for Charles StewartKirkcaldy FifeScotlandNew shopfront
Item 10 of 101940Fire StationKinghorn FifeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
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 3Courtesy of Andrew Welsh, Canberra, Australia, great nephew of WelshInformation via Dictionary website Sent August 2014
Item 2 of 3Fife Archives, Iona House, John Smith Business Park, KirkcaldyKirkcaldy Dean of Guild Court  
Item 3 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from James Hutchon Junior's son Jim Hutchon, journalist (email 17 July 2006)