Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Dunlop
Designation:  
Born: 28 December 1909
Died: 17 November 1996
Bio Notes: Alexander Dunlop was born on 28 December 1909 and was articled to James Scott Hay of Hay & Steel in 1929, studying at Kilmarnock Technical College. He is believed to have served part of his apprenticeship in the office of William Forrest Valentine, probably prior to being articled to Hay. On completion of his apprenticeship he joined the office of James Miller in Glasgow as assistant. Whilst with Miller he undertook a study tour of the Garonne Valley, Bordeaux and northern Spain in 1931, travelled extensively in England in 1932, studying modern hospitals, and made a sketching tour of England in 1933 embracing York, Chester and Salisbury, among other places. He assisted Miller with competition drawings for Norwich Town Hall, Birmingham Hospital Centre, and Wyggeston Grammar School in Leicester, and made a study of Scots Baronial architecture for the firm's work at Dupplin Castle, Perthshire. He passed the qualifying exam on 19 December 1933 and immediately commenced practice on his own account in Kilmarnock. He is rumoured to have been given the Kilmarnock Swimming Baths commission by Gabriel Steel to help him establish his own practice. His early commissions also included extensive work for H M Agriculture Commission in Scotland.

Dunlop enlisted in the armed forces in 1940. He served in the Light Anti-Aircraft Battery (LAA) and took part in all desert campaigns up to 1942 including the Siege of Tobruk. In August 1942 he was commissioned as a cadet in the Royal Engineers, and by November 1943 he had been appointed a lieutenant with the Artizan Works Co in Italy. In that month he submitted an application to be admitted ARIBA, and this was accepted on 16 May 1944, his proposers being Steel, William McCrea and Joseph Weekes. Steel's supporting statement refers to 'many excellent houses and industrial buildings' carried out by Dunlop prior to his enlistment.

Dunlop lived in a villa at 57 London Road, and later entered into partnership with Allan McPherson. At some point the practice of Alex Dunlop & Partners was working from Gabriel Andrew's former office at 37 Bank Street. He was elected FRIAS in 1962.

Dunlop died at Crosshouse Hospital, Kilmarnock on 17 November 1996, survived by his wife Joan and their son and daughter.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 657, London Road, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate   
Item 2 of 63, Cuthbert Place, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1944 * Although serving in H M Forces in Italy at the time
Item 3 of 613, West George Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandBusiness1944 *  
Item 4 of 6110, King Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1950 *After 1965Builder of 7 April 1961 has Dunlop at this address
Item 5 of 661, London Road, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1962 *  
Item 6 of 637, Bank Street, Kilmarnock, Ayrshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1970After 1980 

* 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 5Alexander Dunlop & Partners  Partner 
Item 2 of 5Alexander Dunlop  PartnerDates to be sorted
Item 3 of 5Hay & Steel19241929Apprentice 
Item 4 of 5James Miller19291933Assistant 
Item 5 of 5William Forrest ValentineBefore 1930Before 1935Apprentice 

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 7Andrew Mason1935 Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Thomas Kerr Irving1936 Junior Assistant 
Item 3 of 7Andrew Mason19371939Assistant 
Item 4 of 7Andrew MasonJuly 1946 Assistant 
Item 5 of 7Allan Barrowman WilsonNovember 1950After 1952Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 7Douglas Livingston Brice19551958Apprentice 
Item 7 of 7Allen Andrew Peter MacPherson1980 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3William McCrea16 May 1944for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3Gabriel Steel16 May 1944for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3Joseph Weekes16 May 1944for 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 151929Dupplin CastleForteviot PerthshireScotlandReconstruction and reduction after fire - as assistant to James Miller
Item 2 of 151929Wyggeston Grammar School for BoysLeicester LeicestershireEnglandAs assistant to James Miller
Item 3 of 15After 1929Birmingham Hospital Centre  BirminghamEnglandCompetition design - presumably as assistant to James Miller
Item 4 of 151931Norwich Municipal BuildingsNorwich NorfolkEnglandCompetition design - as assistant to James Miller
Item 5 of 15c. 1935Tenement with shops, Titchfield StreetKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandShops
Item 6 of 151938(?)Kilmarnock Swimming BathsKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 7 of 151939Our Lady of Lourdes and St Patrick RC ChurchAuchinleck AyrshireScotlandBrick Hall
Item 8 of 151946Barskimming House  AyrshireScotlandComversion to houses
Item 9 of 151948Day NurseryKilmarnock  Scotland 
Item 10 of 151951Shortlees Parish ChurchKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 11 of 151952Engineering Works, Glenfield & KennedyKilmarnock East AyrshireScotland1952 extension
Item 12 of 151955St John's Onthank Parish ChurchKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 13 of 15195677-79 King StreetKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 14 of 1519 April 1957Wheatsheaf InnKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandper Builder p752
Item 15 of 157 April 1961Block of Flats, Ranoldcoup RoadDarvel AyrshireScotlandaccepting applications from usual trades per Builder p680

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 3RIBA1964The RIBA Kalendar 1964-65   
Item 3 of 3RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Glasgow Herald19 November 1996   
Item 2 of 2RIAS Chartered ArchitectFebruary 1997v8, no1 Death note

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from Craig McLelland, South Ayrshire Council.
Item 2 of 3RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membership  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no5604 (combined box 90)