Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Miller & Partners
Designation:  
Born:  
Died:  
Bio Notes: James Miller & Partners was founded by James Miller and his brothers John and Lawrence as James Miller & Partners Limited in 1934. James was Lord Provost of Edinburgh between 1951 and 1954, during which time he was knighted. In 1964 he became Lord Mayor of London. He remained Chairman until 1970 and continued as a Director until 1973. John Miller was primarily involved in the Civil Engineering, Construction and Mining side of the business until his retirement in 1976. Sir James' son, also James, joined the company in 1958, and the Board in 1960, becoming Chairman in 1970 on his father's resignation. James' younger brother Roger also joined the company in 1960, joining the Board in 1965 and becoming Chairman and Managing Director of Miller Homes from 1970 until retirement in 1991.

Keith Miller, John's son, was appointed as Chief Executive of the Group in 1994, having previously been Managing Director of Miller Mining and Miller Developments.

Before the Second World War, Miller Homes primarily operated in the East of Scotland, capitalising on the housing boom at that time, and acquired substantial areas of land, the last of which is only now being developed. The company expanded into the west of Scotland, then in England after the war, initially rebuilding war-damaged properties. By the 1950s, Miller Homes was actively involved in new build schemes and has built over 60,000 homes throughout the UK in over 70 years.

James Miller and Partners became involved in all types of construction during the 1930s and the war years. The post-War years saw an increase in demand for housing, initially pre-fabs, which led to the expansion of company operations in England. During the 1950s and 60s, the company was involved in a wide variety of different projects - housing, schools, hospitals, civic, commercial and industrial properties, for some very prestigious clients.

The industry went through a period of major growth in the 1970s and 80s, significant aspects being the development of design and construction through System Building, and the emergence of Management Contracting. The company also became involved in oil-related projects in Shetland which led to a number of successful overseas contracts e.g. the Middle East, Gibraltar, Botswana, Malaysia, Russia and the Falklands.

From the Miller website.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 188, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1931c. 1940 

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 3Robert Edward Thomas Stockdale19311936Assistant 
Item 2 of 3(Sir) James Millerc. 1931 Partner 
Item 3 of 3James ('Jim') Ferguson Dickson DinwoodieAfter 1960c. 1968 Given in his obituary as 'James Millar & Co'; presumably this firm?

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 331932Housing, CraigentinnyRestalrig EdinburghScotland 
Item 2 of 331937Embassy Cinema  EdinburghScotland 
Item 3 of 331938Mecca State CinemaLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 331944Hostel for Mining Trainees  MidlothianScotland 
Item 5 of 33May 1955Four-apartment houses, E2Z type   ScotlandPlans dated
Item 6 of 331956Development at Craigcrook Road and Ravelston Dykes Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 7 of 331956(?)Housing development with Type N houses  EdinburghScotland 
Item 8 of 337 November 1958Ferry Road Housing Development  Edinburgh, MidlothianScotlandsuccessful tender for construction per Builder p805
Item 9 of 331960sSt Mary's Place CDA  DundeeScotland 
Item 10 of 3313 May 1960Cairndow-Strachur-Toward Road (A815)Creggans and Loch Eck between  Scotlandto carry out the work per Builder p938
Item 11 of 3312 May 1961Napier Technical College  EdinburghScotlandcontract for building foundations at cost of ₤36,587 awarded by Edinburgh Corp Education Committee per Builder p927
Item 12 of 331962Housing, Inglis Green Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 3320 March 1964Adelphi Secondary School  GlasgowScotlandNOTE: role unclear - Boissevain & Osmond were architects; Miller & Partners as builders? Work in excess of £0.5m.
Item 14 of 331965Flats, Orchard Brae Avenue  EdinburghScotland 
Item 15 of 331965Moredun Housing schemeGilmerton EdinburghScotlandUnclear if superseded by Miller Homes
Item 16 of 334 February 1966University of Edinburgh Department of Biology & Natural Resources  EdinburghScotland 
Item 17 of 3325 February 1966Telford College  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 3322 April 1966Shopping Development for London and County Real Estate Ltd., Ferry Rd  EdinburghScotland 
Item 19 of 3329 April 1966160 Houses, Thornly Park and CorsebarPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 20 of 3315 July 1966Houses & Garages for Burgh Council, ClydebankClydebank DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 21 of 339 September 1966Oxgangs SchoolKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 22 of 3328 October 1966Two 12-storey Blocks for Burgh Council, SaltcoatsSaltcoats AyrshireScotland 
Item 23 of 331967200 SSHA Houses, SpencerfieldInverkeithing FifeScotland 
Item 24 of 331967285 houses, The Terraces, Kilbowie HillClydebank DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 25 of 331967Housing, SpencerfieldInverkeithing FifeScotland 
Item 26 of 331967Multi-storey housing, Lacy Street Redevelopment AreaPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 27 of 33February 1967Primary School, Kirkmichael  DumbartonScotland 
Item 28 of 331968130 houses, Mill of Mains Housing Scheme  DundeeScotland 
Item 29 of 331968Kingsridge Secondary School  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 30 of 33January 196839 Houses and 19 Garages at Buckstone Estate  EdinburghScotland 
Item 31 of 33June 19682-Span Bridge  EdinburghScotland 
Item 32 of 331969Housing, Erskine New CommunityErskine RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 33 of 331970North Muirton, housingPerth PerthshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdpp35, 54, 60 Erskine
p59 Glebelands, Saltcoats
Item 2 of 2RCAHMS1999Homebuilders: Mactaggart & Mickel and the Scottish housebuilding industry RCAHMSp 19, 39, 47, 58, 73, 84, 107, 117, 119-20, 122-3, 157, 160, 167, 218-9, 226, 237-49, 249, 257, 266

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder20 March 1964  p640
Item 2 of 4Building29 September 1967  p162
Item 3 of 4Building19 January 1968  p156
Item 4 of 4Building14 June 1968  p194