Basic Biographical Details | Name: | George Alexander Lyall | | Designation: | | | Born: | 30 June 1912 | | Died: | 9 December 1986 | | Bio Notes: | George Alexander Lyall was born on 30 June 1912, the son of George Robert Lyall, brewers manager, and his wife Agnes Baldie Low. He was articled to Robert Lorimer in the firm of Lorimer & Matthew just before the latter died in 1929, continuing his apprenticeship in the same practice after his death. Throughout this period he studied part-time at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art, and on completing his five-and-a-half-year apprenticeship he continued for a further two years full-time, receiving his diploma in June 1936. He was admitted ARIBA on 9 February 1937, his proposers being John Fraser Matthew, James Macgregor and John Begg. His travels prior to that date had included visits to Western Germany and Bavaria in September 1934 and to Sweden in August 1935, and studies of English villages and housing development and Parisian housing and civic design in July 1936. His declaration accepting his admittance as ARIBA was witnessed by Graham E Langmuir, a Glasgow solicitor. In the following year he was awarded the Victory Scholarship.
Lyall later became a Regional Planner in the Scottish Office. He was a very big man, kindly enough but quick to correct the young and very conscious of his provenance. He died at Beechmount Hospital, Edinburgh on 9 December 1986, leaving a widow, Katherine May Auchmuty, living at 1 (or 7?) Gordon Road, Corstorphine and a son, also George. Lyall's student measured drawings are held by NMRS. | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 1, Gordon Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | | 1986 | | | 5, Craigcrook Terrace, Blackhall, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1937 * | | | | 7, Gordon Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1950 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Lorimer & Matthew | 1929 | 1934 | Apprentice | |
RIBARIBA Proposers| The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Begg | 9 February 1937 | for Associateship | | James Macgregor | 9 February 1937 | for Associateship | | John Fraser Matthew | 9 February 1937 | for Associateship |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this : | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this : | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Drawings Collection | | Acc No 2000/103 | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no6281 (combined box 130) |
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