Basic Biographical Details Name: | James William Laing | Designation: | | Born: | 26 April 1908 | Died: | 20 January 1978 | Bio Notes: | James William Laing was born on 26 April 1908 and was articled to Thomas Bowhill Gibson in January 1924. During this period he attended classes at Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt College under John Begg. On completion of his apprenticeship in January 1929 he remained with Gibson as assistant, and he was still in the same post when he was admitted ARIBA on 4 December 1933, his proposers being Begg, John Jerdan and Thomas Forbes Maclennan. He was also an Associate of the Edinburgh Architectural Association.
By 1939 Gibson, who specialised in cinema and theatre design but also carried out some domestic work, had taken Laing into partnership as Bowhill Gibson & Laing. Laing continued the practice under the existing name at their offices at 36 Palmerston Place after Gibson's death on 27 September 1949.
Laing died suddenly on 20 January 1978, his death being reported to the RIBA by his widow Martha M Laing. They had been living at 10 Templeland Road, Edinburgh. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 9, Murieston Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1933 * | | | | 19, Manor Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1938 | c. 1940 | | | 36, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1949 * | After 1950 | | | 6, Manor Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1960 * | | | | 10, Templeland Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before 1978 | 1978 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Begg | 4 December 1933 | for Associateship | | John Jerdan | 4 December 1933 | for Associateship | | Thomas Forbes Maclennan | 4 December 1933 | for Associateship |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no5238 (combined box 65) (includes letter from his wife, Martha M Laing, notifying of his death on 20 January 1978) |
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