Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Watt & Stewart
Designation:  
Born: 1935
Died: After 2007
Bio Notes: George Watt (who was not related to George Watt of Brown & Watt) took Alexander Malcolm Sewart into partnership in 1935. George Watt was born about 1871 in Aberdeen. Nothing is yet known of his education and training but he appears to have taken a salaried post in the Sanitary Department of Aberdeen Town Council about 1891 where he remained until about 1902. In that year or the year after he was taken into partnership by John Cameron as Cameron & Watt. John Cameron was a builder and surveyor of house property, appearing first as such in the Aberdeen Post Office directories in 1897-98 but after 1899 he is listed as an 'architect and licensed valuator'. The Cameron & Watt partnership lasted until 1910 in which year George Watt set up business on his own at 267 Union Street where he remained until 1916-17. After the dissolution of the partnership Cameron also set up business on his own account and continued to work at the old practice address at 381 Union Street. Later he appears to have been joined by his son, the practice name becoming J & J Cameron.

George Watt continued to practise on his own until 1935 when his former assistant Alexander Malcolm Stewart joined the practice and was taken into partnership. The name of the firm became George Watt & Stewart a year later. Alexander Malcolm Stewart was born about 1900 and was articled to George Watt in 1921. After the completion of his articles he remained as assistant, leaving to work in Inverness as assistant to Carruthers Ballantyne & Taylor in 1924 but returning to Aberdeen in 1935.

George Watt died in 1947. The practice was continued by Alexander Malcolm Stewart as George Watt & Stewart until his retirement in 1974. In 1955 John Davidson was taken into partnership followed in 1974 by William R Michie. In the early 1970s William Rollo Milne returned to Scotland after closing his practice Canada. After a brief spell in London he purchased the practice. However he did not like the direction the country was taking politically and sold the practice in 1976 to H J Humby and John Alderson who were joined in partnership in 1984 by John A Dickson and William R Michie. The centenary of the firm is to be celebrated in 2010.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3214, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness19351977 
Item 2 of 314, Carden Place, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness19771987 
Item 3 of 324, North Silver Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1987After 1994 

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 8George Watt1935 Partner 
Item 2 of 8Alexander Malcolm Stewart19351974PartnerStill listed as partner in 1975 directory
Item 3 of 8John George Davidson19581974PartnerStill listed as partner in RIBA directory
Item 4 of 8William R Michie1974After 1981Partner 
Item 5 of 8Harold John Humby1976 Partner 
Item 6 of 8John Noble Alderson1976 Partner 
Item 7 of 8William Rollo MilneEarly 1970s1976Partner 
Item 8 of 8John ('Iain') Anderson Dickson1981 Partner 

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 231936Advocates Hall  AberdeenScotlandProposal to rebuild and possibly enlarge after fire damage.
Item 2 of 231936News Cinema  AberdeenScotland 
Item 3 of 231936Spence HallUdny Green AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 4 of 231937Kemp Memorial HallOld Deer AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 5 of 231937New Palais de Danse  AberdeenScotlandExtension
Item 6 of 231940School and schoolhouseWhitestocks AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 7 of 2315 February 1957Cromwell Road Cinema  Aberdeen per Builder 15 Feb 1957, p 344
Item 8 of 2310 July 1964Proposed New Town, NewtonhillNewtonhill KincardineshireScotlandProposed scheme of 500 houses
Item 9 of 231972Lorne BuildingsBridge of Dee AberdeenScotlandUpgrade and refurbishment
Item 10 of 23After 1974North East of Scotland Society for the Deaf   AberdeenScotlandAuditorium and offices
Item 11 of 23After 1974Wick High SchoolWick CaithnessScotlandNew buildings?
Item 12 of 231975South Primary SchoolWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 13 of 231975Warehouse and service depot  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 14 of 231977North Scotland Agricultural College  AberdeenScotlandExtension to student halls of residence, housing, animal houses and VI laboratory
Item 15 of 231978Offices of Denholm Property Company Ltd  AberdeenScotlandRefurbishment
Item 16 of 231978The Sailors' Home  AberdeenScotlandAlterations
Item 17 of 231978Workshop and offices for Redlake Securities  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 231979Rowett Research Institute, Early Weening UnitBucksburn AberdeenScotland 
Item 19 of 231979Workshop and Offices for Denholm Property Company Ltd  GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 231979Workshop and Offices for Denholm Property Company LtdHull YorkshireEngland 
Item 21 of 231979Workshop and Offices for Denholm Property Company LtdSandwell, West Bromich  England 
Item 22 of 231980Two semi-detached houses  AberdeenScotlandConversion into one office.
Item 23 of 23c. 2008OceanlabNewburgh AberdeenshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp101

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder10 July 1964  p96

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Courtesy of William Rollo MilneInformation sent via 'Contact Us' on website Sent June 2012
Item 2 of 3George Watt & Stewart Practice ArchiveGeorge Watt & Stewart Practice Archive  
Item 3 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from Bill Michie, retired partner, George Watt & Stewart, via website