Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alfred Hugh Mottram
Designation:  
Born: 29 January 1886
Died: 12 March 1953
Bio Notes: Alfred Hugh Mottram was born in Norwich on 29 January 1886, the son of James Mottram, bank officer, and his wife Fanny Ann. He was the younger brother of the author Ralph Hale Mottram. He was educated in Norwich (in the 1901 Census he was a pupil living with a clergyman in Norwich) and in Lausanne, Switzerland. On 31 March 1903 he was articled to George Faulkner Armitage in Altrincham near Manchester, serving a three-year apprenticeship and remaining for a year as assistant. He then joined the practice of Parker & Unwin in Hampstead Garden Suburb, and while there passed the qualifying exam. He was admitted ARIBA on 4 December 1911, his proposers being Unwin, Herbert Vaughan Lanchester and the Presbyterian church architect Thomas Philips Figgis. Prior to that he had been abroad several times, visiting Normandy in 1906 and 1909, Touraine in 1908, and Switzerland and Northern Italy in 1910, and had also toured the Cotswolds, Kent, Surrey, Sussex, Buckinghamshire and Norfolk; beyond these counties he had made sketches of inns in nearly every county of England for a book which remained unpublished.

In his RIBA obituary it states that he commenced his own practice in 1912 but in September of that year on the strength of his garden city and town-planning experience with Parker & Unwin he obtained a post with the Housing Reform Company Ltd in Cardiff, working on garden villages in South Wales. When the Company was wound up in April 1915, Mottram moved from Cardiff to Edinburgh to take up a position as architect to the Scottish National Housing Company Ltd at 111 George Street, designing 1402 houses for the Rosyth Garden Suburb on the basis of layouts provided by Unwin. As he enlisted first with the Royal Scots and then the Artists Rifles in 1918 and 1919, part of the development was designed by the Edinburgh practice of Alfred Greig and Walter Fairbairn. After the war Mottram returned to the Rosyth project, supervising the tarmacadaming of the roads and building a further 100 houses as well as a Masonic hall and a Roman Catholic church. His office at this time was in the Scottish National Housing Co's premises at 59 Frederick Street, but the Rosyth development stalled in 1925 when the Dockyard closed. He continued to work for the Company and for the Second Scottish National Housing Company until 1939, whilst carrying on his own private practice, and also worked for a time for James Bow Dunn. He was admitted FRIBA on 6 March 1939, his proposers being Unwin, John Wilson and Ebenezer James MacRae.

Mottram was also the architect to the Edinburgh Welfare Housing Trust and the Edinburgh Housing Association as well as working for Thomas Usher & Sons, the brewers.

His obituarist notes that Mottram had 'considerable ability as an artist' and his illustrations appeared in several books, including some by his brother.

He died on 12 March 1953, survived by his wife, his son and his daughter. The practice was continued by his son James Allan Hugh Mottram who had served part of his apprenticeship with Dunn & Martin and became a partner in 1950. In 1954 the younger Mottram took Thomas Edward Patrick, a friend from Edinburgh College of Art, into partnership; and in 1960 their long-serving chief assistant Andrew Martin Dalgleish also became a partner.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6The Birches, Bracondale, Norwich, Norfolk, EnglandPrivate1911 *  
Item 2 of 618, Denning Road, Hampstead, London, EnglandPrivate/business(?)1911 *  
Item 3 of 6Maryville, Gullane, East Lothian, ScotlandPrivatec. 1930  
Item 4 of 651 (or 59?), Frederick Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1931c. 1937 
Item 5 of 614, Frederick Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1938After 1951(?) 
Item 6 of 613, India Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1939 *  

* 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 8George Faulkner Armitage31 March 1903March 1906Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8George Faulkner Armitage19061907Assistant 
Item 3 of 8Howard Chatfeild ClarkeMarch 1907c. May 1907Clerkon-site at Martineau Memorial Hall, Norwich
Item 4 of 8Parker & UnwinJune 1907September 1912Assistant 
Item 5 of 8Housing Reform Company LtdSeptember 1912April 1915Architect 
Item 6 of 8Scottish National Housing CompanyApril 19151939ArchitectLatterly whilst also in private practice
Item 7 of 8James Bow Dunnc. 1925(?) * Assistant 
Item 8 of 8A H Mottram & Son1950Before 1953Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 5James Ferguson 19321933Assistant 
Item 2 of 5David Gray Kirk19321935Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Archibald James Baxter19331934 or 1935Assistant(?) 
Item 4 of 5Francis MurrayOctober 1935October 1936Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Peter Scott Ferguson19451947Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Thomas Phillips Figgis4 December 1911for Associateship
Item 2 of 6Henry Vaughan Lanchester4 December 1911for Associateship
Item 3 of 6Ebenezer James MacRae6 March 1939for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6Raymond Unwin4 December 1911for Associateship
Item 5 of 6Raymond Unwin6 March 1939for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6John Wilson6 March 1939for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 23John Shepherd Anderson7 July 1948For Licentiateship
Item 2 of 23Edward John Armitage4 May 1948For Associateship
Item 3 of 23(Professor) Ralph Cowan16 July 1940for Associateship
Item 4 of 23Stewart Hunter Cruden12 December 1939for Associateship
Item 5 of 23Robert Somerville Ellis12 February 1946for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 23William John Braes French10 December 1946For Associateship
Item 7 of 23William Eric Attenburrow Hurcomb10 February 1948For Licentiateship
Item 8 of 23(Sir) William Hardie Kininmonth 6 April 1948for Fellowship
Item 9 of 23David Gray Kirk20 July 1943for Licentiateship
Item 10 of 23David Ebenezer Lang9 July 1946For Associateship
Item 11 of 23William Logan junior9 July 1946For Associateship
Item 12 of 23John George MacGruer6 February 1951For Licentiateship
Item 13 of 23Robert Walker Rennie Mackenzie14 January 1947For Associateship
Item 14 of 23James Allan Hugh Mottram (or James A H Mottram)12 December 1939For Associateship
Item 15 of 23Francis Murray16 December 1941for Associateship
Item 16 of 23James Murray6 May 1947For Associateship
Item 17 of 23Cecil Harry Friston Nimmo14 November 1944for Licentiateship
Item 18 of 23Stanley Patrick Ross-Smith14 December 1948for Associateship
Item 19 of 23James Grant ShearerJune 1944for Fellowship
Item 20 of 23Robert Henderson Taylor14 October 1947For Licentiateship
Item 21 of 23Ion Victor Godfrey Hamilton Warner15 June 1943for Licentiateship
Item 22 of 23John David Weir16 July 1940For Associateship
Item 23 of 23Frank Wood4 April 1950for Fellowship

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 80 Free ChurchForgandenny PerthshireScotlandAlterations for conversion to Village Hall - date unknown
Item 2 of 80 House for Miss Clark and Miss MaceEaton, Norwich NorfolkEnglandDate unknown
Item 3 of 80 House for R H MottramEaton, Norwich NorfolkEnglandFor his brother R H Mottram - date unknown
Item 4 of 80 Model VillageOakfield  EnglandDate unknown
Item 5 of 80 Village HallForgandenny PerthshireScotlandAlterations - date unknown
Item 6 of 801907Martineau Memorial HallNorwich NorfolkEnglandAs clerk of works under Howard Chatfeild Clarke
Item 7 of 80c. 1909Hampstead Garden SuburbHampstead Garden Suburb LondonEngland 
Item 8 of 80c. 1910Usher Hall  EdinburghScotlandPlans for details - (perhaps acted as executant architect?) NMRS says Mottram & Patrick did this but Patrick only joined the younger Mottram in 1954.
Item 9 of 801914Caerphilly Cooperative Garden Society, housingCaerphilly GlamorganWales 
Item 10 of 801914Garden Village Society Housing, Gellifaelog EstateMerthyr  Wales 
Item 11 of 801914Rhubina, plan of garden suburb & cottage designs  CardiffWales 
Item 12 of 801914Three shops, RhubinaRhubina, by Beulak Chapel CardiffWales 
Item 13 of 80Before 1914Rothiemurchus Martineau MemorialRothiemurchus Inverness-shireScotlandPerhaps by Mottram?
Item 14 of 801915Rosyth Garden City developmentRosyth FifeScotlandOver 1500 houses - as architect for the Scottish National Housing Company
Item 15 of 80After 1915Masonic HallRosyth FifeScotlandAs architect to the Scottish National Housing Company
Item 16 of 801925Housing, King's RoadRosyth FifeScotland 
Item 17 of 801925St John and St Columba RC ChurchRosyth FifeScotland 
Item 18 of 80192622 Inverleith GardensInverleith EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 19 of 801926464 steel houses at ShettlestonShettleston GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 801926Cartsburn Housing SchemeGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 21 of 801926Grosvenor Road housing SchemeGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 22 of 801926Housing, High Inverkip RoadGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 23 of 801926Housing, Robroyston RoadRobroyston GlasgowScotlandDistrict plan and site plan
Item 24 of 80192928 West PortOld Town EdinburghScotland 
Item 25 of 801929Elderslie BarYoker GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 26 of 801929J & R Allan, 74-84 South Bridge  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction, new saloon etc, bridge over Cowgate
Item 27 of 801929Rosyth Parish ChurchRosyth FifeScotlandChurch
Item 28 of 801929The NeukAberlady East LothianScotland 
Item 29 of 80After 1929Nursery SchoolNiddrie Mains EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 801931McDiarmid's Bar  EdinburghScotland 
Item 31 of 80193237-41 Nicolson Street  EdinburghScotlandSurvey drawings
Item 32 of 80193246-50 Lauriston Place  EdinburghScotlandRebuilding of no 46 (corner with Graham Street), as Ancient Order of Foresters Premises; painted frieze in stair hall
Item 33 of 801932Bungalows, Craigcrook  EdinburghScotland 
Item 34 of 801932Housing scheme, Factor's Park  EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 801932Shop  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 36 of 801933Broadway Theatre  EdinburghScotland 
Item 37 of 801933Dunedin Palais de Danse  EdinburghScotland 
Item 38 of 801933House at BeestonWest Runton NorfolkEngland 
Item 39 of 801933LinksfieldAberlady East LothianScotlandAlterations
Item 40 of 801933Park Brewery  EdinburghScotlandNew men's club and alterations
Item 41 of 801933Premises of Messrs A Fairley & Son  EdinburghScotland 
Item 42 of 801933Railway Inn  EdinburghScotland 
Item 43 of 80September 1933Clermiston, two storey housesClermiston EdinburghScotland 
Item 44 of 801934BracadaleColinton EdinburghScotland 
Item 45 of 801934House at TrinityTrinity EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 46 of 801934Methodist Central HallRosyth FifeScotland 
Item 47 of 801935Housing, SighthillSighthill EdinburghScotland 
Item 48 of 801936Feuing of Luffness and Muirfield EstatesGullane East LothianScotland 
Item 49 of 801936Granton Methodist HallGranton Mains EdinburghScotlandHall church - church proper not built
Item 50 of 801936Two tenement blocks of houses, Bonnington AvenueNewhaven EdinburghScotland 
Item 51 of 80193714-14A Bristo Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 52 of 801937Housing, Taylor's Park siteDouglas LanarkshireScotland 
Item 53 of 801937Scottish Special Areas Housing Association Housing, CoalburnLanark LanarkshireScotland 
Item 54 of 801937Scottish Special Housing Association housingForth LanarkshireScotland 
Item 55 of 801937SSHA housingCarluke LanarkshireScotland 
Item 56 of 801937The Lea Rig InnRestalrig EdinburghScotlandDrawings for signage
Item 57 of 80c. 1937Cottages, semi-detached and detached villas, Calderwood Castle EstateEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 58 of 801938690 houses for Scottish Special Areas Housing Association   Scotland 
Item 59 of 801938Birkenshaw Housing Estate, TannochsideUddingston LanarkshireScotland 
Item 60 of 801938Clydesdale Bank  EdinburghScotland 
Item 61 of 801938Cottage on Burnhead FarmEddleston, Near PeeblesshireScotlandAlterations
Item 62 of 801938House, Whitehouse Terrace  EdinburghScotlandAddition to Lodge
Item 63 of 801938Houses, The InchNether Liberton EdinburghScotlandPerhaps responsible rather than Dunn & Martin
Item 64 of 801938The Traveller's Rest, 19 Bread Street  EdinburghScotlandMinor alterations
Item 65 of 801939House, 31 Frogston Road  EdinburghScotlandAddition
Item 66 of 801939Houses for Admiralty employees, King's RoadRosyth FifeScotland 
Item 67 of 801939The Corner Bar, Lothian Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 68 of 801939Timber HouseHumbie Dean East LothianScotland 
Item 69 of 80July 1939Ullapool Public SchoolUllapool Ross and CromartyScotlandImprovements
Item 70 of 801941House, Rankin Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 71 of 801943Woodville  EdinburghScotlandGardener's house
Item 72 of 801944Social housing for the Burgh of JedburghJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 73 of 801946Heraldic PlaqueCockenzie and Port Seton East LothianScotland 
Item 74 of 801949Park Brewery  EdinburghScotlandAlterations.
Item 75 of 801949Ten Commercial Premises, Calder AvenueSighthill Edinburgh  
Item 76 of 80After 195046-50 Lauriston Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 77 of 8019519-13 Chambers Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 78 of 801951Normal College (later University Staff Club)  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 79 of 801951Premises for Messrs Anderson, Montgomerie StreetLeith EdinburghScotlandPrepared plans for extension
Item 80 of 80Before 1953(?)BalnagowanMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandMottram's plans for subdivision into flats were approved by Edinburgh Dean of Guild in 1956, but he had died in 1953

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2Pride, Glen L1999The Kingdom of Fife2nd EditionThe Rutland Pressp33

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Builder4 March 1949  p288
Item 2 of 5Builder5 August 1949  p184
Item 3 of 5Builder15 June 1951  p871
Item 4 of 5RIBA JournalApril 1953 London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp252 Obituay
Item 5 of 5Scotsman13 March 1953  Obituary of Mottram.

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v20 no2236 (microfilm reel 21); F no3534 (box 25)