Architects

Name:

Carver & Symon

Designation :

Architectural practice

Date of Birth:

Year Only

Exact DOB:

02/09/1926

Year of Birth :

1888

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Date of Birth After (Year):

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DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):

Date of Death:

Year Only

Exact DOD:

02/09/1926

Year of Death:

1934

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Date of Death After (Year):

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Bio Notes :

John Carver was born on 11 November 1834 and appears to have been the son of John Carver of Carverfield, Kinloch (see Howard Colvin, 'Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840') who died 27 February 1858 and the cousin of the much older David Carver (born 1803, died 19 July 1878) who practised from Kinloch throughout his career (no work yet identified). John was trained as an architect by his father but was also apprenticed as a joiner before entering the office of an Edinburgh architect: the style of his draughtsmanship suggests that of David Bryce. He returned to Meigle to take over his father's practice in the mid-1850s.

The parish church at Coupar Angus shows Carver to have been a very able Gothic designer while the City of Glasgow Bank at Kirriemuir showed an original if idiosyncratic approach to Scottish baronial. Although he designed a few large houses his practice seems to have consisted mainly of secondary estate work.

In his later years Carver also had offices in Arbroath and Forfar, the latter becoming the main office. These were in partnership with Archibald Anderson Symon, born 1846 at Crathie who was articled to Carver 1866-71 and remained as assistant until he became a partner in 1888.

John Carver died at his house, Kirkhill, Meigle on 2 August 1896 and was buried beside his cousin David in Meigle Churchyard, his wife, Ellen Binny Isles (25 December 1836-28 February 1894) having predeceased him.

Symon retained the style of Carver & Symon into the 20th century. In 1890 Symon's son Alexander (b 1875) entered the practice as an apprentice and remained as an assistant 1895-98 before seeking wider experience first with Forman and Alston in Belfast in 1898 and then with Horace Field in London and finally the firm's ex-assistant, Archibald Campbell Dickie who was then in partnership with William Curtis Green. While in London he attended the classes of the Architectural Association, passing the qualifying exam in 1900. He applied for Associateship of the RIBA in October 1900, by which time he was working for the London County Council, and was admitted ARIBA on 3 December that year, proposed by the then president and secretary of the Architectural Association, William Howard Seth Smith and G B Carvill.

Alexander had returned to his father's office as a partner by 1912. A London office was opened in 1919 with Alexander in charge, his father being based in Arbroath with an additional office in Forfar and retaining responsibility for the Angus end of the practice.

Archibald Anderson Symon died in 1930 at the age of 84; Alexander on 4 September 1934. Prior to his death a Dundee office had been opened and he had taken into partnership Donald Ross, from Thoms and Wilkie's practice, the firm becoming Carver Symon & Ross.

Information from gravestones in Meigle Churchyard.

'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

Bio Notes continued...

Additional Notes

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Business Addresses2 classic

Address	Class	Date From	Date To	Notes
Brothock House Brothock Bridge Arbroath Angus Scotland	Business	Before 1911	After 1912
34 Castle Street Forfar Angus Scotland	Business	1912		Main office
12 Hart Street London England	Business	1930
Meigle Perthshire Scotland	Business

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The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

Name	Name Link	Date From	Date To	Position	Notes
Alfred Louis Hay	205094	1899/04	1904/04	Apprentice
Alfred Louis Hay	205094	1904/04	1905/04	Junior Assistant
James Douglas Nairn	204617	1923/10	1928/10	Apprentice
James Douglas Nairn	204617	1928/10	1929/01	Improver
Alexander Symon	200489	Before 1912	In year 1934	Partner
Archibald Campbell Dickie	200528	In year 1885	In year 1893	Apprentice	In the Forfar office
John Carver	200488	In year 1888	In year 1896	Partner
Archibald Anderson Symon	200490	In year 1888	In year 1930	Partner
Alexander Symon	200489	In year 1890	In year 1895	Apprentice	Later assistant and partner
John Holden Peacock	202862	In year 1893	In year 1898	Apprentice
Alexander Symon	200489	In year 1895	1897 or 1898	Assistant
John Holden Peacock	202862	In year 1898	In year 1900	Assistant

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This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building Name	Date Started	Town, District or Village	City or County	Country	Notes
Fern Parish Church	In year 1883	Fern	Angus	Scotland
High School	In year 1889	Arbroath	Angus	Scotland	Took over from Rowand Anderson whose design was not liked
Inverbrothock Public School	In year 1890	Inverbrothock	Angus	Scotland	New school
Parkhouse School	In year 1892	Arbroath	Angus	Scotland
Woodside House and stables	In year 1893		Angus	Scotland
Bruce Hotel	In year 1894	Carnoustie	Angus	Scotland
Alyth Public School	In year 1895	Alyth	Perthshire	Scotland	Addition
High School	In year 1895	Arbroath	Angus	Scotland	South wing
Bruce Hotel	In year 1896	Carnoustie	Angus	Scotland	Alterations?
Keptie Public School	In year 1897	Arbroath	Angus	Scotland	Alterations and additions
Memus Free Church	In year 1900	Tannadice	Angus	Scotland	Symon working alone - reconstruction
Rescobie Parish Church	In year 1907	Rescobie	Angus	Scotland	Interior remodelled with new furnishings
Keith & Blackman's Engineering Works	c. 1910	Arbroath	Angus	Scotland
Manse	In year 1916	Inverbervie	Kincardineshire	Scotland	Refronting of older section

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The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

Author	Title	Date	Publisher	Part	Notes
Measurers\' Companion	The Scottish Architects\' and Measurers\' Companion	1911
Colvin, H M	A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840	1995	New Haven and London: Yale University Press	3rd edition

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Basic Biographic Details

Addresses

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

Employees or Pupils

Employees or Pupils2 classic

Buildings and Designs

Buildings and Designs2 classic

References

Bibliographic References

Bib ref classic