John Melvin (Scottish architect) explained

John Melvin (1855 - 1905) was a Scottish architect in central Scotland specialising in Arts & Crafts architecture.^[1]

Life

John Melvin was born in Alloa on 21 January 1855 the eldest son of John Melvin, architect (1805-1894)) who had joined the United Presbyterian Church of Scotland in the year of its creation in 1847. His mother was Helen McMillan.^[2]

He was articled to his father then moved to Edinburgh to broaden his experience working with George Beattie & Son under William Hamilton Beattie. Beatties were a new breed of "architect-builders". In 1874 he returned to Alloa to become a partner in John Melvin & Co.^[3]

He suffered from continual ill-health and died on 30 September 1905.^[4]

Known works

• Natural History Museum, Alloa (1874)
• Norwood (villa in Alloa) (1874)
• Alloa Burgh School (1875)
• Dysart United Presbyterian Manse (1875)
• Clydesdale Bank, Bo'ness (1877)
• 63 Queen Street, Alloa (1878)
• Kilncraigs Factory and Mill (1878) for Patons Thread Co. (three further storeys added in 1902)
• Kirkton of Largo School, Upper Largo (1878)
• Tower on the Popular Institute in Tillicoultry (1878)
• Tillicoultry Town Hall (1879)
• Group of villas in Kellie Place, Alloa (1880)
• Alva Infant School (1885)
• Kincardine-on-Forth Public School (1889)
• Clackmannan County Infectious Disease Hospital, Sauchie (1893)
• Thistle Brewery, Alloa (1896)
• Infectious Disease Hospital, Linlithgow (1899)
• Infectious Disease Hospital, Bathgate (1901)
• Alloa Parish Church manse (aka Claremont House), 39 Claremont, Alloa (1901) later the home of the Earl of Mar and Kellie^[5]
• Alva Police Station (1901)
• Union Club, Alloa (1901) for Younger's Brewery
• Craig-na-Aird, 37 Claremont, Alloa (1902)
• Craigmyle, Alloa (1902)
• Hawkhill Cottages, Alloa (1902)
• St John's Episcopal School, Alloa (1902)
• Offices for John Paton & Sons, Alloa (1902)
• Corner tenement, Coalgate/Union Street, Alloa (1903)
• Liberal Club, Alloa (1904)
• Tillicoultry School (1904)
• Kellyside in Dollar (1905)

John Melvin & Son

The practice continued after Melvin's death, being run by William Kerr. Notable further works include:

• Sauchie Public Hall (1911)
• Kinross High School (1911)
• The Gean, huge mansion near Alloa (1912) for Alexander Forrester Paton, childhood home of Colin Forrester-Paton.
• Linwood School (1912)
• YMCA Halls Alloa (1914)
• Minto Gardens housing scheme in Alva (1919)
• Extensions and adaption of boarding houses serving Dollar Academy (c.1922)
• Alloa Bowking Club (1925)
• Paton and Baldwin Sports Pavilion, Alloa (1926)

Notes and References

1. Clackmannan and the Ochils, Adam Swan, ISBN 07073 0513 6
2. Web site: John Melvin (born 1806 in Alloa, Clackmannanshire) living in Alloa, Clackmannanshire in 1881 . 2022-11-06 . www.findmypast.co.uk . en.
3. Web site: Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (November 6, 2022, 12:56 am) . 2022-11-06 . www.scottisharchitects.org.uk.
4. Web site: Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (November 6, 2022, 12:56 am) . 2022-11-06 . www.scottisharchitects.org.uk.
5. Clackmannan and the Ochils, Adam Swan, ISBN 07073 0513 6