John Melvin (1855–1905) was a Scottish architect in central Scotland specialising in Arts & Crafts architecture.

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. He was articled to his father then moved to Edinburgh to broaden his experience working with George Beattie & Son under

William Hamilton Beattie William Hamilton Beattie (10 December 1842 – 29 November 1898) was a Scottish architect specialising in hotel design in the late 19th century. He was the eldest son of George Beattie (1810-1872) an architect/builder in Edinburgh and ...

. Beatties were a new breed of "architect-builders". In 1874 he returned to Alloa to become a partner in John Melvin & Co. He suffered from continual ill-health and died on 30 September 1905.

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 Upper Largo or Kirkton of Largo is a village in the parish of Largo, near the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. It rests on the southern slopes of Largo Law and half a mile north of Largo Bay and the rather larger village of Lower Largo. It is the ho ...

School,

Upper Largo Upper Largo or Kirkton of Largo is a village in the parish of Largo, Fife, Largo, near the East Neuk of Fife, Scotland. It rests on the southern slopes of Largo Law and half a mile north of Largo Bay and the rather larger village of Lower Largo. I ...

(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 The title Earl of Kellie or Kelly is a title in the Peerage of Scotland, created in 1619 for Sir Thomas Erskine, who was Captain of the Guard and Groom of the Stool for James VI. It is named after Barony of Kellie in Fife, Scotland. Since 1875, i ...

Clackmannan and the Ochils, Adam Swan, ISBN 07073 0513 6 * 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 The Reverend Colin Forrester-Paton (5 April 1918 – 1 February 2004), born at Alloa, Scotland, was a Church of Scotland missionary in Ghana and later Chaplain to H.M. The Queen in Scotland. Education He was born at The Gean, a huge mansion nea ...

. * 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)

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Melvin, John 1855 births 1905 deaths Scottish architects People from Alloa