Robert Matthew Mitchell (27 May 1847 – 28 September 1949) was a Scottish architect, prominent in the second half of the 19th century and first half of the 20th. He designed several notable buildings in Perthshire, several of which are now of listed status.

Life and career

Mitchell was born on 27 May 1847. He began an apprenticeship in what was presumed to be a joiner's workshop. Basically self-taught, he found work as a junior draughtsman in the Edinburgh office of

James Graham Fairley James Graham Fairley FRIBA MSGS (1846–1934) was a 19th/20th century Scottish architect working mainly in the West Lothian area, specialising in churches and schools. Life He was born in West Calder in West Lothian the son of William F ...

in 1896. Two years later, he joined the firm of McLuckie and Walker, of Stirling. He took a leave of absence to tour the United States and Canada prior to establishing his own practice at 27 King Street in

Crieff Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become ...

, Perthshire, and living at Fairmount in

Auchterarder Auchterarder (; gd, Uachdar Àrdair, meaning Upper Highland) is a small town located north of the Ochil Hills in Perth and Kinross, Scotland, and home to the Gleneagles Hotel. The High Street of Auchterarder gave the town its popular name of "Th ...

. After business slowed to a crawl, he emigrated to

Edmonton Edmonton ( ) is the capital city of the Canadian province of Alberta. Edmonton is situated on the North Saskatchewan River and is the centre of the Edmonton Metropolitan Region, which is surrounded by Alberta's central region. The city ancho ...

, Alberta, Canada, in 1911. On 20 July of that year, prior to his departure, he was admitted as a Licentiate of the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three suppl ...

. After arriving in Edmonton, he was appointed to the office of English architect

Roland Walter Lines Roland Walter Lines FRIBA (14 March 1877 – 9 September 1916) was an English architect who became prolific after his emigration to Edmonton, Canada, in 1906. He served as a lieutenant with the Canadian Expeditionary Force in World War I. He ...

. He remained there for a "considerable time" before becoming chief draughtsman to the Edmonton Public School Board. He later became its chief architect, as well as becoming a member of the

Royal Architectural Institute of Canada The Royal Architectural Institute of Canada (RAIC) is a not-for-profit, national organization that has represented architects and architecture for over 100 years, in existence since 1907. The RAIC is the leading voice for excellence in the built ...

. In 1916, Mitchell closed his practice as he went to serve in

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

. He returned to Scotland to serve with the

Scottish Horse The Scottish Horse was a Yeomanry regiment of the British Army's Army Reserve (United Kingdom), Territorial Army raised in 1900 for service in the Second Boer War. It saw heavy fighting in both the World War I, First World War, as the 13th Battali ...

. He asked to be

demobilised Demobilization or demobilisation (see spelling differences) is the process of standing down a nation's armed forces from combat-ready status. This may be as a result of victory in war, or because a crisis has been peacefully resolved and militar ...

in 1919, and joined the architectural practice of

Donald Alexander Stewart Donald Alexander Stewart Royal Institute of British Architects, FRIBA (6 July 1876 – 16 January 1940) was a Scottish architect, prominent in the first half of the 20th century.Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth is ...

. He became a partner in 1924, the company name being appended by his own. He was still with the firm when he was admitted as a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects. Stewart died in January 1940. Six years later, three years before his own death, Mitchell formed a partnership with J. Morrison and H. C. Miller but continued under the Smart, Stewart & Mitchell name. Mitchell served on Auchterarder Town Council and was a

magistrate The term magistrate is used in a variety of systems of governments and laws to refer to a civilian officer who administers the law. In ancient Rome, a '' magistratus'' was one of the highest ranking government officers, and possessed both judici ...

, serving several terms.

Selected notable works

* Auchterarder Free Church (alterations; after 1901) * Auchterarder United Free Church (alterations; after 1901) * Monzievaird Parish Church (alterations; after 1901) * Ormskirk War Memorial (1919) * Dunning War Memorial (1919) *

J. Pullar and Sons J. Pullar and Sons Ltd. (also known as J. & J. Pullar and Pullars of Perth) was a dyeworks based in Perth, Scotland. It was founded by John Pullar in 1824 in Perth's Little Pomarium district and pioneered the first synthetic dyes. ''Pullars of P ...

dyeworks (reconstruction; 1919) * Auchterarder Parish Church (new aisle windows; after 1919) * Sports pavilion, Perth (1919) * Gannochy Housing Estate,

Kinnoull Kinnoull is a parish in Perth, Perth and Kinross, Scotland, approximately half a mile northeast of Perth city centre. Beginning at the level of the River Tay, Kinnoull's terrain continues to rise as it continues southeast, culminating in Kinno ...

(1923) * Perth Savings Bank (extensions; 1927) *

Royal George Hotel, Perth The Royal George Hotel (also known as The Royal George) is a hotel and restaurant in Perth, Scotland. It is a Category B listed building dating to 1773.''Perth: The Postcard Collection'', Jack Gillon (2020) Kinnoull Parish Church Kinnoull Parish Church is a Church of Scotland church in the Kinnoull area of Perth, Perth and Kinross, Scotland. A Kinnoull Church appears in documents when it was granted to Cambuskenneth Abbey in 1361. It was rebuilt in 1779 but demolished in ...

(recasting of interior; 1929) *

Thomas Hay Marshall Thomas Hay Marshall (1770 – 15 July 1808) was twice lord provost of Perth, Scotland. With a passion for Georgian architecture,Perth Museum and Art Gallery Perth Museum and Art Gallery is the main museum and exhibition space in the city of Perth, Scotland, Perth, Scotland. It is located in the Marshall Monument, named in memory of Thomas Hay Marshall, a former provost of Perth. The museum's locat ...

(1929) * Auchterarder World War II Memorial (1948)

Death

Stewart died on 28 September 1949, aged 75.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Mitchell, Robert Matthews 1847 births 1949 deaths 19th-century Scottish architects 20th-century Scottish architects Architects from Perth, Scotland Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects Members of the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada