Aberdeenshire HER - NJ62SE0012 - PITTODRIE HOUSE

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Period Details

PeriodOrderProbabilityRadiocarbon DatesDate BuiltDate of DestructionDate of Loss
Medieval (1100 - 1560 AD) A100    
Post-Medieval (from 1560 AD) B100    
18th Century C100    
19th Century D100    
Modern (1900 - 2050) E100    

Period Notes

Period Notes Oldest part of house 1490; L-plan block early 17thC. 1605 coat-of-arms; 1675 infilled door; detached gunroom 18thC with 16thC vaults below; 17thC sundial; additions in 1841 of a neo-Jacobean mansion; billiard room 1900-3; alterations 1907-11; alterations c.1920; bay window in drawing room 1926; extended and converted to hotel in 1990.

Architect Details

Architect Details Archibald Simpson, architect 1841; William Liddle Duncan, architect 1907-11 and c.1920; Mike Rasmussen, architect for extensions/conversion 1990; Amanda Rose and Sylvia Lawson Johnstone designed interiors 1990. William Liddle Duncan was born in 1870, son of James Duncan, architect of Turriff. He took classes at Edinburgh School of Art in 1885-87 before being apprenticed to his father and completing his studies at Robert Gordon's College, Aberdeen. On completing his apprenticeship he moved briefly to Edinburgh 'to complete his architectural training' and then returned to his father's office as assistant. He was finally taken into partnership in 1897, later continuing the practice on his own account after his father's death in 1907. He was awarded the bronze medal by the Highland and Agricultural Society of Scotland for designs for farm buildings in their competition of 1908. Duncan was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, his proposers being Arthur Clyne, John Wilson Walker and Arthur Hay Livingstone Mackinnon, and was admitted FRIBA in May 1930. For a number of years he held the appointment of architect to Aberdeen Education Authority for the Turriff and Huntly districts and his housing at Rhynie, Gartly and Insch was 'of such outstanding merit that he was specialliy invited to exhibit at the Royal Scottish Academy of 1943'. In the realm of public life he was active, being Preident of the Aberdeen Society of Architects and a member of the Council of the RIBA and RIAS. In his private life he was an enthusiastic volunteer and an expert marksman, winning the St George's Medal at Bisley as well as being a devotee of the game of bridge. William Liddle Duncan died in 1951, remaining in practice until the week of his death. The practice was continued by James Munro, whom he had taken into partnership in 1947 and who had worked in his office since 1930. The practice title changed to W L Duncan & Munro. Munro retired in 1975. William Liddle Duncan's LRIBA nomination papers mention 'House at Pittodrie', done between 1905 and 1911; Aberdeen Plans Committee plans are dated in the 1920s. It is possible that these apply to different buildings.