| Architect Details |
Current building from a design by John Adam; 1926 alterations and well by William Liddle Duncan; 1991-2003 repairs and refurbishment by Meldrum & Mantell.
John J Meldrum set up practice at 40 High Street, Banff as an architect in 1948. He originally trained as a chartered surveyor but turned to architecture at some point prior to this date. In the later 1950s a branch office was opened in Turriff. Meldrum was a founder member of the Banff Preservation Society in 1965. In 1975 Meldrum took Henry (Harry) Mantell into partnership, the name then becoming Meldrum & Mantell. Meldrum retired in 1987 and died in 1990. The practice was awarded an Architectural Heritage Year Award and a Saltire Society Award in 1975 and a Civic Trust Award in 1978.
Henry James Lyall Mantell was born on 11 December 1939 in Lusaka, Northern Rhodesia, the son of Henry Percy Mantell, superintendent of the African Lakes Corporation Stores, Northern Rhodesia and his wife, Barbara Anne Mantell, a teacher. His early education was through the Salisbury Correspondence School and was supervised by his mother. He later attended a school for European children founded by his mother in Abercorn, Northern Rhodesia but spent one year, 1946-47, in Macduff Infant School. From 1951-57 he attended Banff Academy where he was Dux in Art in 1956. From 1957-63 he studied at the Scott Sutherland School of Architecture, Aberdeen spending two years part-time and four years full-time. He won the Governor’s Prize for Building Construction in 1961. From 1957-58 he worked along with his studies as a trainee with Aberdeen City Architect’s Department. He was awarded the diploma in architecture in 1963. In 1963 he moved to Edinburgh as an assistant with Stanley Ross-Smith & Jamieson. He was elected ARIBA in 1965. On 3 March 1966 Mantell married Margaret Ollason Stewart. The couple have one son. Mantell then went to Australia and spent a three-year spell as assistant architect with the New South Wales Public Works Department in Sydney. In Australia he was involved with various siting and design projects associated with New South Wales Country Primary Schools section and with the research and report on the New South Wales country school central lending library project. In 1969 they returned to the United Kingdom and Mantell took a post as senior architect with Bedfordshire County Architect’s Department where he remained until 1973. He worked on various projects in the Lower School section of the County Architect's Department. During his stay in Bedford he served as Secretary of the Bedfordshire Association of Architects. He returned to Banff in 1973 as chief assistant to J J Meldrum, architect and surveyor. He became a partner in 1975 and remained as such until Meldrum’s retirement in 1987 when he became sole principal. The practice specialised in conservation work and were involved in restoration schemes of many buildings in the north of Scotland. Mantell has prepared quinquennial inspections for the National Trust for Scotland on many of thier northern properties and carries out similar inspections for private clients of Gordon Castle Tower, Fochabers and Dunecht. From 1987-2007 quinquennial inspections were also carried out for the Church of Scotland and the Episcopal Church. In 2004 Michael Ritchie joined as partner, the practice title becoming Mantell Ritchie. Mantell retired in 2005 though he remains a consultant.
Outwith his professional life Mantell was chariman of the Banff Round Table from 1977-78. He is a member of the Rotary Club of Banff and was president from 1989-90. He enjoys watercolour and pen and ink sketching, plays golf and enjoys travel. He continues to present talks on architectural topics to local organisations and prepares articles for publication. He is closely involved with the activities of the Banff Preservation Society, serving as a committee member and treasurer. He is also a member of the Banff Renassance THI Project Board and is a Management Committee member of the North East Scotland Preservation Trust. The following are a list of the awards received by Meldrun and Mantell and Mantell Ritchie
1975 Architectural Heritage Year Award.
1975 Saltire Society Award.
1978 Civic Trust Award.
!992 Civic Trust Special Mention (12 North High Street, Portsoy).
2004 Aberdeenshire Design Awards - Highly Commended for Conservation (Banff Castle Ancillary Buildings).
2004 Aberdeenshire Design awards – Commended for Conservation (The Banff Aisle).
The follwing additional qualifications were gained by Mantell:
1998 – RIAS Conservation Accreditation (level 3)
2003 – RIAS Conservation Accreditation (level 4)
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.
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Historic Environment Records (HER)