James Simpson Conway¹

7 June 1911 Golden Wedding of James Conway and Agnes McKenzie Fisher

Parents:

• Birth*: James Simpson Conway was born on 23 April 1907 at Byres Road, Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, ; 1907 births inthe parish of Kilwinning in the county of Ayr, ref 93; James Simpson Conway, 1907 April twenty-third 12h 40m pm Byres Road, male, parents Samuel Meney Conway grocer and Jane Conway ms Lamberton m 1906 June 11 Kilmarnock, signed S M Conway father; 1907 May 8th at Kilwinning ... asst registrar initialled AS (A Speir registrar.)¹
• He was the son of Samuel Meney Conway dentist & baptist minister and Jane Lamberton.
• (Deceased) Death*: James Simpson Conway died between July 1978 and September 1978 at Tonbridge, Kent, England, .²

• Occupation*: James was DSA Architect Biography Report (August 12, 2011, 12:20 am)
  Basic Biographical Details
  Name: James Simpson Conway
  Designation: Architect
  Born: 23 April 1907
  Died: 6 June 1980(?)
  Bio Notes:
  James Simpson Conway was born on 23 April 1907 and was articled to John Wittet of Elgin in July 1923. He studied full-time at Aberdeen School of Architecture from September 1925 until June 1928, passing the qualifying exam in July of the latter year. That September he moved to Maidstone to work for the Kent Education Committee, and he was admitted ARIBA at the end of the year, his proposers being Wittet and Wilfred Harold Robinson.
  In his later years he lived in Tunbridge Wells and he died there in June 1980, leaving his wife Hilda living at 20 Broadwater Down.
  Private and Business Addresses
  The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
  Address
  Type
  Date from
  Date to
  Notes
  Queensgate South, London Road, Maidstone, Kent, England
  Private
  1928 *
  Kent Education Committee, Sessions House, Maidstone, Kent, England
  Business
  1928 *
  * earliest date known from documented sources.
  
  Employment and Training
  Employers
  The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
  Name
  Date from
  Date to
  Position
  Notes
  John Wittet
  July 1923
  August 1925
  Apprentice
  
  RIBA
  RIBA Proposers
  The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
  Name
  Date proposed
  Notes
  Wilfred Harold Robinson (Major)
  Late 1928
  for Associateship
  John Wittet
  Late 1928
  for Associateship
  
  References
  Archive References
  The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
  Source
  Archive Name
  Source Catalogue No.
  Notes
  RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum
  RIBA Nomination Papers
  A no4232 (combined box 2)
  © 2008, Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  Website and database design by Codex Geodata.³
• (Witness) Event-Misc: He was present when James Conway van driver and Agnes McKenzie Fisher kitchen maid were celebrating their Golden Wedding Anniversary on 7 June 1911 at Mathers Hotel, Dundee, Angus, Scotland, .⁴
  

  

  

  Mathers Hotel Dundee
• Newspaper Article*: James Simpson Conway was mentioned in a newspaper article GOOD SPORT AT KEMBACK GLEBE.
  Blebo Craigs and Kemback sports held on Saturday at the Glebe Park, Kemback, were under good management, and provided a capital afternoon's entertainment. ...
  Prize List ...
  Boys (under-14) ... Simpson Conway on 28 July 1919.⁵
• Employment*: He was employed in September 1928 at Kent Education Committee, Maidstone, Kent, England, .³
• Address: As of September 1928, James Simpson Conway lived at Queensgate South, London Road, Maidstone, Kent, England, .³
• Qualification*: He was awarded ARIBA in December 1928.³
• (Informant) Death: He registered the death of Samuel Meney Conway dentist & baptist minister on 20 December 1940 at Baptist Manse, Pitlochry, Perthshire, Scotland, ; 1940 deaths in the district of Moulin in the county of Perth; ref 30; Samuel Meney Conway Baptist Church Minister married to Jane Lamberton; 1940 December twentieth 1h 30m am Baptist Manse Pitlochry; male 59 years; James Conway vanman (dec) Agnes Conway ms Fisher (dec); cancer of bowel as cert by W M Biden MB ChB; F Simpson Conway son Bererley Whitehouse Road Edinburgh; 1940 December 21st at Pitlochry R H Sherwood registrar.⁶
  

  Pitlochry Baptist Church

Census & Directory Entries

Member of Household

31 March 1911

They was listed as a member of the household of Samuel Meney Conway dentist & baptist minister and Jane Lamberton in the 1911 census at Simbur Place, Auchterderran, Fife, Scotland, . James Conway, son, 4, b Ayrshire, Kilwinning; 3 rooms with windows, 4 people in household; Samuel Conway, head, 29, married, Baptist minister, born Forfashire, Dundee; Jane Conway, wife, 33, married 4 years, 3 children, 3 living, born Ayrshire, Kilmaurs.7

Education

• Education: James Simpson Conway was educated between September 1923 and August 1925 at Elgin, Morayshire, Scotland, ; apprentice with John Whittet.
• Education*: James Simpson Conway was educated between September 1925 and June 1928 at Aberdeen School of Architecture, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, .³
• Graduation*: He graduated in July 1928 at Aberdeen School of Architecture, Aberdeen, Aberdeenshire, Scotland, .³

Notes

• (Witness) Residence: James Simpson Conway lived at Kilwinning, Ayrshire, Scotland, ; Kilwinning is described in a directory published by Pigot & Co in 1837 as … an ancient and thriving little manufacturing town … 24 miles from Glasgow, 3 nw of Irvine, 4 ne of Saltcoats, the like distance s of Dalry, 10 nw of Kilmarnock and 5 from Ardrossan; situate on rising ground about 2 miles from the sea; stretching westward from the right bank of the Garnock, and approached through long ambrageous paths, skirted by beautiful fields. It consists chiefly of one street and bye-lanes, with a few rows of modern houses. The weaving and manufacture of gauzes, muslins, shawls, etc are carried on, to an important extent, for the Glasgow and Paisley markets, to which they are conveyed by the local agents. The agricultural produce of the parish is likewise considerable; and coals, which are obtained in abundance, are conveyed by a railway passing from east to west across the parish. …
  Kilwinning was the first place in Scotland where free masonry was established; it is said to have been introduced by the foreign architect who was employed in erecting the monastery here. The abbey is thought to have been built about 1140. Briefly, free masonry is accepted as having been born out of the guilds of craftsmen of the middle ages, in particular the masons. A mason often had to travel the length of the county to seek work. He had to prove his rank and ability to his prospective employer. This he did by showing that he was in possession of certain secrets that he had learnt from his guild.
  The Statistical Account written by the Rev. Archibald Blair Campbell in April 1842 describes Kilwinning in great ecclesiastical detail, but includes gems such as (describing the population of around 630 families in the town): There are three individuals deaf and dumb in the parish, two fatuous, and two blind. … There is no smuggling. Poaching is carried on to a small extent. He continues: The male inhabitants of Kilwinning are chiefly employed in weaving and mining; the females in sewing. The only individuals found necessary for keeping the peace are one of the county police and a sheriff-officer. … Formerly there were several stagecoaches, which passed through Kilwinning to Glasgow and other places, but they have all given up since the opening of the Glasgow and Ayr Railway, about two years ago, which affords the greatest facilities, both for travelling and the conveyance of goods, and farm produce.
  He is highly critical of the 27 licensed Inns or Alehouses in the parish – Their effect on the morals of the people, especially the miners and inhabitants of the town, is of the most pernicious description. In his conclusion he observes The inhabitants are, we believe, more industrious than they were towards the end of last century; but they are more extravagant both in regard to their clothing and mode of living, and it is to be feared, less contented with their circumstances. … The desire for luxuries is, in many instances, too prevalent, and a want of prudence, foresight, and economy, often appears. The inhabitants of the parish, in general, are intelligent and well informed, and many of them are exemplary in the discharge of all the duties of their station.^8,9