James Gorman (architect) explained

James Gorman FRGS^[1] LRIBA (1876 - 1920) was a Scottish architect who worked in Long Eaton, Derbyshire, and Kedah, Malaysia.^[2]

Early life

Gorman was born in 1876 in Tayport, Fife, to Joseph Craig Gorman (1856–1945) and Elizabeth Brown Dick Beveridge (1857–1928) and lived in Methven, Perth and Kinross. Later his father was for many years headmaster of Annathill public school.

He was articled to Andrew Heiton of Perth from 1893 to 1897 and then worked as assistant to Forman & McCall in Glasgow from 1897 where he worked on the design of station buildings on the Lanarkshire and Dumbartonshire Railway, including the Kirklees Bridge in Kelvingrove in 1899.

From 1899 to 1900 he also worked for James Pearson Alison of Hawick. It is likely that during his time in Hawick, he met his future business partner Clarence Rose Ross. By 1900, he had moved to Long Eaton, Derbyshire, where he set up practice with Clarence Rose Ross as Gorman and Ross. He married Miss M.G. Chambers, daughter of J.W. Chambers of Sawley Road, Long Eaton, in St Laurence's Church on 3 October 1903.^[3]

In 1904, he was appointed assistant to Barnett and Stark in Penang, Malaysia, and in 1907 he was appointed the architect and State Engineer^[4] to the Government of Kedah State where he designed hospitals, a prison, a police court and residences for government officials.

In 1912, he was appointed an Licentiate of the Royal Institute of British Architects.^[2]

Works in England

• Oaklea Mill Company Lace Factory, Long Eaton, Derbyshire 1901^[5]
• York Chambers, 38 Market Place, Long Eaton, Derbyshire 1901 Grade II listed.
• House, 23 Cavendish Road, Long Eaton Derbyshire ca. 1901
• House for James Mackay, 158 Derby Road, Long Eaton, Derybshire 1902
• House for Sam Cursley, 150 Derby Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire 1902^[6]
• 40 Market Place, Long Eaton, Derbyshire 1903^[7]
• New Tythe Street Mills, New Tythe Street, Long Eaton, Derbyshire 1904
• Carnegie Library, Tamworth Road, Long Eaton, Derbyshire 1904–06. Grade II listed

Death

Gorman died, aged 43, in 1920 while aboard an Italian liner in the Red Sea returning to Britain.

Notes and References

1. News: . Methven . Strathern Herald . Scotland . 13 May 1911 . 1 January 2024 . British Newspaper Archive .
2. Book: Brodie, Antonia . 20 December 2001 . Directory of British Architects 1834-1914: Vol 1 (A-K) . Royal Institute of British Architects . 755 . 0826455131 .
3. News: . Marriage at Long Eaton . Long Eaton Advertiser . England . 9 October 1903 . 31 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive .
4. News: . Penang . London and China Telegraph . England . 8 July 1907 . 1 January 2024 . British Newspaper Archive .
5. News: . Official Opening of the Oaklea Mills, Long Eaton . Long Eaton Advertiser . England . 25 October 1901 . 30 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive .
6. News: . House to delight Art Nouveau fans . Nottingham Evening Post . England . 19 March 1994 . 30 December 2023 . British Newspaper Archive .
7. Book: Pevsner . Nikolaus . Harwell . Clive . Williamson . Elizabeth . 2016 . The Buildings of England, Derbyshire . Yale University Press . 489–93 . 9780300215595.