Messrs James Gillespie and Scott, architects, St Andrews

James Gillespie was born in Dunfermline on 14 April 1854, son of Thomas Gillespie and Janet Honeyman. About 1873 he came to St Andrews to fill a post in the office of the architect George S. Birrell who had been in practice since ca. 1869 and, on Birrell's death in 1876, Gillespie took over the business.

James Scott was born in Kinnesswood near Loch Leven in 1861, the son of Thomas Scott, clerk of works, and Janet Hoy. Whilst he was still a boy his parents moved to Glasgow where he was educated. In November 1885, he came to St Andrews to join the staff of Mr Gillespie, probably as chief draughtsman. The partnership of the two effectively began at this time, but the evidence from the plans suggests that the legal partnership probably began in 1895.

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