Milton of Balgonie Welfare Institute History

The designer/architect of Milton of Balgonie Welfare Institute

Milton of Balgonie Village Hall was designed by George Charles Campbell, architect (21 April 1882 - 29 April 1932)

George Charles Campbell, who practised under the name of G Charles Campbell, was born on 21 April 1882. He was educated at the Higher Grade School in Buckhaven, Fife, where he excelled academically and was a model student, his headmaster James A Ross stating that 'his whole conduct and bearing were characterised by a natural refinement of tone and disposition', and adding, 'he has very high ideals and in addition to unflagging perseverance his artistic taste and strong feeling for work of genuine merit are such as to warrant the very highest expectations in regard to his future career.'

He served his articles under Alexander Tod on the Wemyss and Torrie Estates, commencing in July 1898 and remaining as Junior and Senior Draughtsman after completing his apprenticeship. During this period he continued his studies, first at the evening science and art classes at Sinclairtown Public School (1898-1900) and then at Kirkcaldy School of Science and Art (1901-4), where one of his masters described him as 'one of the most enthusiastic and successful students' very willing, active, energetic and trustworthy'. Having obtained a bursary from Fife County Council, he completed his training in 1904-5 at Heriot-Watt College, Edinburgh, where he was Gold Medalist in the Building Construction class and received various other awards.

Campbell left the Wemyss office in late 1905, much to the dismay of Tod, who had been delighted with his work and saw no reason for his leaving except for his 'craving' for further progress and advancement'. This he achieved in 1906 when he secured the commission for Wemyss Public School in an open competition which attracted a total of twenty entries. He was appointed Architect to the Wemyss School Board and gained a reputation as a school architect, Buckhaven and Aberhill Schools being considered the most successful examples of his work in this field; drawings for the latter were submitted by the Scottish Education Department to the London County Council as a new model for school planning. He became an Ordained Surveyor in 1908.

During the First World War Campbell worked as architect and chief clerk of works to the Royal Engineers and was mainly concerned with the planning and erection of aerodromes at Turnhouse, Penston and Whiteburn in the Edinburgh area. After the war he turned his attention to town planning and the provision of working-class housing schemes. His proposals were placed on a shortlist of 34 schemes selected from 259 entries to the 1919 Local Government Board competition for the design of houses for the working classes. His plans for the Buckhaven and Methil and Burntisland housing schemes were requested by the Scottish Board of Health for exhibition purposes before the Edinburgh Housing Committee.

Campbell was admitted FIAS on 6 May 1922 and was admitted LRIBA in 1931, his proposers being Donald Alexander Stewart, Charles Geddes Soutar and William Salmond. He was still working on the development of part of the Methil Housing Scheme at the time of his death on 29 April 1932.

* 2008, Dictionary of Scottish Architects