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MenuHomeUpfront Now Up Books Towns Structures People Firms Lexicon | DEUCHAR, Charles CunnoldBorn: 1883 08 03Died: 1939 27 06 Architect / Quantities SurveyorYear registered: 1927 | |||
ARIBA (1923); MCQS; ISAA (1927); TPIA (1927). Became chief architect to the South African Railways. He was born in Carlisle, Cumberland, England UK (Family Search) and was articled to Arthur Marshall, ARIBA, Nottingham, England in 1898 for three years, joining FB Lewis, ARIBA, as an Improver in 1901 for two years. His obituary gives the date of his arrival in South Africa as 1904 but his nomination papers for Associate membership of the RIBA indicate that he entered JW TWIST's office in Bloemfontein in 1904 where he remained until 1904 [?]. He joined the Government service of the Orange River Colony as a draughtsman in the PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT in 1904. On Union in 1910 he transferred to the PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT in Pretoria. His career was interrupted by six years of war service: in 1914 he served in Enslin's Horse during the Rebellion and then took part in the South West Africa campaign. He also served in the South African Horse in German East Africa before returning to work in the PWD after the war. In 1920 Deuchar, with JS CLELAND, won the competition for the Pretoria War Memorial which was planned for Church Square. It was not built here but at the Union Buildings garden a few years later to designs by Gordon LEITH. By 1923 Deuchar was lecturing in Design at the architectural classes in Pretoria. He collaborated with Alec PEASE (cf DEUCHAR and PEASE), a colleague in the PWD, on a submission for the competition (1926) for the Pretoria Technical College, won by Leith. He formed part of a team around Cleland, the then chief architect of the PWD. Deuchar was transferred to the SOUTH AFRICAN RAILWAYS AND HARBOURS Administration in 1929 as chief architect, Johannesburg, a post he held until his death in Johannesburg. During his period of office as Chief Architect Deuchar supervised the erection of many works, including the new Johannesburg Railway Station. He designed numerous Government buildings, chief among which were office buildings at Uitenhage and Johannesburg; the System Manager's offices at Kimberley and Johannesburg, and a number of important station buildings on the Reef and elsewhere, including Jeppe and Mayfair; hostels at the larger railway centres to accommodate younger members of the staff living away from home; extensive alterations to railway institutes, and the erection of new compounds (Obituary). His address at the time of his death was 45 Northwold Drive, Saxonwold, Johannesburg. In 1915 he married Esparance Gladys Blignaud (1889-19??) by whom he had two children, Charles Roland (1917-19??) and Edyth Gardiol (1926-) (Family Search). There is also a listing of this architect on Dictionary of Scottish Architects. (ARIBA nom papers 1923; Building Sep 1920:391; CSL, ORC 1907; ISAA mem list; PWSA Jul 1939:38 obit; TAD MHG 2473/30; SAAR Jun 1926:35-37 ill) All truncated references not fully cited in 'References' are those of Joanna Walker's original text and cited in full in the 'Bibliography' entry of the Lexicon. References
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