James Bow Dunn was born in Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland on 16 January 1861 At an early age he moved with his family to Edinburgh where from 1876 to 1891 he was articled to James Campbell Walker (1822-1888). He also attended Heriot Watt College in Edinburgh.
From c.1885 to c.1888 he was employed by the Edinburgh Burgh Engineers Office (possibly as an assistant). At the same time he set up his own private practice in Edinburgh in 1887. In 1894 he formed a partnership with James Lesley Findlay (1868-1952) as Dunn & Findlay in Edinburgh. The partnership was dissolved in 1905. Dunn then worked alone.
In 1905 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Institute of British Architects (FRIBA). He was also a member of the Edinburgh Architectural Association and its President in 1910-11. He was also elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy (ARSA) in 1918 and a full member of the Royal Scottish Academy (RSA) in 1930. He died in Edinburgh on 25 August 1930
Library for Society of Solicitors, Edinburgh; "Scotsman" Newspaper Buildings; Adam Smith and Beveridge Memorial Halls, Kirkcaldy; Wesleyan Methodist Halls, Edinburgh; Ladles' Club, Edinburgh; Victoria Buildings, Edinburgh; Dean Established Church, Edinburgh; Charterls Memorial Church, Edinburgh; mansion houses, Balnacraig, Perthshire; Beechholme and Lodges, Edinburgh; Dromore, Gullane; Nether Caberstone, Peeblesshire; Ballenden, Innerleithen; Haggereton Castle, Northumberland; Gargrave House, Yorkshire; reconstruction works at Blair Drummond Mansion House, Perthshire; and at Carham Hall, Northumberland. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
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For a more detailed list of architectural projects by James Bow Dunn see the Dictionary of Scottish Architects 1660-1980 [link below]
Browne, George Washington. ‘Obituary’. The Builder vol. 139, 29 August 1930 p. 334
Browne, George Washington. 'Obituary’. Royal Institute of British Architects Journal vol. 37, 29 September 1930 pp.711-712
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 1: A-K. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Gray, A. Stuart. Edwardian architecture: a biographical dictionary. London: Gerald Duckworth & Co., Ltd., 1985
Keppie, John. 'Obituary: the late Mr. J. B. Dunn'. Quarterly of the Royal Incorporated Architects of Scotland vol. 34, 1930 p.53
Who's Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: Architectural Press 1926