Dunn & Findlay

Dunn & Findlay were a firm of Scottish architects operating in the late 19th century and responsible for a number of important commercial buildings including the iconic Scotsman buildings which form part of the famous Edinburgh Old Town skyline. Each was also independently successful in his own right, prior to the partnership. The partnership officially lasted from 1894 until 1903. It was arguably “a marriage of convenience”: Dunn providing the skill, Findlay providing the business connections.

James Bow Dunn was born in Pollokshields, Glasgow on 16 January 1861. His family moved to Edinburgh whilst he was young and there he attended George Heriot’s School.

In March 1876 he was apprenticed to the architect James Campbell Walker, from whence he found a position in the Burgh Engineer’s Office in 1885.

In 1887 he came to fame coming a close second to George Washington Browne in a competition for Edinburgh’s Central Library (funded by the Andrew Carnegie Trust). In 1888 a second competition paid off and he won a commission for the huge Solicitor’s Buildings complex south of the Edinburgh Law Courts.

In later life he set up a second practice in Northumberland and specialised in large country houses.

He died suddenly on 25 August 1930 a week after a hospital operation.

James Leslie Findlay was a son of the Victorian newspaper magnate, John Ritchie Findlay, owner of the Scotsman newspaper. He was born on 30 April 1868. He was educated at Harrow School and thereafter apprenticed to the eminent Arts And Crafts architect, Sydney Mitchell, who was a close friend of his father. Although most of his work appears to be achieved through nepotism, being commissioned by his father, he is nevertheless an accomplished architect of skill.

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