Arnott, James Alexander
1871 – 1950
Articled to Kinnear & Peddie c.1889 with whom he remained as assistant until 1898: he 'never ceased to acknowledge the influence of Peddie in his training.' While with Peddie he attended the Edinburgh School of Design in the Royal Institution, Heriot-Watt College and the School of [Applied?] Art.
In 1904 he moved to the office of Hippolyte Jean Blanc. He travelled for study in Belgium and France where, in company of John Wilson who had become a close friend while in Peddie's office, he made the drawings for the folio volume 'Le Petit Trianon, Marie Antoinette's Palace At Versailles,' which was published in 1907.
Arnott commenced independent practice in 1908 in Edinburgh.
Arnott did not take the qualifying exam but was admitted LRIBA in 1910, his proposers being Blanc, Dunn and Thomas Lennox Watson. He was elected FRIBA in 1920, proposed by William Thomas Oldrieve, John Wilson, and Alexander Lorne Campbell.
Arnott served as Vice-President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association in 1930-31 and its President from 1932 to 1934, and also sat on the Education Committee of the Royal Incorporation and the local Chapter. He had a lifelong association with the Barclay Church, serving on the fabric committee and designing the war memorial.
His estate was valued at £14,114 2s 4d.
