Dictionary of Irish Architects 1720 - 1940

Principal city architect with Belfast Corporation. According to the 1911 census, James Gardner Gamble was born in Co. Derry in 1861 or 1862.  He entered the service of Belfast Corporation circa 1898, eventually rising to the position of chief architect.(1) He was clerk of works for the erection of the City Hall circa 1896-1906. His salary was increased by £50 per annum in 1936.(2) He was still in the service of the Corporation in 1939, but had retired by 1942.(3) Gamble, who also lectured on building construction at the Working Men's Institute and taught evening classes in the Technical School, died in his ninety-sixth year at Whitehead, Co. Antrim, in January 1956.   He was married at least twice:  in his 1911 census return he lists his wife Sarah Emily, and their five sons, including WILLIAM MACARTNEY GAMBLE WILLIAM MACARTNEY GAMBLE , as well as two daughters from a previous marriage.

RIBA: elected fellow, 3 November 1930, proposed by ROBERT HANNA GIBSON ROBERT HANNA GIBSON , EDWIN RIDDELL KENNEDY  EDWIN RIDDELL KENNEDY and the Council.(4)
RSUA: member by 1930;(5) had ceased to be a member by 1942.

Addresses:  38 Hopefield Avenue, Clifton, Belfast, 1911;  153 University St, Belfast, 1930.(6)

See WORKS.



References

All information in this entry not otherwise accounted for is from the brief obituary of Gamble in IB 98, 14 Jan 1956, 27.

(1) This position appears to have been a subsidiary one within the City Surveyor's office, and as such is not included in the list of corporation officers which appears in Thom's Directory.
(2) IB 78, 2 May 1936, 364.
(3) Thom's Directory, 1939, 1942.
(4) RIBAJ 37 (1929-30), 750; 38, 8 Nov 1930, 29-30.
(5) IB 72, 6 Dec 1930, 1087.
(6) See note 3, above.


5 work entries listed in chronological order for GAMBLE, JAMES GARDNER


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Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, DONEGALL SQUARE, CITY HALL
Date: 1896-1906
Nature: JGG clerk of works.
Refs: IB 98, 14 Jan 1956, 27

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, LIGONIEL ROAD, LIGONIEL BATHS
Date: 1910;1912
Nature: 'Wrenaissance' style. Slipper baths added, 1912. Contractor: Isaac Copeland. (Now Ligoniel Public Library).
Refs: Building News 102, 9 Aug 1912, 183; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 78 (no. 177, illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, MCAULEY STREET, ABATTOIR
Date: 1913
Nature: New abattoir, costing £52,000. With With H.A. Cutler.
Refs: Marcus Patton, Central Belfast: an historical gazetteer (UAHS, 1993), 222

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, WOLFF ROAD, HARBOUR POWER STATION
Date: 1919-23
Nature: -
Refs: IB 98, 14 Jan 1956, 27; Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 79 (no. 182, illus.)

Building: CO. ANTRIM, BELFAST, GRESHAM STREET (& NORTH STREET), GAS SHOW ROOMS
Date: ?
Nature: 'probably Gamble's work'
Refs: Paul Larmour, Belfast: an illustrated architectural guide (1987), 78 (no. 177)