Matt Steele, Architect

The architectural history of Scotland has tended to focus on the four great urban centres of Edinburgh, Glasgow, Dundee and Aberdeen and on the works of country house architects. Nonetheless, in a small town, away from the cities or country houses, clients still required buildings to satisfy their needs and aspirations and architects worked to satisfy them. One such community was Bo'ness and one particularly notable small town architect was Matt Steele. As well as an architect, he was an interpreter, innovator, creator, avid motorist and obsessively bad golfer. Richly illustrated, this book sets Steele's contribution securely in its context, looking at the industry and development of his home town, and considering the formative local ties and legislation which shaped the times.