Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robert Baldie | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1824 | Died: | 2 February 1890 | Bio Notes: | Robert Baldie was born at Stirling in 1824, the son of Henry Baldie, joiner and his wife Catherine Carmichael. He commenced independent practice c.1865 but did not have an office until 1868 whe he appears in directories at 29 Bath Street Glasgow. Despite his extremely extensive practice little is known about Baldie as his death did not attract notice in major journals. He obtained the post of Clerk of Works on the Marquess of Breadalbane's Taymouth Castle estate c.1850, enabling him to marry Ann Lennox Fraser at Govan in 1851.
His main business was church work in a somewhat routine early Geometrical manner. His largest work was the office block at Carron Ironworks, Falkirk, 1876, only two tall storeys high but of immense length. Baldie had six daughters but only one son, Henry, known as Harry. He was a draughtsman in the practice in 1881 and signed drawings of Dunblane Cathedral in the Glasgow Architectural Association Sketchbook of 1885-6. By the time of Baldie senior's death at 37 Burnbank Gardens (some sources say he died in Bridge of Allan - we know he spent time there later in his life as he was president of the Bowling Club and is recorded in Census records in Bridge of Allan in 1871 and 1881) on 2 February 1890 from chronic bronchitis, Baldie was in partnership with William Tennant. Tennant later entered into partnership with Frederick V Burke. Baldie's death was reported by his nephew-in-law of 11 Irvine Place, Stirling.
Baldie designed a scheme for sewage treatment in Glasgow. Details of this are to be found in "Hints on Sanitary Reform: with a plan for the disposal of the sewage…and the purification of the River Clyde" by James Gray MD and Robert Baldie IA Glasgow: Cairns, 1870. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 63, Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1862 * | | | | 63, Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1862 * | 1873 | May also have been business address at the beginning | | 29, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1865 * | After 1868 | May have returned here in the 1880s? | | Mine House, Well Road, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland | Private | 1871 | | | | 83, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1871 * | After 1877(?) | Conflict of information - is it 83 or 85 Bath Street? | | Ashton, Bridge of Allan, Stirlingshire, Scotland | Private | 1874 or 1875 | After 1881 | For some years? | | 37, Burnbank Gardens, Scotland | Private | 1888 | 1890 | | | 83, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1888 | 1890 | As Baldie & Tennant |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Baldie & Tennant | Before 1879 | 1890 | Partner | |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | George Cade Smith | | | Apprentice | | | William Gilmour Wilson | 1872 | 1877 | Apprentice | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Hodgson, Julian | 1995 | Robert Baldie: a forgotten Victorian architect | | Scottish Local History, June 1995, XXXIV, pp20-24 | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Glasgow Herald | 3 February 1890 | | | Death notice | | Stirling Observer | 6 February 1890 | | | Check obituary | | Stirling Observer | 2 September 1916 | | | |
|