Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Baird the Second | Designation: | Architect | Born: | November 1816 | Died: | 5 August 1893 | Bio Notes: | John Baird the Second was no relation of the first (John Baird 'Primus'), being born in November 1816 at Ayr, the son of Alexander Baird, shoemaker, and his wife Elizabeth Grange. About 1830 he was articled to James Watt, but after Watt's death in 1832 he completed his apprenticeship with John Herbertson. Thereafter he worked with John Fisher until Spring 1837 when he joined David and James Hamilton where he was very unusually allowed to put his name in the Directory. There he worked on Lennox Castle, the Clydesdale, Western, British Linen and Union Banks and in the Western Club: and at Hamilton Palace he worked on the Black Marble Stair and on the base of the mausoleum under the direct supervision of the Duke. In December 1843 David Hamilton died, his son James thereafter forming a partnership with his sister's husband James Smith, father of Madeline Hamilton Smith of murder trial fame. Within a few months however the partnership was sequestrated, possibly as a result of financial troubles over their development on the north side of Royal Exchange Square. James Hamilton then withdrew from the partnership; Smith carried on the practice on his own, possibly with his brother-in-law's assistance, and Baird commenced practice on his own. In 1846 Smith and Baird formed a partnership but this was not a success and by the beginning of 1848 Baird was practising on his own account at 112 Hope Street, Glasgow. On 21 September 1847, he married, at a double wedding, Jessie Nicholson, daughter of Michael Angelo Nicholson (died 1841) and granddaughter of the architect Peter Nicholson, the other bridegroom being Alexander Thomson, who married her sister Jane.
In 1849 a partnership was formed between the two under the name Baird & Thomson. Within two years the Baird & Thomson partnership was extremely successful with a large clientele for medium-sized villas and terraces of cottages in Pollokshields, Shawlands, Crossmyloof, Cathcart, Langbank, Bothwell and Cove and Kilcreggan. At Cove and Kilcreggan they enjoyed the support of the builder, railway contractor and ironfounder John McElroy who commissioned Craig Ailey in 1850 and built a considerable number of other marine villas either speculatively or for clients. These early villas were generally either Gothic, sometimes with Pugin-derived details, or Italian Romanesque but a few, most notably Glen Eden at Cove, had very original elements which, as Gavin Stamp has shown, have their origins in the publications of the architectural historian and theorist James Fergusson.
In 1854 Thomson began designing in a picturesque asymmetrically composed pilastraded neo-Greek idiom which derived from Schinkel at Rockbank, Helensburgh and the Mossman studio on Cathedral Street. These were followed by the Scottish Exhibition Rooms in Bath Street which he and some architect friends built to provide a Scottish counterpart to the period courts in the Crystal Palace at Sydenham. This decisive shift to the neo-Greek which would remain characteristic of him and by then had no counterpart either in Edinburgh or south of the Border was quickly followed by a change of partner. In 1856 the partnership of Baird & Thomson was amicably dissolved so that Thomson could form a separate practice with his brother George who may still have been in the office of John Baird Primus: the record is not absolutely clear. Baird thereafter practised alone from 112 West Regent Street.
Baird was elected FRIBA on 4 December 1876, his proposers being Charles Berry, John Honeyman and James Fergusson. Although he was extremely well known in his lifetime and is frequently referred to by Gildard it is difficult to form any clear picture of his style from his executed works or even of what he did; his pen portrait in the Baillie 'Man-you-know' series referring to his work merely says 'look around you'. His practice consisted mainly of suburban villa work. Nevertheless his Italianate competition design for the Glasgow Municipal Buildings indicated an original mind.
Outside his professional practice Baird was active, being Captain of the Lanarkshire Engineers in the Volunteers and Grand Architect of the Grand Lodge of Scotland. His wife Jessie died on 24 February 1866: Baird married a second time, to Margaret Mary Ann Jane Hunter. Baird had five children, two boys and three girls. He died of apoplexy on 5 August 1893 at 29 St Vincent Crescent. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 112, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Early 1848 * | | |  | 112, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1856 | 1888 | Listed at this address 1888 |  | 114, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1862 | | PO Directory |  | 116, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1862 | | PO Directory |  | 29, St Vincent Crescent, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1888 | 5 August 1893 | Place of death |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | John Parker | 1880 | February 1883 | Apprentice | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | Charles Barry (junior) | 4 December 1876 | for Fellowship |  | James Fergusson | 4 December 1876 | for Fellowship |  | John Honeyman | 4 December 1876 | for Fellowship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |  | | Lindsay House | Cathcart | | Glasgow | Scotland | Date unknown |  | | St John's Masonic Lodge | | | Glasgow? | Scotland | Hall, 'Egyptic and small' - date unknown |  | 1837 | Lennox Castle | Lennoxtown | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Original mansion house - as assistant to D & J Hamilton |  | After 1837 | British Linen Bank Head Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original building - as assistant to D & J Hamilton. Colvin gives 1840-41. |  | 1839 | Western Club | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original building - as assistant to D & J Hamilton |  | 1841 | Hamilton Palace Mausoleum and keeper's lodge | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Original scheme - as assistant to D & J Hamilton |  | 1842 | City Halls and Bazaar | Candleriggs | | Glasgow | Scotland | New roof of bazaar. |  | 1843 | City Halls and Bazaar | Candleriggs | | Glasgow | Scotland | New market hall roof (supervised by John Carrick) |  | 1844 | St Peter's Episcopal Church and Parsonage | Kirkcaldy | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1849 | Benmore House | Kilmun | | Argyll | Scotland | Possible attribution by 'Buildings of Scotland' |  | c. 1849 | Design for Unidentified Building with Galleried Interior on Iron columns | | | | | |  | 1850s | Anchorage | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable--Check partnership |  | 1850s | Blocks of Tenements, 37?-387 Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but relief panels are the same as those on demolished warehouse in Howard Street |  | 1850s | Carradale | Kilcreggan | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable |  | 1850s(?) | Design for Romanesque Church with Campanile | | | | | |  | 1850s | Ellerly | Kilcreggan | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable |  | 1850s | Ivy Cave Cottage | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1850s | Seaton Lodge | Kilcreggan | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable |  | 1850s | Villa, 26 Maxwell Drive | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable on stylistic grounds |  | 1850s | Wodrow Monument, Eastwood Old Cemetery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable on stylistic grounds |  | 1850 | Cove Cottage, Semi-detached Villas | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1850 | Seymour Lodge | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Villa and detached coach house |  | 1850 | The Knowe and Lodge | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original house |  | 1851 | Ardsloy | Kilcreggan | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but very likely |  | 1851 | Beech Villa | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1851 | Green Gables | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1851 | Lincoln Villa | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1851 | Manhattan Cottage | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1851 | John Blair & Co Warehouse and Shops | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1851 | Sighthill Cemetery, Mossman Monument | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable |  | 1852(?) | Block of Tenements on Taylor Street and Parson Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable |  | c. 1852 | Craig Ailey, Italian Villa | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1852 | Sighthill Cemetery, Atwood Monument | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1853 | Langside Estate layout | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1853 | Unitarian Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition designs - not successful |  | c. 1853 | Braehead Villa | Cathcart | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1853 | St Ann's Lodge | Blairmore | | Argyll | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable |  | 1854 | 1339 Pollokshaws Road | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented and uncertain |  | 1854 | Darnley Terrace | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | Undocumented--attribution by Worsdall |  | 1854 | Mossman Sculptor's Studio | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1854 | Rockbank House and Lodge | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1854 | Scottish Exhibition Rooms | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Greek court |  | 1854 | Sessional School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1854 | 1349 Pollokshaws Road | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented and uncertain |  | c. 1854 | 1353 Pollokshaws Road | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented and uncertain |  | c. 1854 | 1365 Pollokshaws Road | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented and uncertain |  | c. 1854 | 1381-1389 Pollokshaws Road | Shawlands Road | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented and uncertain |  | c. 1854 | Craigrownie House | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | House and boundary wall |  | c. 1854 | Southern Necropolis, Thomson Monument | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented |  | 1855 | Caledonia Road UP Church | Hutchesontown | | Glasgow | Scotland | Began church |  | 1855 | Crossmyloof Buildings | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1855 | Glen Eden Villa | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but certain? |  | 1855(?) | Knockderry Castle and lodge (Knockderry Cottage) | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1855 | Pollok Burgh School | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | Baird claimed responsibility |  | 1855 | Woodside Cottages | Langbank | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable on stylistic grounds; APSD refers to Langbank. |  | c. 1855 | Eastwood and Rhodove, Double Villa | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Attribution undocumented and uncertain; date unknown |  | c. 1855 | Green Bank Villa | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1855 | Huntly Lodge | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1855 | The Knowe and Lodge | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension |  | 1856 | Block of Tenements and Shops, Hospital Street | Hutchesontown | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1856 | Block of Tenements with Shops, Cathcart Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1856 | Busby House (for Mr Kessock) | Busby | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Large addition |  | 1856 | Maria Villa, Langside Hill | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Begun by Baird & Thomson; finished by A & G Thomson |  | 1856 | Upper Clifton House, Craigmore | Rothesay | Bute | Bute | Scotland | |  | c. 1856 | Glen Eden | Cove | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attribution undocumented but probable on stylistic grounds |  | 1857 | Howburn | Crosshill | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1860 | Haggs Castle | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Restoration as residence for Factor of Pollok Estate |  | 1860 | Westwood House | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1860 | Tramway Offices, Bath Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1863 | Schoolmaster's House | Rosneath / Roseneath | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1866 | Strathblane Free Church | Strathblane | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1870 | Glasgow Herald Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original building |  | c. 1870(?) | 4 and 4A Mill Road | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1872 | Tenement and business premises in Gordon Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1874 | Corner tenement, Turnberry Road and Hyndland Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Joint architect with H & D Barclay, but not in partnership |  | 1874 | Globe Theatre | | | Glasgow? | Scotland | 44' fontage to Stevenson Street and 80' to Tobago Street |  | 1874 | Pollok Burgh School | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | Enlargement |  | 1875 | Biscuit Factory of Gray, Dunn & Co, Kinning Park | Kinning Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1876 | Hutchesons' Hospital | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Internal reconstruction |  | Before 1876 | Balsusney | Kirkcaldy (near?) | | Fife | Scotland | |  | Before 1876 | Barrhead Academy | Barrhead | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | John Baird II, 4 December 1876 |  | Before 1876 | Rosslea | Rhu/Row | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Original building |  | c. 1880 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Compeition design entered under the pseudonym My X Mark in the first competition and under pseudonym 'Light and Air' in the second competition. |  | 1883 | 86 High Street | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1885 | Hartwood Asylum | Shotts | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Competition design, selected but not successful |  | 1887 | Petershill School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Gildard, Thomas | 1895 | An Old Glasgow Architect on some Older Ones | XXVI | Proceedings of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow | |  | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills SC36/51/109 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | British Architect | 7 January 1876 | | | p8 |  | Builder | 27 October 1961 | | | 'Architectural Historians' Conference: Papers Submitted to the Edinburgh Meeting' p787 - David Walker delivered a paper entitled 'Towards a New Style' at the SAH (UK) Conference in Edinburgh on 15-17 Sept 1961 in which he mentioned Baird |  | RIBA Journal | 23 September 1893 | v9 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | pp507-508 Obituary written by artist William 'Crimea' Simpson |  | The Bailie | 15 August 1893 | no 565 | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v5 p60 (microfiche 89/B4) |
Images © All rights reserved. The Bailie 15 August 1883, The Men you Know no565 (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) |