© All rights reserved. Building Industries 16 April 1917, p9, Who 

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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Baird
Designation: Architect
Born: 29 May 1862(?)
Died: 9 February 1953
Bio Notes: Thomas Baird was born at 277 Eglinton Street, Glasgow on 29 May 1862, the son of Thomas Baird, insurance clerk, and his wife Ann Gordon, who was sister of the architect John Gordon. He was educated at the Southern Academy and studied mathematics with a James Lindsay at his school in Cathedral Street and also under a Mr Ness at the Glasgow Athenaeum. He was articled to his uncle John Gordon from 1876 to 1881 and attended Glasgow School of Art. He taught building construction at the Athenaeum in 1881-1887, commencing practice in the latter year first as head draughtsman and then as a partner with John Gordon. Though Baird's name does not appear in the practice title he remained in partnership with Gordon until the early 1900s. In 'Building Industries' 17 December 1917 (re: alterations to the Alexandra Hotel) Thomas Baird was described as having been with the practice for twenty-five years (i.e. since the beginning of his articles in 1876). That he was a partner is confirmed by their joint names appearing on the Dean of Guild drawings for Strathbungo Public School of 1893-5: he appears as 'Thomas Baird Junior' in the Post Office directories of this date. He left the Gordon's practice in or about 1903 when one of Gordon's sons became a partner along with David Woodburn Sturrock as Gordon Son & Sturrock.

Baird was elected FRIBA on 11 June 1906, his proposers being David Barclay, John Keppie and Horatio Kelson Bromhead. His office at that date was 134 Bath Street and he remained there into the 1920s, maintaining a branch office at what was probably a holiday house in Dunoon from 1909 until 1915. His cinemas showed him to be a very talented designer, the Picture Salon having a splendid Moorish façade with glazed tiles and an advanced ferro-concrete structure.

Thomas Baird married his cousin Louisa Kelly by declaration on 11 January 1888 at 128 George Street, Glasgow. Her father, who belonged to Tradeston, was then hotelkeeper at the Royal Hotel, Rothesay. There were two daughters of the marriage, Margaret, born at Eastwood, and Annie. Baird played an active role in public life on the south side of Glasgow through his membership of the Glasgow Renfrewshire Society, the Govan Weavers Society, The Glasgow Southern Merchants and the Cathcart and Eastwood Farmers Association. He was also Vice-president of the Newlands Unionist Association and a member of the Eastwood Unionist Association, and a man of many other interests including joinery work, metal work, gardening and botany, philately and particularly golf as a member of the Dundonald, Gailes and Cowglen clubs; his motto in golf was 'be as square as your set-square'. These brought many useful connections. In his personal practice he was essentially cost conscious, his favourite aphorisms being 'step into your clients shoes' and 'remember it is another man's money you are spending'.

Baird died at the age of ninety on 9 February 1953 in Largs leaving moveable estate of £3,666 2s 1d.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 9134, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1889c. 1893 
Item 2 of 9261, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18941900 
Item 3 of 9134, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1904 *c. 1927 
Item 4 of 997, Constitution Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business1906 *  
Item 5 of 93, Newlands Park, Newlands, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate(?)1906 *  
Item 6 of 9Pretoria Crescent, Dunoon, Argyll, ScotlandBusiness19091915Also home?
Item 7 of 9213, West Campbell Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1931  
Item 8 of 9134, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19341935 
Item 9 of 9Bowen Craig/27, Irvine Road, Largs, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1953 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John Gordon18761881Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3John Gordon18811887Assistant(?) 
Item 3 of 3John Gordon18871901Partner(?) 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Donald John CameronAfter 1914Before 1922Assistant 
Item 2 of 2James Robin5 December 192831 May 1934Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3David Barclay11 June 1906for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3Horatio Kelson Bromhead11 June 1906for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3John Keppie11 June 1906for Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 331883Premises on the corner of Nithsdale Road and Kenmire StreetPollokshields Glasgow ScotlandAlterations to shop
Item 2 of 331884Tenement with shops at ground level  GlasgowScotlandConversion of ground floor of tenement shops
Item 3 of 331885Tenements, Maxwell Road  GlasgowScotlandConversion of ground floor into shops
Item 4 of 331886Four tenements, Leven StreetPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 331886Tenement, Cadder StreetPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 33After 1887BraemarNewlands RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 7 of 33After 1887DunstaffnageNewlands RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 8 of 33After 1887Industrial ShelterPossilpark GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 33After 1887St Joseph's Chapel SchoolTollcross GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 33After 1887St Patrick's SchoolCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 11 of 331891The MossMaxwell Park GlasgowScotland 
Item 12 of 331893Strathbungo Public SchoolStrathbungo GlasgowScotlandWith his 'late partner' (as stated in FRIBA nomination papers)
Item 13 of 331894Double villa, Pollokshaws RoadPollokshaws GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 33After 1894Joint Infectious Diseases HospitalNitshill GlasgowScotlandNew pavilion and administrative block
Item 15 of 331901WestknoweRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 16 of 331902Villa, Dalziel Drive  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 331902Villa, Dalziel Drive and Albert Drive corner  GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 331903Two tenements, Polmadie Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 331906Thirty-one houses, MarchfieldPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 20 of 331909Barrowfield Primary SchoolCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 21 of 331909Lenzie Primary SchoolLenzie Dunbartonshire/LanarkshireScotlandReconstruction and enlargement
Item 22 of 331911Camphill Picture House  GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 331911Green's Picturedrome  GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 331912Avenue Theatre  GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 331912Picture Salon  GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 3319152 George StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAlteration
Item 27 of 331916St Catherine's RC SchoolPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions
Item 28 of 331921Our Lady and St Francis RC Secondary School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 331924Martin House, Newlands Road  GlasgowScotland 
Item 30 of 331924Single-storey double villa, 14-16 St Bride's RoadNewlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 331925St Roch's RC School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 32 of 331930Shawlands AcademyShawlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 33 of 331930St Mirin's RC CathedralPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 
Item 3 of 3Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p37

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3Courtesy of Nick Gordon, great great grandson of John Gordon's brotherInformation supplied to Dictionary Sent February 2016
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Additional Information from Iain Paterson
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F v16 p146

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© All rights reserved. Building Industries 16 April 1917, p9, Who 

© All rights reserved. Building Industries 16 April 1917, p9, Who's who, (Courtesy of Iain Paterson)