Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. 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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 134, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1889 | c. 1893 | |  | 261, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1894 | 1900 | |  | 134, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1904 * | c. 1927 | |  | 97, Constitution Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | 1906 * | | |  | 3, Newlands Park, Newlands, Glasgow, Scotland | Private(?) | 1906 * | | |  | Pretoria Crescent, Dunoon, Argyll, Scotland | Business | 1909 | 1915 | Also home? |  | 213, West Campbell Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1931 | | |  | 134, Bothwell Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1934 | 1935 | |  | Bowen Craig/27, Irvine Road, Largs, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private | 1953 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | John Gordon | 1876 | 1881 | Apprentice | |  | John Gordon | 1881 | 1887 | Assistant(?) | |  | John Gordon | 1887 | 1901 | Partner(?) | |
Employees 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 |  | Donald John Cameron | After 1914 | Before 1922 | Assistant | |  | James Robin | 5 December 1928 | 31 May 1934 | Apprentice | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | David Barclay | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |  | Horatio Kelson Bromhead | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |  | John Keppie | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |
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 |  | 1883 | Premises on the corner of Nithsdale Road and Kenmire Street | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations to shop |  | 1884 | Tenement with shops at ground level | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion of ground floor of tenement shops |  | 1885 | Tenements, Maxwell Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion of ground floor into shops |  | 1886 | Four tenements, Leven Street | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1886 | Tenement, Cadder Street | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1887 | Braemar | Newlands | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | After 1887 | Dunstaffnage | Newlands | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | After 1887 | Industrial Shelter | Possilpark | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1887 | St Joseph's Chapel School | Tollcross | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1887 | St Patrick's School | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1891 | The Moss | Maxwell Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1893 | Strathbungo Public School | Strathbungo | | Glasgow | Scotland | With his 'late partner' (as stated in FRIBA nomination papers) |  | 1894 | Double villa, Pollokshaws Road | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1894 | Joint Infectious Diseases Hospital | Nitshill | | Glasgow | Scotland | New pavilion and administrative block |  | 1901 | Westknowe | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1902 | Villa, Dalziel Drive | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1902 | Villa, Dalziel Drive and Albert Drive corner | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1903 | Two tenements, Polmadie Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1906 | Thirty-one houses, Marchfield | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1909 | Barrowfield Primary School | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1909 | Lenzie Primary School | Lenzie | | Dunbartonshire/Lanarkshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and enlargement |  | 1911 | Camphill Picture House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Green's Picturedrome | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1912 | Avenue Theatre | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1912 | Picture Salon | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1915 | 2 George Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alteration |  | 1916 | St Catherine's RC School | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1921 | Our Lady and St Francis RC Secondary School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Martin House, Newlands Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Single-storey double villa, 14-16 St Bride's Road | Newlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1925 | St Roch's RC School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1930 | Shawlands Academy | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1930 | St Mirin's RC Cathedral | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | |  | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | |  | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p37 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Courtesy of Nick Gordon, great great grandson of John Gordon's brother | Information supplied to Dictionary | | Sent February 2016 |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional Information from Iain Paterson |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v16 p146 |
Images © All rights reserved. Building Industries 16 April 1917, p9, Who's who, (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) |