Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Baird & Thomson | Designation: | Architectural practice | Started: | 1858 | Ended: | c. 1942(?) | Bio Notes: | John Baird (called by Gildard 'Primus' to distinguish him from the second John Baird, 1816-93) was born in 1798 at Dalmuir, the son of Thomas Baird, wright, and his wife Agnes. He was articled to a relative, Shepherd, who died in 1818 and Baird, only twenty and just out of his apprenticeship, took over the business and quickly built up a reputation second only to David Hamilton's.
Baird's style is marked by an extreme classical reserve and severity. From the very first his architecture was remarkably mature as could be seen at Greyfriars Church, a design not without originality. His style changed little, the posthumously completed Gartsherrie Office being far more like 1820 than 1860. Only at the McDonald Muslin Warehouses was his commercial architecture notably Italian Renaissance rather than classical. The possibilities of iron made a strong appeal to his essentially practical mind and in 1855-56 he erected the Iron Building on Jamaica Street Glasgow in conjunction with the iron-founder Robert McConnell who held the patents for the malleable iron beams used in its construction. Even in his later Gothic work he clung tenaciously to the style of the 1820s, his mansion at Urie, Kincardineshire (1855) being in the late Tudor idiom evolved by Wilkins and Burn forty years before. He refused to take part in competitions, and earned a reputation for attention to detail, probity and honesty, which brought him many commissions as valuer and arbiter.
In his private life Baird was a mason, Lodge Glasgow St John. A portrait of him by Sir Daniel Macnee (now in Glasgow Art Gallery) bears out Gildard's characterisation of him as 'a large well-built man' who 'had a presence of one that ought to be in authority'. He died at Westfield, Partick on 18 December 1859 and was buried in Glasgow Necropolis (Section Sigma lair 84). He was survived by his wife Janet Bryson or McKean, whom he had married in 1837 and who died on 24 April 1887, and his two daughters, Flora (born c. 1838) and Agnes (born c.1841).
Baird had suffered from chronic brain disease from 1855 until his death and most of the work from that period must have been effectively designed by his assistant James Thomson. Thomson had been born in Glasgow in 1835, the son of Hugh Thomson, builder and Jane Hosie. He had been articled to James Brown of Brown and Carrick c.1850. When Brown inherited the estate of Currie and the partnership was dissolved, Thomson appears to have secured a place in Baird's office, but there may have been an intervening employer as his RIBA nomination paper gives no details. Baird had taken Thomson into partnership in 1858, but the firm did not adopt the style of Baird & Thomson until after Baird died, when Thomson inherited the practice. The delay was probably to avoid confusion with the recently dissolved partnership of John Baird the Second and Alexander Thomson, but the retention of Baird's name after 1859 was not only a matter of continuity but of distinguishing the practice from that of another James Thomson in West Nile Street. Thomson briefly continued Baird's experiments in cast-iron facades with McConnal patent beams in the early 1860s but thereafter his practice, which was amongst the very largest in Scotland, focused on commercial architecture, pioneering the concept of large city office blocks with shops built for rental. These tended to be an astylar Italian Renaissance which became richer in details in the early 1890s, if somewhat repetitive in composition. He was admitted FRIBA on 3 June 1878, his proposers being John Honeyman, John Burnet and Charles Barry Junior.
Thomson married Isobel (or Isabella) Miller Aitken and they had three children: Isobel Thomson (born c. 1868), James Baird Thomson (born in 1869 or 1870) and William Aitken Thomson (born 21 September 1871). James Baird Thomson was probably educated at the Albany Academy, and joined the practice as an articled apprentice in October 1887. He became an assistant in 1891 when he designed the British Linen Bank at Whiteinch and an addition to Crossbasket House. In October 1888 he was joined by his brother William Aitken Thomson, who is known to have been educated at Albany Academy. William became an assistant in 1892 when he undertook the working drawings for the Schaw Convalescent Home at Bearsden, presumably from sketch designs by his father. Both sons were made partners in May 1899.
James Thomson senior died on 12 February 1905 at 30 Lynedoch Street, Glasgow of syncope following a gastric haemorrhage resulting from hepatic cirrhosis, and was buried in Glasgow Necropolis (Section Epsilon lair 444). He left moveable estate of £41,792 1s 4d. His second wife, Margaret Elizabeth Aitken from Torphichen, survived him.
The practice was continued by his sons, both of whom were admitted FRIBA on 3 December 1906, their proposers being James Milne Monro and John James Burnet. Their nomination papers helpfully list their work separately indicating that James Baird Thomson was responsible for the free Renaissance Cambridge buildings and the severe warehouse designs and William Aitken Thomson the German Renaissance elevator buildings. There is no indication of either brother having studied at Glasgow School of Art or having travelled, although William probably had as contemporary accounts correctly state that the details of the Council building were taken from the Ritter Inn at Heidelberg. By 1906 the Clydesdale Bank had became an important client.
Some time before 1914 James Baird Thomson's health failed and he retired to Florida Mount, New Brighton, Cheshire, where he died on 5 June 1917. He was buried in the family lair in Glasgow Necropolis, his gravestone indicating that he had been married to Isobel Aitken Swan. His brother William Aitken Thomson continued the practice from the same office until 1929 when he relocated it to 150 Holland Street, probably to cut costs in the recession. In 1942-43 the practice was taken over by Weddel & Thomson on William Aitken Thomson's retirement. His main client in the inter-war years was the Clydesdale Bank, his last buildings being in a modern manner.
William Aitken Thomson died of cancer of the larynx on 26 November 1947 at 2 Queen's Gate, 125 Dowanhill Street, and was buried in the family lair in Glasgow Necropolis. He was survived by his wife Margaret Watson Christie (who died on 6 February 1952) and a son, Alexander M S Thomson. Another son, William James Thomson, had died on 25 February 1927 at the early age of seventeen. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architectural practice: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 175, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1860 | 1867 | |  | 61, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1868 * | | |  | 201, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1868 | 1877 | |  | 88, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1877 | 1928 or 1929 | |  | 150, Holland Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1929 or 1930 | 1942 or 1943 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and DesignsThis architectural practice 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 |  | | Carbrook House | | | | Scotland | Date unknown |  | | Montgomerie Drive | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Layout only - date unknown |  | 1857 | Breacachadh New Castle | | Coll | Argyll | Scotland | Crenallations added to the central block and the wings. |  | 1858 | Crown Circus | | | Glasgow | Scotland | In partnership |  | c. 1858 | Victoria Terrace | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1859 | British Linen Bank, West George Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1859 | Commercial building, 138-140 West George Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Completed shortly after Baird's death. |  | 1859(?) | Gartsherrie Offices | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1860s | Ashton Terrace | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1861 | Greenock Provident Bank | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1862 | Premises, 94 High Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1863 | 217-221 Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | With Robert McConnell, ironfounder |  | 1864 | Gallowflat House | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1865(?) | City Poorhouse | Craiglockhart | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Second premiated competition design (£100 premium) - unclear whether James Thomson of Baird & Thomson or James Thomson of West Nile Street |  | 1866 | Belhaven Terrace East | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Nos 1-16 |  | 1870 | 1-12 Princes Terrace | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1870 | Belhaven Terrace West | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1871 | Orr Ewing Building, West George Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1871 | Tenements with shops, Bridgeton Cross | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1872 | City of Glasgow Bank Branch | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1873 | Crown Terrace | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Nos 3-11 |  | 1873 | Warehouse, 26-34 Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1874 | Abraham Hill's Trust School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1874 | Queen's Park Free Church and hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1875 | 1 and 5-8 Queen's Gardens | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1875 | Hozier Street School | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions |  | 1875 | Hunter Barr and Co's Premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1875 | Thomson Street School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1876 | 101-103 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1876 | Offices and shops, 130-136 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1877 | Crossmyloof School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1878 | Garnethill School | Garnethill | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1878 | MacLean's Hotel | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1878 | Scottish Union and National Insurance, West George Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1879 | Royalty Theatre and Commercial Premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Designed complex of commercial premises comprising offices and warehouses over shops. |  | 1880 | 71-79 Buchanan Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1880 | Crown Terrace | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Nos 12-17 |  | 1880 | Grand Hotel, Charing Cross | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1880 | 78-82 Union Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1882 | Sick Children's Dispensary | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Unsuccessful competition design |  | 1883 | Balfunning House | Balfron | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | House and probably East Lodge and stable |  | c. 1883 | 1-9 Marlborough Terrace | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1885 | 111-113 West Regent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1885 | Hartwood Asylum | Shotts | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Unsuccessful competition design |  | c. 1885 | Gartshore House | Twechar | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1885 | Lorraine Gardens | | | Glasgow | Scotland | (in partnership with James Baird Thomson and William Aitken Thomson) |  | 1886 | Belmont Castle | Meigle | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and extension of late-18th-century castellated house after fire; interior fitted out with French boiseries by decorators from Paris; new stable court built |  | 1886 | Tenement, Forth Street | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1886 | Tenement, Forth Street | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1887 | 71-79 Buchanan Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Partial rebuilding, and addition of attic |  | 1889 | Shop and warehouse for Matthew Pettigrew | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1890 | Birkwood House | Lesmahagow | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations and addition of new wing |  | 1890 | Logan School of Domestic Economy | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1890 | Standard Life Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1890 | Royal Glasgow Asylum for the Blind | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Workshops, school and residential blocks |  | 1891 | British Linen Bank | Whiteinch | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1891 | Crossbasket House | High Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1891 | Glasgow Necropolis, Monument to Charles Clark MacKirdy | Dennistoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1891 | Schaw Convalescent Home | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1892 | Clydesdale Bank | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |  | 1892 | Clydesdale Bank, 340-344 Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1893 | 65 Carlton Place | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion to bank |  | 1893 | Lightburn Infectious Deseases Hospital | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1894 | Beaconsfield | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions - including tower |  | 1894 | Kinnaird House | Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1894 | St George's Church Hall, 25 Bath Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Hall added |  | 1894 | Winton Buildings | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1895 | Overtoun House, West Lodge and gatepiers | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1895 | Woodfield Mansion House | | | Edinburgh (near) | Scotland | |  | c. 1895 | Glasgow Necropolis, Monument to Neilson of Arnewood | Dennistoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1896 | Lancashire Insurance Company Offices, West George Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1896 | Lesmahagow Cemetery, Monument to the late General David Elliot MacKirdy | Lesmahagow | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1897 | Auchinraith House | Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | Before 1897 | Buildings for the Old Man's Friend Society | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | Building for William Connall & Co | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | Cambridge Buildings, 202-212 Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | Clydesdale Bank | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Ground floor rebuilt |  | 1898 | Drymen Parish Church | Drymen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1898 | Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901 | Kelvingrove | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - unplaced ('James Thomson' responsible - it is unclear whether this James Thomson or another was responsible) |  | 1898 | Kilmaronock Church | Kilmaronock | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Alterations, including refurnshing |  | 1898 | Muirhead & Company, 200 Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | New Factory, 110-112 Ingram Street and Montrose Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | St Vincent Chambers | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1899 | Clydesdale Bank | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1899 | Clydesdale Bank | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | James Baird Thomson mainly responsible |  | 1899 | Dumbarton Municipal Buildings | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | In partnership |  | 1899 | Liverpool London and Globe Insurance Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1899 | Buildings for the Old Man's Friend Society | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions and alterations |  | After 1899 | Clydesdale Bank | Beith | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | After 1899 | Clydesdale Bank | Castle Douglas | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | |  | 1900 | Bridgegate Parish Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design made. In partnership |  | 1900 | Feuing plan of Mirrlees estate | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1900 | Glasgow Royal Infirmary | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - unplaced |  | 1900 | Great Western Hotel and Terrace | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Alterations and installation of lift (with electric motor house at rear of hotel) |  | 1900 | Standard Life Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Minor alterations |  | 1902 | Clydesdale Bank | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1902 | UF Church Hall | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Church hall and link to church |  | 1903 | North British Hotel | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and top floor. |  | 1904 | Clydesdale Bank | Bo'ness / Borrowstouness | | West Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1904 | Tobacco Warehouse, James Watt Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions - new Brown Street façade |  | 1905 | Clydesdale Bank | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1905 | Clydesdale Bank | Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Addition |  | 1906 | Buildings for the McAlpin Nursing Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1908 | 36 Jamaica Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1908 | Clydesdale Bank | Bridge of Weir | | Renfrewshire | | |  | 1908 | Royal Glasgow Cancer Hospital, McAlpin Nursing Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1909 | Standard Life Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Top storeys added |  | 1913 | Clydesdale Bank, 10-12 James Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and enlargement |  | 1914 | Wire Rope Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1915 | Clydesdale Bank | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | New premises |  | 1920 | Clydesdale Bank | Kilbirnie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1924 | UF Church, Berryknowes Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Clydesdale Bank | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1933 | Clydesdale Bank | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Clydesdale Bank, 163-165 Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Clydesdale Bank, St Enoch Square | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Clydesdale Bank, Wellington Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Bank of Scotland | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Clydesdale Bank | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Clydesdale Bank | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Clydesdale Bank | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1936 | Clydesdale Bank | Troon | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Clydesdale Bank | Saltcoats | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1939 | Clydesdale Bank | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1967 | Wellpark School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architectural practice: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p83 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architectural practice: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 18 February 1905 | | | Obituary of James Thomson Senior |  | The Bailie | 18 June 1890 | | | |  | The Bailie | 20 January 1897 | | | |
Images © All rights reserved. The Bailie 18 June 1890 or 20 January 1897 (to be checked) (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) |