Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Bell II | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 1854 | Died: | 18 October 1915 | Bio Notes: | George Bell II was born in 1854 in Springburn at Lower Mosesfield, the son of George Bell (1814-87) of the firm Clarke & Bell and his Beatrice Turnbull. He was articled to his father's firm in October 1869; attended Glasgow School of Art 1869-74, studying under the supervision of Robert Greenlees; and became a partner in 1880. Like Charles Kinnear and David MacGibbon, he was an enthusiastic volunteer. He joined the 3rd Lanarkshire Rifles as a private but obtained a commission in the 1st Lanarkshire Artillery, retiring as their Colonel in 1893. He was elected FRIBA on 3 December 1906 his proposers being John James Burnet, Thomas Lennox Watson, John Keppie, James Milne Monro and C J MacLean.
Although George Bell II was a friend of William Landless, this did not lead to a partnership. From 1874 onwards, Clarke & Bell were in a loose partnership with Robert Alexander Bryden. Bryden was appointed as architect for the new Glasgow Technical College, for which he prepared a design in 1892. However, he failed to retain the commission; and when a limited competition was held in early 1901, the invitation was to George Bell II who submitted a design by his principal assistant James Hoey Craigie which was placed second by the professional staff. This may have been one of the factors which led to the Clarke & Bell & R A Bryden practice being dissolved. Bell certainly seems by 1902 to have been concerned to secure Craigie's position within the firm, as his Graeco-Baroque was more in touch with the times than Bryden's free Renaissance and better able to compete with Burnet, Campbell and Sandilands; Bell took Craigie into partnership on 1 January 1905.
George Bell II married Florence Elizabeth Miller and they had three children, Florence, Beatrice and George (III). He was President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects in 1903 and again in 1909-10. Along with Alexander Wingate, Bell was appointed Glasgow Institute of Architects representative to the Architectural Department of the Royal Technical College in 1913. He died on 18 October 1915, at 71 Ann Street, Glasgow of diabetes and gangrene of the foot. He left moveable estate of only £1,583. 1. 7, although he probably owned significant heritable property. The practice was continued by his son George Bell III under the same name, Clarke & Bell & J H Craigie. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 212, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1888 * | | |  | 4, Viewfield Terrace, Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1888 | 1915 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA 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 |  | | Blackburn, feuing plan | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Date unknown (1915 plans appear to be by another hand), therefore it is uncertain which partners were involved |  | 1880 | Skibo Castle | Skibo | | Sutherland | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | 1883 | Paisley County Buildings (Sheriff Court), Meeting Room and Offices | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Won in competition |  | 1884 | Arkleton House | Langholm | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations - HS suggests that house might be by Andrew MacQueen and gives NMRS as reference |  | 1884 | Dalnair House | Drymen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Buildings of Scotland wrongly ascribes this to James Bell, as does HS List |  | 1884 | Dalnair House Lodge | Drymen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1885 | Adamton | Monkton | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1886 | 42-50 Gordon Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1889 | Jubilee Fountain | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Primarily responsible |  | 1890 | Paisley County Buildings (Sheriff Court), Meeting Room and Offices | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Extension in St James Street (making the façade asymmetrical) |  | 1890 | Redheugh | Kilbirnie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Additions |  | 1890 | Titwood Bowling Club | Titwood | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1890 | Royal Bank of Scotland, Candleriggs | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1890(?) | Schools | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1891 or 1892(?) | School for Glasgow School Board | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1892 | City and County Buildings and second Merchants' House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction of former Council Chambers and Municipal Buildings on Ingram Street as Sheriff Courts |  | 1892 | Tenements, Garnet Street and Buccleuch Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1892 | Bagatelle | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1892 or 1892 | Homes | Nitshill | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1893 | City Sawmills | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1894 | Fyfe Chambers | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1894 | MacSorley's Bar Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1894 | Warehousing and Bank of Scotland at ground floor | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1894 | Higher Grade Secondary School | Duns | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | 1895 | Drill Hall and Headquarters for 1st Lanark Rifles | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Further work |  | After 1895 | Warehouse for H Morrison | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1897 | A & G Thomson's Warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations to create restaurant |  | After 1897 | Port Glasgow improvement scheme | Port Glasgow | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1898 | North British Daily Mail Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1900 | Adamton | Monkton | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Additions |  | Late 1900 or early 1901 | Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design submitted after invitation - Bell submitted his principal assistant J H Craigie's design rather than one by himself - unsuccessful but placed second by professional staff |  | 1901 | Workshop, Commerce Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rebuilding after a fire |  | 1902 | Tenement, Causeyside and Orchard Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1903 | Kelvinhaugh Sawmills | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Water tower |  | 1904 | Caledonia Foundry, Office block for Kerr & Co | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1904 | Two blocks of tenements including Hayburn Vaults Bar | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1904 | Warehouse for Philip McSorley/MacSorley | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1906 | Public Bar and Billiard Hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | Before 1906 | Villas, Pollokshields | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1908 | Marble cutting works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1908 | The Grant Arms | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Complete remodelling |  | 1909 | Hamilton Academy (and house at school) | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Architectural Competition |  | 1910 | Justiciary Court Houses | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Complete rebuilding retaining portico |  | 1912 | Corona Bar | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1912 | St Mary's Parish Church | Kirkintilloch | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1913 | Baltic Wire and Metal Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 19 December 1913 | | | p 670 |  | Builder | 1915 | 109 | | p312 Obituary |  | Building Industries | 16 November 1915 | | | |  | RIBA Journal | 6 November 1915 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p16 |  | The Bailie | 10 September 1902 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | 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 v17 p69 no1131 (microfilm reel 12) |
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