Basic Biographical Details Name: | Frank Burnet & Boston | Designation: | | Born: | 1889 | Died: | After 1951 | Bio Notes: | Frank Burnet was born in 1846 in Melrose in Roxburghshire, the son of a builder, Francis Burnet, and his wife Janet Learmonth. He was educated at Melrose Parish School and Glasgow School of Art. He learned the business of building with his father, but in 1871 he joined the office of John Carrick, the City Master of Works in Glasgow, dealing with Dean of Guild and the New Buildings Department there and gaining experience of tenement design for the City Improvement Trust and forming contacts which were to be useful later. In or about 1877 he spent a year abroad travelling as far as Egypt and the Holy Land. In 1878 he commenced practice on his own account, his main business being tenements of which the firm built 540 between 1884 and 1906 in Dalmarnock, Parkhead, Alexandra Place, Queen's Park, Battlefield and Woodside, many of them were for himself and other members of the Burnet family. Others were for private clients, often in the licensed trade together with a number of schemes erected under the Artisans Dwelling Act. Their output was exceeded only by J C McKellar who built 640 between 1890 and 1910. Burnet also did considerable work as a valuator and witness in railway and property compensation cases and also as an arbiter and oversman in arbitration cases.
In August 1889 Burnet took into partnership his assistant, William James Boston, born in Tradeston on 9 June 1861 the son of Thomas Boston, artist seal-engraver, but the character of the practice did not significantly change except for a marked growth in industrial clients in the engineering, baking and printing trades. The firm moved rapidly into the premier league in 1897-98, largely as a result of distilling and licensed trade connections, but the actual design work was by then mainly in the hands of James Carruthers who designed in a manner influenced by John James Burnet - to whom Frank was not related - and Burnet's partner John A Campbell; Carruthers had entered the firm as an apprentice in 1886, studied at Glasgow School of Art and subsequently travelled in France, Itlay, Canada and the USA. He was briefly a partner from 1901 until 1908 when a sudden decline in the volume of business seems to have brought about his leaving to set up practice on his own account at 147 Bath Street. The practice then reverted to being Frank Burnet & Boston.
Frank Burnet married Mary Russell McGregor, and their son Frank Russell Burnet was born on 26 June 1891 in Kilmacolm. He was educated at Fettes College from 1906 to 1909 and subsequently at Glasgow School of Architecture, and served his articles in his father's firm. He served as a Major in France with the Royal Garrison Artillery from 1916 to 1918, and commenced practice as a partner in his father's firm in 1919. He married Margaret Roxburgh Taylor, daughter of the former architect, later politician, Sir Andrew Thomas Taylor, in 1920.
Neither Burnet nor Boston ever sought membership of the RIBA; Carruthers sought election as a Licentiate in 1911 after he left the practice. Frank Burnet died on 6 February 1923 at Earlston, Kilmacolm. Boston, who had married Elizabeth Frith Watson in 1910, died of influenza, bronchitis and vascular problems at Glenlee, Clarkston, Glasgow on 1 February 1937. The practice was continued thereafter by Frank Russell Burnet who then took James Bell into partnership, although the practice title remained unchanged as Frank Burnet & Boston until 1961 when it became Frank Burnet, Bell & Partners. Bell had been born on 14 September 1910 and had been articled to James Miller of Glasgow from 1927 to 1932, concurrently studying at Glasgow University where he was awarded a second-class honours BSc in 1931 and at the Royal Technical College where he received his diploma in 1932. He had been admitted ARIBA in the latter year, his proposers being Miller, Thomas Harold Hughes and George Arthur Boswell. He had remained with Miller until 1934, when he had joined Frank Burnet & Boston as an assistant.
During the Second World War Bell commanded 554 Field Company the Royal Engineers and was awarded the DSO and mentioned in dispatches. While he was on war service Burnet opened an office in Greenock in 1943. In the post-war years he and Bell had a very large practice in which they were assisted by Hamish Hill and James Rennie. From 1975 William Douglas joined as partner. Bell and Burnet were both elected FRIBA on 10 February 1948, both proposed by Alexander Nisbet Malcolm, William McCrea and James Steel Maitland.
Burnet was active in public life, serving in 1934-35 as Deacon of Masons. This post was also held by Bell, who was active in both public and professional life, being a member of the RIBA Council, vice-chairman of the Governors of Glasgow School of Art, member of convocation of the University of Strathclyde, chairman of the Governors of Kelvinside Academy and Controller of Civil Defence for Bute.
Bell died at the early age of fifty-six on 19 April 1967. Burnet died in June 1980 at Port Glasgow, his normal residence being Enterkin at Kilmacolm.
(NB: See Burnet, Boston and Carruthers for works executed between 1901 and 1907.) | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 69, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1888 | 1891 | | | 180, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1897 | After 1948 | | | 2, Wallace Place, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Business | 1953 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | After 1889 | Whitehall Restaurant | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1890 | Victoria Bolt & Rivet Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1891 | Campbellfield Twisting Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extensions | | 1891 | Miller's Bakery | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | With W B Whitie | | 1893 | Kelvindale Mills | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Store | | 1895 | Terraced houses, Glencairn Drive and Shields Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1896 | 176-178 Hope Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1896 | Business premises and tenements, Wellington Street and Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1896 | Warehouse, Brunswick Lane | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1897 | 188-190 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1897 | Bonded Store, Ballater Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1897 | Robert Sinclair's Warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1898 | 96-100 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations or additions, perhaps not executed | | 1898 | Carlton Buildings | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1898 | Castle Chambers and Palace Restaurant | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1898 | Clyde Rivet Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1898(?) | F & J Smith Tobacco Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably involved, but may be by James Ritchie | | c. 1898(?) | Paxtons Hotel | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably involved, but may be by James Ritchie | | 1899 | Herriot Hill Printing Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions, mansard attic. | | 1899 | Oil works for Rowley & Dick | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1899 | Public house and shop with flats over for George Honeyman Farmer | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original scheme | | 1900 | Battlefield Gardens Tenements | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | Battlefield Road Tenements | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | Campbellfield Twisting Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1900 | City Flint Glass Works and Hecla Foundry | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | Royal Bank of Scotland branch office and business premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | Sinclair Drive Tenements | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | St George's Mansions | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | Tenements for Glasgow City Improvement Trust, High Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | Tenements, Govan Road and Shaw Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1900 | Royal Avenue Mansions | Campbeltown | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1901 | Seven tenements | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1902 | Business Premises, corner of West Nile Street and Drury Street (South cornner) | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1907 | Herbertshire Castle | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1908 | Acme Machine Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Mansard addition | | 1908 | Garnethill Established Church | Garnethill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1910 | City Manure Office, Parliamentary Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations to stables. | | 1910 | Offices, Port Dundas Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1911 | Bonded Warehouses, Borron Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1911 | Box Factory, William Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1911 | Fa'side House | Mearns | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Addition | | 1911 | Premises, New Sneddon Street and Wallace Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1911 | Royal Exchange Assurance Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1911 | St George's Horse Bazaar | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Roofing and courtyard | | 1912 | Auchinbrae, Newark Drive | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Summerhouse and garage added | | 1912 | Green's Picturedrome | Possil | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1912 | Hydepark Bakery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Stables | | 1912 | Tenements, Gallowgate and Graham Square | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1912 | Warehouse, Mitchell Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1913 | Castle Mearns | | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1913 | Port Dundas Distillery | Port Dundas | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rebuilding | | 1914 | Commercial Bank | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1914 | Stables, Dobbie's Loan | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Roofing of courtyard | | 1914 | Tobacco factory, Tobago Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1914 | Tramcar shelter, Battlefield Rest | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1914 | Tramway Offices, Bath Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Large extensions | | 1914 | Warehouse, Sussex Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | With Bruce & Hay | | After 1919 | Commercial Union Assurance Building, Stockwell Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1919 | Union Bank | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1919 | Union Bank of Scotland, Hope Street branch | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1923 | Premises, Trongate, Stockwell Street and Osborne Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1929 | Commercial Union Assurance Building, St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1930s | Greenock Ice Rink | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1931 | Ferguson Ltd's premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1931 | Mill Church, suite of halls | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1933 | Bank of Scotland, Maryhill | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1934 | Buildings in New Lanark for Gourock Ropework Company | New Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Premises in Braxfield Road | New Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Bank of Scotland, Possilpark | Possilpark | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1935 | Building for the Distillers Company | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction and extension | | 1935 | Factory for Kennedy Robertson & Co., Renfrew Court | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1935 | Workshop for W & J Martin | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New buildings | | 1936 | RC School | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1936 | St Columba's School | Kilmacolm/Kilmalcolm | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Union Bank | Battlefield, Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1936 | Cardonald Cemetery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Gates etc | | 1937 | J R W Laing Showrooms | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1937 | Royal Bank Of Scotland | Springtown | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1937 | Smiths (Wools) Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New extension 1937, Alterations and additions 1948 | | After 1937 | Clerical Medical & General Offices | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1937 | Housing scheme | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | | After 1937 | Paisley Ice Rink | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | After 1937 | R Wylie Hill's warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | After 1937 | Royal Bank of Scotland branches | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Unspecified work | | 1938 | Hotel | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1939 | Engineering Centre | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1939 | Glasgow Royal Asylum for Lunatics | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | After 1939 | Housing estate | Port Glasgow | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | After 1939 | Industrial Estate | Port Glasgow | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Unspecified works | | After 1939 | Industrial Estate | Uddingston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Unspecified work | | After 1939 | Industrial Estate | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Unspecified work | | After 1939 | Royal Bank of Scotland | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | After 1939 | Royal Hospital for Sick Children | Yorkhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1940 | Hillhead Picture House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1947 | Killin Ltd Nitsdale Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1948 | Finlayson (Confectioners) Limited Premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | alterations and additions | | 1948 | Housing Uddingston | Uddington | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1948 | Old Men’s and Women’s Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1948 | Premises Astoria Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and Additions | | 1948 | Works Canteen Ashtree Road | | | Glasgow | | | | 1950 | Belvidere Hospital | | | Glasgow | Scotland | To make plans for additions (to Belvedere Hospital) | | 1950 | Works for William Kemp & Co, Dundass and Cunningham Streets | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1974 | National Water Sports Training Centre | Millport | Great Cumbrae | Bute | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glasgow Contemporaries | 1901 | Glasgow Contemporaries at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century | | | | | Hume, John R | 1974 | Industrial Archaeology of Glasgow | | Glasgow & London: Blackie | | | Kenna and Mooney | 1983 | People's Palaces | | | | | McKean, Charles | 1987 | The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction | | Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1926 | | | | | | Worsdall, Frank | 1979 | The Tenement | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 12 February 1937 | | | Obituary of Boston | | Builder | 19 May 1950 | | | p692 | | Builder | 25 August 1950 | | | p263 | | Glasgow Herald | 3 February 1937 | | | p14 Obituary of Boston |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | 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 |
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