Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Carruthers
Designation:  
Born: 6 January 1872
Died: 26 November 1952
Bio Notes: James Carruthers was born at 17 Eglinton Place, Glasgow on 6 January 1872, the son of Robert Carruthers, cabinetmaker and his wife Jeanie or Jane Kirkland who came from Mauchline. He was articled to the prolific tenement firm of Burnet & Boston in 1886, studying at Glasgow School of Art. He remained with the same practice after completing his apprenticeship, and much of the firm's design work fell to him, which he executed in a manner influenced by John James Burnet and partner John Archibald Campbell.

Carruthers became a partner in 1901, but in 1907-8 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. He was elected LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects. By this time his travels had taken him to France, Italy, Canada and the USA, but his practice must have been at a low ebb as he was working from his home address at 16 Grantley Gardens in 1914.

Carruthers' practice recovered significantly in the 1920s and 1930s. In April 1928 he married Jeanie Aitkenhead at 335 Albert Drive, Pollokshields.

He died at his home, Earlcliffe, 1396 Pollokshaws Road on 26 November 1952.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6227, Eglinton Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1889After 1896 
Item 2 of 6180, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19011908 
Item 3 of 6147, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1910After 1911 
Item 4 of 616, Grantley Gardens, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1911After 1914 
Item 5 of 6209, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19151939 or after 1940(?) 
Item 6 of 6Earlcliffe/1396, Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19491952 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3Frank Burnet & Boston1886c. 1890Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3Frank Burnet & Bostonc. 18901901Assistant 
Item 3 of 3Burnet, Boston & Carruthers19011907 or 1908Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3Duncan Macpherson Hunter1918Before 1920Assistant 
Item 2 of 3James Taylor Gray19191923Apprentice 
Item 3 of 3Elizabeth Spittal (Mrs Edmonds)19371938Assistant(?)Office experience for two years in between studies

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Bennie Wilson20 July 1911for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects

Buildings and Designs

This 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 631898Castle Chambers and Palace Restaurant  GlasgowScotlandMainly responsible for design - as assistant to Frank Burnet & Boston
Item 2 of 63After 1898(?)F & J Smith Tobacco Factory  GlasgowScotlandProbably involved, as assistant to Burnet & Boston, but may be by James Ritchie
Item 3 of 63c. 1898(?)Paxtons Hotel  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant or possibly partner to Burnet & Boston
Item 4 of 631900Royal Bank of Scotland branch office and business premises  GlasgowScotlandCarruthers mainly responsible for design
Item 5 of 631900St George's Mansions  GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 631900Tenements for Glasgow City Improvement Trust, High Street  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Burnet & Boston
Item 7 of 63After 1900RedholmePollokshields/Dumbreck GlasgowScotlandAddition?
Item 8 of 63After 1900Wesleyan Methodist ChurchBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 9 of 631901Tenement, Parkhead Cross  GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 631901Warehouse, Dunlop Street and Howard Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 63After 1901Summerlee Iron Company's Building  GlasgowScotland 
Item 12 of 631902Business Premises, corner of West Nile Street and Drury Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 631902Business Premises, corner of West Nile Street and Drury Street (South cornner)  GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 631902Coach Works  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 15 of 631902Herriot Hill Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandAdditions on St James Road (£3,500)
Item 16 of 631902Parkholm Bakery  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 631902Public house and shop with flats over for George Honeyman Farmer  GlasgowScotlandRevised scheme
Item 18 of 631902SmithstoneKilwinning AyrshireScotlandAddition
Item 19 of 631903Bakery for R A Peacock and Son  GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 631903City Improvement Trust Buildings, High Street and Bell Street  GlasgowScotlandMansard attic, extensive alterations
Item 21 of 631903Dalmarnock Iron WorksDalmarnock GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 22 of 631903Gordon Chambers  GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 631903Herriot Hill Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandFurther additions (£15,000)
Item 24 of 631903Scottish Amicable Building  GlasgowScotlandTop floor added
Item 25 of 631903Tenements, Dumbarton Road, Vine Street and Merkland Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 631903Tenements, High Street and Duke Street  GlasgowScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 27 of 631903Union BankDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 28 of 631903Workshops, High Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 63190416 Buchanan Street  GlasgowScotland4th floor and above added
Item 30 of 63190439 Sherbrooke AvenuePollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 63190488 Renfield Street  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 32 of 631904Campbellfield Twisting Works  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 33 of 631904Glasgow Cabinet Works  GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 631904Matheran HousePollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 35 of 631904McLellan Art Gallery and warehouse  GlasgowScotlandRemodelling of interior, shopfronts, dome at Rose Street corner
Item 36 of 631905Drill Hall and Headquarters for the Royal Naval Reserve BrigadeGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 37 of 631905Engineering Works  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 38 of 631905Glasgow Cabinet Works  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 39 of 631905Great George Street/ Kersland Road Tenement  GlasgowScotlandSuperseded by John Nisbet after construction was begun.
Item 40 of 631905HeathbankHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations to house and new coach house
Item 41 of 631905Workshops, High Street  GlasgowScotlandFurther work after fire in 1905.
Item 42 of 63c. 190515-31 Duke Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 43 of 63c. 1905City Improvement Trust tenements  GlasgowScotlandHS attribution
Item 44 of 631906Canning Place Public School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 45 of 631906Dalmarnock Iron WorksDalmarnock GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 46 of 631906Tenements, Dalnair Street and Esmond Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 47 of 631907BrincliffeHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 48 of 631907Fountain in memory of John and Thomas Hamilton, Maxwell ParkMaxwell Park GlasgowScotland 
Item 49 of 631907Hughenden House  GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 631907Motor Works  GlasgowScotland 
Item 51 of 631907Two-storey house, Kennedy DriveHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 52 of 631908Garnethill Established ChurchGarnethill GlasgowScotland 
Item 53 of 631911Housing Blackley EstateBlackley ManchesterEnglandArchitectural Competition Second place. Premium £100
Item 54 of 631915Paisley Burgh School Board adminstration officesPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 55 of 631923123-133 Sauchiehall Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 56 of 631930Municipal OfficesDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 57 of 631930Town Hall and Municipal OfficesDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandAwarded first premium in competition
Item 58 of 631931Dumfries Municipal ChambersDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 59 of 631931Saxone Shoe Company Ltd  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction
Item 60 of 631931White's Restaurant, 19 Gordon Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 61 of 631934Warehouse and other buildings for Messrs Wood & SelbySt George's Cross GlasgowScotlandWarehouse and other additions
Item 62 of 631935Gas showroom, 54-64 West Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 63 of 631935Springburn Church  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecture   
Item 2 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1914    
Item 4 of 4www.glasgowsculpture.com2005www.glasgowsculpture.com Website of 'Glasgow - City of Scultpure', co-produced by Gary Nisbet and Tim Gardner 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research by Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v16 no1173