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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 227, Eglinton Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1889 | After 1896 | | | 180, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1901 | 1908 | | | 147, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1910 | After 1911 | | | 16, Grantley Gardens, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1911 | After 1914 | | | 209, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1915 | 1939 or after 1940(?) | | | Earlcliffe/1396, Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1949 | 1952 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Bennie Wilson | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects |
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 | | 1898 | Castle Chambers and Palace Restaurant | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Mainly responsible for design - as assistant to Frank Burnet & Boston | | After 1898(?) | F & J Smith Tobacco Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably involved, as assistant to Burnet & Boston, but may be by James Ritchie | | c. 1898(?) | Paxtons Hotel | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As assistant or possibly partner to Burnet & Boston | | 1900 | Royal Bank of Scotland branch office and business premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Carruthers mainly responsible for design | | 1900 | St George's Mansions | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1900 | Tenements for Glasgow City Improvement Trust, High Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As assistant to Burnet & Boston | | After 1900 | Redholme | Pollokshields/Dumbreck | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition? | | After 1900 | Wesleyan Methodist Church | Barrhead | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1901 | Tenement, Parkhead Cross | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1901 | Warehouse, Dunlop Street and Howard Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | After 1901 | Summerlee Iron Company's Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1902 | Business Premises, corner of West Nile Street and Drury Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1902 | Business Premises, corner of West Nile Street and Drury Street (South cornner) | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1902 | Coach Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1902 | Herriot Hill Printing Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions on St James Road (£3,500) | | 1902 | Parkholm Bakery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1902 | Public house and shop with flats over for George Honeyman Farmer | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Revised scheme | | 1902 | Smithstone | Kilwinning | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Addition | | 1903 | Bakery for R A Peacock and Son | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1903 | City Improvement Trust Buildings, High Street and Bell Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Mansard attic, extensive alterations | | 1903 | Dalmarnock Iron Works | Dalmarnock | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1903 | Gordon Chambers | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1903 | Herriot Hill Printing Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Further additions (£15,000) | | 1903 | Scottish Amicable Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Top floor added | | 1903 | Tenements, Dumbarton Road, Vine Street and Merkland Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1903 | Tenements, High Street and Duke Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1903 | Union Bank | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1903 | Workshops, High Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1904 | 16 Buchanan Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | 4th floor and above added | | 1904 | 39 Sherbrooke Avenue | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1904 | 88 Renfield Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1904 | Campbellfield Twisting Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1904 | Glasgow Cabinet Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1904 | Matheran House | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1904 | McLellan Art Gallery and warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Remodelling of interior, shopfronts, dome at Rose Street corner | | 1905 | Drill Hall and Headquarters for the Royal Naval Reserve Brigade | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1905 | Engineering Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1905 | Glasgow Cabinet Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1905 | Great George Street/ Kersland Road Tenement | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Superseded by John Nisbet after construction was begun. | | 1905 | Heathbank | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Alterations to house and new coach house | | 1905 | Workshops, High Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Further work after fire in 1905. | | c. 1905 | 15-31 Duke Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1905 | City Improvement Trust tenements | | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution | | 1906 | Canning Place Public School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1906 | Dalmarnock Iron Works | Dalmarnock | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | | 1906 | Tenements, Dalnair Street and Esmond Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1907 | Brincliffe | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1907 | Fountain in memory of John and Thomas Hamilton, Maxwell Park | Maxwell Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1907 | Hughenden House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1907 | Motor Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1907 | Two-storey house, Kennedy Drive | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1908 | Garnethill Established Church | Garnethill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1911 | Housing Blackley Estate | Blackley | | Manchester | England | Architectural Competition Second place. Premium £100 | | 1915 | Paisley Burgh School Board adminstration offices | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1923 | 123-133 Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1930 | Municipal Offices | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | | 1930 | Town Hall and Municipal Offices | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Awarded first premium in competition | | 1931 | Dumfries Municipal Chambers | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1931 | Saxone Shoe Company Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1931 | White's Restaurant, 19 Gordon Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1934 | Warehouse and other buildings for Messrs Wood & Selby | St George's Cross | | Glasgow | Scotland | Warehouse and other additions | | 1935 | Gas showroom, 54-64 West Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Springburn Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A | 1996 | A History of Scottish Architecture | | | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | | | www.glasgowsculpture.com | 2005 | www.glasgowsculpture.com | | Website of 'Glasgow - City of Scultpure', co-produced by Gary Nisbet and Tim Gardner | |
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 | | Research by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v16 no1173 |
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