Basic Biographical Details

Name: Herbert Mayer Barker
Designation:  
Born: 23 February 1877
Died: 2 April 1942
Bio Notes: Herbert Mayer Barker was born in Aberdeen on 23 February 1877, son of Henry Martyn Barker, MA LLD. He was articled to Alexander Marshall Mackenzie from 1897 to 1901, studying at Gray's School of Art and reading Mechanics under David Reunet, and in the latter year he moved to Glasgow as assistant to Donald A Matheson, Engineer-in-Chief to the Caledonian Railway Company, continuing his studies at the Royal Technical College there. It is believed that he also studied at some point at Glasgow High School. He went to London in 1903 as assistant in the office of Niven & Wigglesworth, where he worked on several country houses among other projects, and subsequently spent a short time working for Walter Tapper before moving to British Columbia in 1908. There he spent two years carrying out survey works for the Grand Trunk Pacific Railroad in the upper reaches of the Skene River, and construction surveys at Prince Rupert. In 1910 he spent six months working for R J Macdonald of Vancouver as assistant before commencing practice there on his own account in December of the same year. He was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, his proposers being Henry Blackadder, Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth and David Barclay Niven. At that time he was still in Vancouver, working at 85 Hutchinson Building, 429 Pender Street and living at 'Zantua' in the north of the city, and had undertaken several projects in collaboration with A Campbell Hope as well as working independently. In the same year, he married Nora Marten, daughter of W T Marten.

He returned to Scotland in 1914 and presumably served in the war before returning to practice in 1919 as Housing Architect to the Scottish Board of Health. In 1921 he recommenced independent practice in Glasgow. He was a member of Council in the Scottish National Party in 1935, and was chairman of the Scottish National Club from 1937. He was elected FRIBA on 22 April 1941, his proposers being Colin Sinclair, Gavin Lennox and Joseph Weekes. At that time he was practising from 121 West Regent Street, Glasgow, his home being 'Kilrenny Cottage', Bearsden. He died on 2 April 1942 at 7 Duntocher Road, Bearsden of broncho-pneumonia.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 685 Hutchinson Building/429, Pender Street, Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaBusiness1912 *  
Item 2 of 6Zantua, North Vancouver, British Columbia, CanadaPrivate1912 *  
Item 3 of 64, Terrace Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19191920 
Item 4 of 6160, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1922 *1931 
Item 5 of 6121, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19351942 
Item 6 of 6Kilrenny Cottage, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1941 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 6Alexander Marshall Mackenzie18971901Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Caledonian Railway Company Architect's and Engineer's Department19011903AssistantUnder Donald A Matheson, Engineer-in-Chief
Item 3 of 6Niven & Wigglesworth19031907Assistant 
Item 4 of 6(Sir) Walter John Tapper19071908Assistant 
Item 5 of 6Robert John Macdonald1908c. December 1908Assistant 
Item 6 of 6Department of Health for Scotland (Scottish Board of Health; later Scottish Development Department)19191921ArchitectHousing Architect

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Henry Blackadder24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 6Gavin Lennox22 April 1942for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6David Barclay Niven24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 6(Dr) Colin Sinclair22 April 1942for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Joseph Weekes22 April 1942for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth24 June 1912for Licentiateship

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 301901Glasgow Central Station  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Donald A Matheson in Caledonian Railway Company Engineer's Office
Item 2 of 301901Greyfriars Church  AberdeenScotlandAs assistant to Alexander Marshall Mackenzie
Item 3 of 301903Wemyss Bay Railway StationWemyss Bay RenfrewshireScotlandStation and pier - as assistant to Donald A Matheson in Caledonian Railway Company Engineer's Office
Item 4 of 30After 190319-21 Hatton Garden  LondonEnglandAs assistant to Niven & Wigglesworth
Item 5 of 30After 190354 Harley Street  LondonEnglandAs assistant to Niven & Wigglesworth
Item 6 of 30After 1910Fire Hall No2North Vancouver British ColumbiaCanadaSuccessful competition design
Item 7 of 30After 1910House at Vancouver HeightsVancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 8 of 30After 1910House for Major A E SnyderVancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 9 of 30After 1910House for Mr A H ScrivenNorth Vancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 10 of 30After 1910House for Mr J E MacraeNorth Vancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 11 of 30After 1910House for Mr T S NyeNorth Vancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 12 of 30After 1910House for Mr W A StoneVancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 13 of 30After 1910House for Patrick PhilipsVancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 14 of 30After 1910Houses for the McAlpine Construction CompanyNorth Vancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 15 of 30After 1910King Street SchoolNorth Vancouver British ColumbiaCanadaAlterations
Item 16 of 30After 1910Lonsdale SchoolNorth Vancouver British ColumbiaCanadaSuccessful competition design
Item 17 of 30After 1910North Vancouver Masonic Association Lodge RoomsNorth Vancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 18 of 30After 1910Two houses and one apartment house for Messrs McLachlan & GoodwinVancouver British ColumbiaCanada 
Item 19 of 30After 1921Cambusnethan Estate, North and East LodgeWishaw LanarkshireScotlandExtensive reconstruction
Item 20 of 30After 1921Cambusnethan Estate, stablesWishaw LanarkshireScotlandReinstatement after fire, and remodelling to provide three houses for estate workers
Item 21 of 30After 1921Cambusnethan PrioryWishaw LanarkshireScotlandNew roof of porte-cochere; courtyard and stables
Item 22 of 30After 1921Drewsteignton School and KindergartenBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 30After 1921Kelburn Park Sports Pavilion  GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 30After 1921RossendaleBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 30After 1921The Brig - house, jam factory and jam-selling storeKillermont GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 30After 1921The MoundMilngavie DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 27 of 30After 1921Upper Carbarns FarmWishaw LanarkshireScotlandTwo phases of extensive alterations
Item 28 of 30After 1921WaldenPatterton RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 29 of 301932James Simpson Warehouse  GlasgowScotland 
Item 30 of 30After 1939Hayston FarmKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotlandReinstatement and remodelling after fire

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 4Scottish Biographies1938  E J Thurston (pub.) 
Item 4 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBARIBA Biographical Files  
Item 2 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Drawings Collection  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v23 no1845; F no3818 (box 29)