Basic Biographical Details

Name: Walter Robert Watson
Designation:  
Born: c. 1873
Died: 2 October 1932
Bio Notes: Walter Robert Watson was born in Melbourne, Australia c. 1873, the son of Walter Robert Watson (sic), commission agent and his wife Sarah Jane Clark. His father died young and his mother had returned by 1881 to her native Glasgow where she and her father-in-law, also Walter Watson, brought him up. In 1891 the family was based in Rothesay where Watson was articled to an as yet unidentified local architect. He was a student at Glasgow School of Art from 1892 to 1894 and again in 1896-7, probably while an assistant with Cowan & Sons, the firm of Joseph Cowan, architect to the archdiocese of Glasgow. Around 1902 he was taken into partnership. By that date, the surviving Cowan son was J L Cowan, with whom Watson practised under the style of Cowan & Watson.

Watson married Lillian Clifton. He practised until his death of angina on 1 October 1932 at Boquhan, Killearn, at the age of fifty-nine, his usual residence being 22 Dowanside Road, Glasgow.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 714, West Princes Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1881 *  
Item 2 of 7Ardbeg Villa, Rothesay, Bute, Bute, ScotlandPrivate1891 *  
Item 3 of 76, Buckingham Buildings, Hillhead, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 18921893 
Item 4 of 7689, Great Western Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate18931903 
Item 5 of 795, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1902After 1925With Cowan
Item 6 of 722, Albion Street, Dowanhill, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1929After 1931Probably the same as Dowanside Road.
Item 7 of 722, Dowanside Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1932 *  

* 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 2Cowan & SonsBefore 1896(?)c. 1902(?)AssistantUncertain whether he was employed in this firm but seems likely
Item 2 of 2Cowan & Watsonc. 19021932Partner 

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 171902St Aloysius CollegeGarnethill GlasgowScotlandNorth wing
Item 2 of 171904Lilybank Sawmills  GlasgowScotlandShed at rear
Item 3 of 171904St Mary's Presbytery  GlasgowScotlandRemodelling
Item 4 of 171904St Paul's PresbyteryWhiteinch GlasgowScotlandRemodelling from Jordanvale House
Item 5 of 171906HallPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 171906St Conval’s Primary School  GlasgowScotlandcredited as architect
Item 7 of 171906St Roch's RC Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 171908Express Oil Works  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 9 of 171908St Aloysius CollegeGarnethill GlasgowScotlandWest wing
Item 10 of 171908St Paul's RC Church HallsWhiteinch GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 171909RC School, Patrick StreetGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 12 of 171910Kelvin Motor Works  GlasgowScotlandIn conjunction with Monro & Son
Item 13 of 171912NetherhillPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAddition to school
Item 14 of 171912St Mirren's RC School and Cathedral HousePaisley RenfrewshireScotlandExtension to south
Item 15 of 171912St Peter's SchoolDowanhill GlasgowScotlandExtension in Chancellor Street
Item 16 of 171913Queen's College  GlasgowScotlandWon in limited competition - Watson wholly responsible, according to Alexander Wright
Item 17 of 171929Carvick Walker HallMonkton AyrshireScotlandReconstruction

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Scotland Census 18911891    

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research by Iain Paterson