Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Burns
Designation:  
Born: 11 March 1781(?)
Died: 14 November 1858
Bio Notes: Thomas Burns was a Glasgow builder turned architect, and may be identifiable with the Thomas Burns christened at Hamilton on 11 March 1781, the son of Thomas Burns and Catherine Lowrie. In 1824, described only as a builder, he took 1021 square yards of site in West Regent Street, Glasgow and proceeded to develop it. By 17 February 1827 he had been caught by the banking crisis of 1826-27 and had failed. He recovered and in the 1830 directory he appears as both architect and builder, but in his later years he practised exclusively as an architect, his last appearance in the directories being in 1857. He is described in his will as an' architect in Glasgow, brother of Jane Burns'. His known works were all Gothic, the best being the Free Church Normal Seminary in Cowcaddens in competent neo-Tudor. Gildard credited him with 'several quod sacra churches before the Disruption' so the list of churches designed by him cannot be complete.

In about 1851 Burns's address is given as 189 Buchanan Street where John Bryce had his office until about 1851. Perhaps Burns took over Bryce's practice after his death?

Burns died on 14 November 1858.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 414, Gordon Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1834  
Item 2 of 466, Miller Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1839 *  
Item 3 of 445, Miller Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18441845 
Item 4 of 4189, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18511856 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 51824Buildings, West Regent Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 51837Kilmun Parish ChurchKilmun ArgyllScotlandOriginal building
Item 3 of 51839Cambusnethan Parish ChurchCambusnethan LanarkshireScotland 
Item 4 of 51840Wishaw Old Parish ChurchWishaw LanarkshireScotlandPossibly by Burns
Item 5 of 51846Free Church Normal SeminaryCowcaddens GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 2 of 5Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 3 of 5Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROMTentatively identifies him with the Thomas Burns christened at Hamilton on 11 March 1781, the son of Thomas Burns and Catherine Lowrie
Item 4 of 5Post Office Directories     
Item 5 of 5Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Glasgow Sheriff Court Wills Sc 36/48/22 , SC36/51/38 and Inventories SC36/48/44

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Sheriff Court Records SRO SC 36/48/44, p36