Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Hunter McNab | Designation: | | Born: | 1862 | Died: | December 1935 | Bio Notes: | William Hunter McNab was born in Stirling or Clackmannan (sources vary) on 8 January 1862, the son of James McNab, mercantile clerk and his wife Jane Hall Hunter of Clackmannan, educated at 'several schools in Stirling, finishing at [The] High School there'. In 1877 he was articled to John Allan of Stirling, a somewhat whimsical architect, but he attended classes held by Leonard Baker, who was 'connected with South Kensington Science and Art Department' and 'whose classes were unsurpassed by any similar classes in the country'. In 1881 he secured a place in the office of William Leiper, which enabled him to study at Glasgow School of Art. In 1883 Leiper put him in charge of his drawing office, although responsibility may in some degree have been shared when William James Anderson was in the office in 1889 to 1891 helping with the detailing of the Sun building. During this period he spent some time travelling in the British Isles and Ireland and also in France. He married Isabella Braid Christie Walls, daughter of builder John Walls, on 24 October 1890 at the Cockburn Hotel, Bath Street, Glasgow, and their first son, James (better known as Hamish), was born on 22 July 1891.
It is not entirely clear at what point Leiper took William Hunter McNab into partnership. His RIBA nomination paper states that he commenced practice in 1896 with additions to Glenfinnart House at Ardentinny, which he may have been allowed to undertake separately from the practice. 'Who's Who in Architecture 1914' gives 1899 as the date of commencement of practice, which is probably the date of the partnership agreement. Although not claimed as his own work in his nomination papers, Leiper's two large houses at Stirling probably came to the practice through McNab's connections there.
McNab was admitted FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being Leiper, John Keppie and John James Burnet. At that date he had travelled in France and Holland.
Leiper suffered a protracted illness and McNab gradually took over the business, becoming sole partner on Leiper's retirement in 1909. He retained Leiper's name in the practice title until at least 1919, but although McNab was a very able architect the firm had very little business after Leiper's death in 1916.
In 1911 McNab's son Hamish had joined the practice as an assistant, having served his apprenticeship in the office of James Miller and attended classes at Glasgow School of Architecture. He became chief draughtsman but his career was interrupted by war service with the Royal Engineers from 1915 to 1919, during which he rose to the rank of Lieutenant. He rejoined the firm at the cease of hostilities, and was taken into partnership in 1927, the practice title changing to William Hunter McNab & Son. He was elected LRIBA in mid-1933, his proposers being James Miller, John Keppie and John Watson. He was also a member of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland.
William Hunter McNab died in December 1935. Hamish continued the practice under the existing title; his brother William Leiper McNab (born 21 March 1900), who had studied at Glasgow School of Art in 1915-16 and 1917-18, also worked in the family firm but never became a partner. The practice had very little architectural business after 1930. The office at 121 West George Street was also the studio of Hamish's sculptress wife, Fiona, and they supported themselves mainly by making garden statuary, craftwork and decorative work. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 196, North Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1883 | After 1886 | | | 7, Rupert Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1890 * | | | | 75, Victoria Street, Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1891 * | | | | 266, Byres Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1894 | After 1905 | | | 121, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1899 | After 1933 | | | 6, Drummond Gardens, Jordanhill, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1906 | After 1918 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | William Leiper McNab | After 1914 | 1927(?) | Assistant(?) | Unclear how long he stayed in the firm | | James McNab (or Hamish McNab) | After 1915 | 1926 | Chief Draughtsman | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | (Sir) John James Burnet | 3 December 1906 | for Fellowship | | John Keppie | 3 December 1906 | for Fellowship | | William Leiper | 3 December 1906 | for Fellowship |
RIBA Proposals
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 | | 1896 | Glenfinart House | Ardentinny | | Argyll | Scotland | Additions | | 1897 | Volunteer Headquarters and Drill Hall | Yorkhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extensions and new building | | 1898 | Red Tower | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1899 | Ballimore, Otter Ferry | Loch Fyne | | Argyll | Scotland | Remodelling; possibly also extension in 1914 (B of S attribution) | | 1899 | Barnlongart, Ballimore Estate | Loch Fyne | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1900 | Ard Choille | Clynder | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1900 | Ard Luss | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1900 | Deroran | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Also lodge at 16 Polmaise Road | | 1900 | Glasgow Royal Infirmary | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - unplaced | | 1900 | Glendaruel House | Kilmodan | | Argyll | Scotland | | | c. 1902 | St James's Church of Scotland | Kilmacolm/Kilmalcolm | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1903 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | House, motor house and laundry | | 1904 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Motor house and laundry | | c. 1904 | Commercial building, 153 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1905 | Business Premises and House for William Chambers | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1905 | Premises, George Street and Argyll Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Major rebuilding: conversion of old premises into shop and tenement 'in progress' in 1905 - carried out as joint architect with Leiper | | 1906 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Gardener's cottage | | 1906 | Rockbank, Three Villas | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1906 | Victoria Infirmary | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Gatehouse | | 1907 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attic-level addition and billiard room | | 1907 | Uplands | Bridge of Allan | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | c. 1907 | Averley | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Redecoration, including panelling in drawing room, dining room and hall (carried out by Matthew Henderson of Glasgow) and furniture (made by Wylie & Lochhead) | | 1908 | Ard Luss | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Rear extension | | 1908 | Polkemmet | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | c. 1909 | Rossdhu House | Luss | | Argyll | Scotland | Internal work and additions, dining room | | 1910 | Beneffrey House | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1911 | Tenement, West Princes Street and Sinclair Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1912 | St Sophia's RC Chapel | Glendaruel | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1913 | Glenkin | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1913 | Rockbank, Three Villas | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Addition of billiard room to Hilden, no 45 Charlotte Street | | 1914 | Brantwood | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Garage | | Before 1914 | Catholic Apostolic Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of transepts and chancel | | c. 1914 | Carrickarden | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Library - converted from parlour | | c. 1914 | Newstead | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1914 | Redlands | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1916 | Premises, George Street and Argyll Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Internal alterations | | 1919 | Woodville | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1920 | Tenement, West Princes Street and Sinclair Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Shop addition at Nos 8-12 | | 1922 | Dowanhill UF Church, war memorial | Dowanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1922 | Pollokshields East Church, war memorial | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1923 | Rachan | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Verandah addition | | 1923 | Victoria Infirmary | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1925 | Premises, George Street and Argyll Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | New saloon | | 1926 | Romanhurst | Hillfoot, Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1929 | Netherlee UF Church Hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1929 | St Wolstans Church | West Kilbride | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1931 | Hillhead High School, War Memorial Gateway | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 20 December 1935 | v149 | | p1096 - obituary |
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 | | Personal information from Alfred G Lochhead; additional information (re: family and addresses from research by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v 17 p140 no 1166 (microfilm reel 12) |
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