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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Forbes Maclennan
Designation: Architect
Born: 1873
Died: 25 February 1957
Bio Notes: Thomas Forbes Maclennan was born in 1873, the son of George Maclennan, and educated at George Watson's College. He was articled to McArthy and Watson in 1888 and attended Heriot-Watt College and Edinburgh College of Art and the School of Applied Art, winning a silver medal for building construction and the David Cousin prize for measured drawings. He spent a year with Thomas Greenshields Leadbetter before joining James Macintyre Henry as assistant in 1894. In the autumn of 1898 he made a study tour in Normandy and was taken into partnership in 1905. He passed the qualifying exam in 1902 and although no London classes are mentioned in his nomination papers, he was able to call on the London architects John Slater and Edward Augustus Gruning, together with Richard Phené Spiers, head of the RA Schools, as proposers when he was admitted ARIBA on 2 March 1903. While in partnership with James Macintyre Henry he conducted a private practice. In 1907 he married Euphemia Anderson, daughter of John Cathles, Secretary of the North British Railway Company, a match which probably brought useful connections.

Henry died on 18 September 1929. Maclennan thereafter ran the practice with junior partners, including John Colville Cunningham and his own daughter, Mrs E L Westwater. The practice operated from St Andrews as well as Edinburgh; it is as yet unclear if Maclennan had moved there to live after the death of Henry.

Thomas Maclennan took a rather more active part in public life than Henry. He joined the Queen's Edinburgh Rifles in 1890, was President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association 1914-18, and during the First World War he served on the Architects' War Committee and volunteered for service as sub-lieutenant in a Royal Engineers Signal Company in 1917. After the war he was one of the founders of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland of which he was later President, and like Henry before him he was Dean of Guild 1930-34. From 1934 to 1937 he was assistant Master of the Merchant Company and was Moderator of the High Constables and Guard of Honour of Holyroodhouse in 1941. In his youth he played water polo.

Maclennan retired in 1949 and went to live in Dolphinton, by West Linton, Peeblesshire. He died 25 February 1957.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 662, Colinton Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1903 *  
Item 2 of 67, South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1903After 1930 
Item 3 of 614, Cluny Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1924 *  
Item 4 of 6St Andrews, Fife, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1930 Drawings by Maclennan & Cunningham with this address
Item 5 of 657, Melville Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1939 or 1940 *  
Item 6 of 6Dolphinton, Peeblesshire, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6McArthy & Watson1 August 18881892Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Thomas Greenshields Leadbetterc. 1893c. 1894Draughtsman(Given as 'Leadbetter & Fairley' on Maclennan's RIBA nomination papers)
Item 3 of 6James Macintyre Henryc. 1894c. 1895Assistant 
Item 4 of 6James Macintyre Henryc. 18951904Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 6Henry & Maclennan19051949Partner 
Item 6 of 6Maclennan & CunninghamBefore 1931c. 1936Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Robert Thom Currie1904c. 1905Assistant 
Item 2 of 2Michael Lumsden19351937Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Edward Augustus Gruning2 March 1903for Associateship
Item 2 of 6James Macintyre Henry1 December 1924for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Thomas Purves Marwick1 December 1924for Fellowship
Item 4 of 6John Slater2 March 1903for Associateship
Item 5 of 6Speirs & Co (or Speirs Ltd)2 March 1903for Associateship
Item 6 of 6John Wilson1 December 1924for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 54John Bannerman12 December 1939for Associateship
Item 2 of 54Alexander Shepherd Brodie10 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 54John Brown20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 54William Collyer12 December 1944for Associateship
Item 5 of 54James Findlay Coull3 December 1934for Associateship
Item 6 of 54Archibald Craig28 March 1927For Associateship
Item 7 of 54David Maxtone Craig8 March 1937for Associateship
Item 8 of 54William Ernest Dickie3 April 1939for Licentiateship
Item 9 of 54John Alexander Thornton Dickson16 May 1944for Licentiateship
Item 10 of 54Archibald Kirkwood DoddsEarly 1931for Licentiateship
Item 11 of 54Archibald Kirkwood Dodds8 February 1949for Fellowship
Item 12 of 54James Dorward20 July 1943for Licentiateship
Item 13 of 54James Fulton Ford15 February 1944for Licentiateship
Item 14 of 54John Wright Ford15 December 1942for Licentiateship
Item 15 of 54Robert Davidson Goodfellow1938for Licentiateship
Item 16 of 54Robert Raeburn Grieve31 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 17 of 54David HarveyEarly 1933for Associateship
Item 18 of 54James Henderson5 March 1943for Licentiateship
Item 19 of 54Alexander Inglis20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 20 of 54George Lindsay Auldjo Jamieson14 November 1944for Licentiateship
Item 21 of 54James Stewart Johnston14 May 1934for Licentiateship
Item 22 of 54James Stewart Johnston9 October 1939for Fellowship
Item 23 of 54Joseph Marr Johnston14 June 1926for Fellowship
Item 24 of 54Adam Bryce Kerr9 March 1936for Associateship
Item 25 of 54Alexander Stewart Kinnear28 September 1943for Licentiateship
Item 26 of 54James William Laing4 December 1933for Associateship
Item 27 of 54Michael Lumsden14 April 1942for Associateship
Item 28 of 54Harry ('Henry') Kerr Macdonald16 July 1940for Licentiateship
Item 29 of 54Donald MacDonald Mackie31 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 30 of 54Emily Lind Maclennan (Mrs Linda Westwater)Early 1933for Associateship
Item 31 of 54Ebenezer James MacRae5 March 1934for Fellowship
Item 32 of 54Benjamin Murray Manson18 July 1938for Associateship
Item 33 of 54Thomas Craigie MarwickMid 1932for Fellowship
Item 34 of 54John Ross McKay5 December 1938for Fellowship
Item 35 of 54(Sir) Frank Charles Mears29 June 1927for Fellowship
Item 36 of 54Lockhart Fraser Miller10 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 37 of 54Frederick Alistair Morrison10 May 1937for Associateship
Item 38 of 54Harold John Muir6 March 1939for Associateship
Item 39 of 54John Okell9 January 1939for Associateship
Item 40 of 54Thomas Edward Patrick13 April 1940For Associateship
Item 41 of 54Alexander Pye15 December 1942for Licentiateship
Item 42 of 54James Johnstone Shannon 6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 43 of 54Eileen May Sherwell (Mrs Goodman)10 February 1936for Associateship
Item 44 of 54James Alexander Steedman17 November 1942for Licentiateship
Item 45 of 54Robert Edward Thomas Stockdale18 November 1941for Licentiateship
Item 46 of 54William Tulloch SutherlandEarly 1933for Associateship
Item 47 of 54George Swan TaylorEarly 1930for Associateship
Item 48 of 54Annie Nicol Turnbull (Mrs Hubbard)5 December 1938for Associateship
Item 49 of 54Ion Victor Godfrey Hamilton Warner15 June 1943for Licentiateship
Item 50 of 54George Patrick Houston WatsonEarly 1931for Licentiateship
Item 51 of 54Ernest John Weir9 March 1936for Associateship
Item 52 of 54John David Weir16 July 1940For Associateship
Item 53 of 54Henry Wylie (or Harry Wylie)9 January 1940For Associateship
Item 54 of 54William Barnet Wyllie8 May 1939for Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 591899Midlothian County Council Buildings  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to James Macintyre Henry (in 1902 was engaged in drawing 1/2 and f.s. details) : design placed fourth in competition but was selected for the job
Item 2 of 591904Post office buildingsPenicuik MidlothianScotlandMainly responsible
Item 3 of 591905School at New ElginNew Elgin MorayshireScotlandUnsuccessful competition entry
Item 4 of 591906Lockerbie House   ScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 5 of 591906Royal Blind Asylum  EdinburghScotlandProposed additions of two storeys, not carried out but does appear to have done some extensions and reconstruction
Item 6 of 591906Scottish Horse HQ and Public HallBlair Atholl PerthshireScotland 
Item 7 of 591907Birmingham Council House extension and Art Galleries  BirminghamEnglandCompetition design for extension - not successful
Item 8 of 591907Blair CastleBlair Atholl PerthshireScotlandProposed addition to library
Item 9 of 591907Newington Free Church  EdinburghScotlandRefronting
Item 10 of 591907Newington UF Church  EdinburghScotlandNew front and chancel
Item 11 of 591907St Andrews Parish ChurchNorth Berwick East LothianScotlandTower and porch added
Item 12 of 591908Blair CastleBlair Atholl PerthshireScotlandNew porch to wing; armoury
Item 13 of 591908Perth Town HallPerth PerthshireScotlandCompetition design placed third by J J Burnet
Item 14 of 591909Balnacraig House and LodgePerth PerthshireScotlandBilliard room
Item 15 of 591909Millhills HouseCrieff PerthshireScotlandAdditions and remodelling; steading
Item 16 of 591911Corner site with shops, High StreetNorth Berwick East LothianScotland 
Item 17 of 591911Meal MillsBonnington EdinburghScotlandRebuilding after fire
Item 18 of 591912Edinburgh Royal Lunatic Asylum  EdinburghScotlandNurses home, new quadrangular pavilion
Item 19 of 591912Lochbuie House Mull ScotlandAlterations
Item 20 of 591913Birnam HotelBirnam PerthshireScotlandRebuilding after fire
Item 21 of 591914Chesterknowes  RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 22 of 591914Haddon's Court  EdinburghScotlandEast side
Item 23 of 591914Wester RiddellLilliesleaf SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 24 of 591915Glenegadale HouseInverleith EdinburghScotlandMainly responsible
Item 25 of 591915Mary Murray HospitalPrestonpans East LothianScotlandAdditions
Item 26 of 591916Scottish Veterans Garden City, Earl Haig GardensTrinity EdinburghScotland1st and 3rd phases
Item 27 of 591916Scottish Veterans' Garden Cities Association Settlement, Kitchener CrescentLongniddry East LothianScotland 
Item 28 of 591919LawersComrie PerthshireScotlandAlterations for Captain Rockey
Item 29 of 591920Welfare buildings and hosiery factory for Munro & Co LtdRestalrig EdinburghScotlandExtension to factory and new welfare buildings - mainly responsible
Item 30 of 591921Chamber of Commerce  EdinburghScotlandAlterations, furnishing and decoration - mainly responsible
Item 31 of 591921OrchillDunblane PerthshireScotlandRestoration after fire
Item 32 of 591922Premises for John Croall & Sons  EdinburghScotlandAlterations?
Item 33 of 591923Café Royal  EdinburghScotlandAmerican bar at NW corner
Item 34 of 591923New Grange Works  EdinburghScotlandExtension - mainly responsible
Item 35 of 59Before 1923DyeworksSlateford EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 36 of 59Before 1923Gas Meter Works  EdinburghScotland 
Item 37 of 59Before 1923SkinworksGalashiels SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 38 of 591925Millhills HouseCrieff PerthshireScotlandGarden works
Item 39 of 591928House for Miss Margaret WhiteGreenbank EdinburghScotland 
Item 40 of 591928Roxburghe Hotel  EdinburghScotlandShopfront
Item 41 of 591929Menzies' Hanover Buildings  EdinburghScotland 
Item 42 of 591929Open Air Swimming PoolNorth Berwick East LothianScotland 
Item 43 of 591930Garage, Castle Terrace and Lady Lawson Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 44 of 59Between 1930 and 1939University HallSt Andrews FifeScotlandDrawing not dated
Item 45 of 591931Leith Methodist ChurchLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 46 of 591931TorwoodColinton EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 47 of 591933House at LuffnessLuffness East LothianScotland 
Item 48 of 591933Houses for Fife County CouncilGuardbridge FifeScotland 
Item 49 of 591934Bonnington Road Oatmills  EdinburghScotland 
Item 50 of 591934Premises of the Scottish Motor Traction Co  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 51 of 591934Premises of the Scottish Motor Traction Co  EdinburghScotlandExtension
Item 52 of 591934Printing works, 115-119 Rose Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 53 of 591934Thornton's Warehouse  EdinburghScotland 
Item 54 of 591934Warehouse for Messrs Smarts  EdinburghScotland 
Item 55 of 591936Clarendon Hotel and Shopping Arcade  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 56 of 591936Methodist Central Hall  EdinburghScotlandInternal alterations
Item 57 of 591939School and halls, Walsh Crescent  EdinburghScotland 
Item 58 of 591939Young Men's Christian Association buildingsNorth Merchiston EdinburghScotlandAddition of games rooms, kitchen, canteen and caretaker's house
Item 59 of 591940Church of Scotland, Suite of Halls, Crewe Toll  EdinburghScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Scottish Biographies1938  E J Thurston (pub.) 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3RIBA JournalSeptember 1957 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p474 (by J R Mackay)
Item 2 of 3Scotsman27 February 1957  Obituary
Item 3 of 3Scotsman4 March 1957  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v15 p110 (microfilm reel 18); F no 1981 (microfilm reel 16)

Images

© All rights reserved. ©and courtesy of RIAS 

© All rights reserved. ©and courtesy of RIAS