Basic Biographical Details

Name: Walter Henderson Gillespie
Designation:  
Born: 3 December 1913
Died: 19 April 1983
Bio Notes: Walter Henderson Gillespie was born on 3 December 1913, the son of John Gillespie, gardener, and his wife Mary McOustra Taylor. He was articled to Walter W Reid of Falkirk in 1929. On completing his apprenticeship in 1933 he studied for five years at Glasgow School of Architecture, at the same time working as architectural assistant in the Burgh of Falkirk Architectural Department. Whilst there he was awarded a Historical Travelling Scholarship by Glasgow School of Art in 1936, enabling him to study Italian Renaissance architecture first-hand; and in 1936 he achieved third place in the RIAS's Rutland Constructional Design competition. He obtained his diploma in 1938 and for the following two years he lectured in Historical and Constructional Drawing at Falkirk High School whilst still working in the Burgh of Falkirk Architectural Department. By 1950 he had taken the post of Burgh Architect of Alloa; by 1953, he had been appointed to the then recently-created post of Architect and Planning Officer at Stirling.

In 1940 he was appointed chief architectural and civil engineering assistant to the Command of the Royal Engineers based at Ach-an-cas Island, Bank Road, Inverness. He was still there when he was admitted LRIBA on 14 November 1944, his proposers being Jack Antonio Coia, William James Smith and John Wittet. His nomination papers state that he had been 'principally engaged in Housing Hospitals & Civic Buildings'.

He was elected FRIAS in 1961. By 1964 he was the representative of the Stirling chapter of the RIAS.

He may have retired by about 1970. He resigned from retired membership of the RIBA in January 1981. At that time he was living at 25 Dalmorglen Park, Stirling. He died there on 19 April 1983, survived by his wife Janet Eassie Wilson and at least one son.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Command of Royal Engineers, Ach-an-cas Island, Bank Road, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 4Lindertis/5, Abbots Road, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate1944 *  
Item 3 of 425, Dalmorglen Park, Stirling, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate/business1944 *After 1970 
Item 4 of 4Municipal Offices, Allan Park, Stirling, ScotlandBusiness1954 *  

* 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 4Alloa Burgh Architects' Department  Architect 
Item 2 of 4Walter W Reid19291933Apprentice 
Item 3 of 4Falkirk Town Council Architect's/Engineer's Department19331940Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Stirling Burgh Architect's Office1953 Chief ArchitectAnd Planning Officer

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Jack Antonio Coia14 November 1944for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3(Professor) William James Smith14 November 1944for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3John Wittet14 November 1944for 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 61954Albert House  StirlingScotlandReconstruction
Item 2 of 61958Houses at Bow Street, Broad Street and St John StreetStirling StirlingshireScotlandNo 16 largely rebuilt - as Burgh Architect
Item 3 of 61960Houses at Bow Street, Broad Street and St John StreetStirling StirlingshireScotlandAs Burgh Architect - Nos 1-3 'residential renewal' - i.e. restoration - or is this new build?
Item 4 of 61961Houses, St John Street / Academy Road DevelopmentStirling StirlingshireScotlandAs Burgh Architect
Item 5 of 61965Stirling Municipal BuildingsStirling StirlingshireScotlandFurther extensions following the demolition of the Corn Exchange Hotel.
Item 6 of 61972Tenement, 39 Broad streetStirling StirlingshireScotlandSE turnpike stair added as part of reconstruction

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 2 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder1 May 1953  p700 - refers to Architect and Planning Officer (Stirling) appointment
Item 2 of 2Builder21 May 1954  p918

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no5672 (combined box 94)