Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | (Dr) Colin Sinclair | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 1879 | Died: | 26 October 1957 | Bio Notes: | Colin Sinclair was born in Glasgow in 1879, the son of John Sinclair, shipwright and Annie McGregor. His family came from Glassary in mid Argyll and in his youth he spent much of his time there with his grandparents. He was educated at Bellahouston Academy and articled to H & D Barclay just before Hugh's death in November 1892 and remained as an assistant after completing his apprenticeship in 1897. During that period he attended the University of Glasgow where he graduated MA and studied at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College and Glasgow School of Art under Professor Charles Gourlay and William James Anderson, his travels during the holidays seemingly being limited to Normandy. In 1907 he became assistant to Gourlay at the Royal Technical College, lecturing on both philosophical and constructional subjects, but he remained part-time senior assistant in the Barclay practice. Surprisingly he either did not sit or did not pass the qualifying exam, being admitted LRIBA on 6 June 1910, his proposers being Barclay, Robert William Horn and James Campbell Reid.
Sinclair's FRIBA nomination papers state that he commenced practice on his own account in 1911, which suggests that he became a junior partner in the Barclay firm at that date; in any case, he remained with the same firm until 1917 when he inherited it on David's death, continuing it under the same name thereafter. His practice was small and chiefly in Argyll but this was no barrier to him being admitted FRIBA in early 1921, proposed by William Brown Whitie, John Keppie and John Watson. By that time he had become involved in several professional societies, having been a president of the Architectural Craftsmen's Society, served as a member of the council of the Glasgow Institute of Architects, and become a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. In the inter-war years he was in partnership with John Begg Campbell (born 1882) who had also been articled to David Barclay, remaining in the office for twelve years and subsequently spending a year as Clerk of Works for Stranraer High School before being appointed designer of ship interiors for the Fairfield Shipbuilding Company Ltd in Govan.
The partnership of Sinclair & Campbell ended in 1940 when Sinclair again became sole partner. Although he kept the office open he had little architectural work and was chiefly occupied in scholarly pursuits related to West Highland culture which brought him a PhD, whose title was 'Celtic Art in Architecture'. He was one of the Scottish delegates to UNESCO from 1947 and published 'The Thatched Houses of the Old Highlands' in 1953. He was also a painter 'of some ability' in both oils and watercolours according to his RIBA obituarist and a composer. Sinclair was also the architect behind the Highland Clachans at both the 1911 and 1938 Empire Exhibitions and the Highlanders Institute at 27 Elmbank Street, Glasgow.
Sinclair married Jessie Wilson McIntyre, daughter of John Lindsay McIntyre of the school board offices, at 193 Bath Street on 24 June 1913. Their son Iain was living at Station House, Giffen, Beith at the time of Sinclair's death at his home 50 Ralston Avenue Crookston on 26 October 1957; he left estate of £5,255 19s 7d.
Publications (before 1920): 'Housing in the Highlands', in collaboration with Miss Campbell of Succoth 'Buildings and Dress in the Old Highlands' | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 43, McLean Street, Govan, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1892 * | | |  | 245, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1898 | After 1920 | |  | 10, Gower Street, Ibrox, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1910 | After 1913 | |  | 35, Clifford Street, Bellahouston, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1920 * | | |  | 440, Sauchiehall Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1924 * | | |  | 121, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1929 | 1953 | |  | Municipal Buildings, Inverary, Scotland | Business(?) | 1951 | | |  | 50, Ralston Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1957 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | H & D Barclay | 1892 | 1897 | Apprentice | |  | H & D Barclay | 1897 | 1900 | Assistant | |  | H & D Barclay | 1900 | 1911 | Senior Assistant | Part-time, whilst assisting Charles Gourlay at the Royal Technical College |  | H & D Barclay | 1911 | After 1932 | Partner(?) | |  | Sinclair & Campbell | c. 1919(?) | 1940 | Partner | |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | | Croftfoot School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Date unknown |  | 1898 | The Garrochty | Kingarth | Bute | Bute | Scotland | As assistant to H & D Barclay |  | 1899 | Technical Higher Grade and Primary School | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | As assistant to H & D Barclay |  | 1900 | Queen's Park Higher Grade School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As chief assistant to H & D Barclay |  | Late 1900 or early 1901 | Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As chief assistant to H & D Barclay, who won competition to secure job, after being invited to submit design |  | 1901 | J & P Coats Offices | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As chief assistant to H & D Barclay - final phase of building (54-62 Bothwell Street) |  | 1903 | Bellahouston Academy | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of swimming pool and gymnasium block - with Samuel Preston as clerk of works |  | 1903 | Govan District Asylum | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions - infirm ward pavilions and homes |  | 1908 | Swedenborgian New Jerusalem Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | As senior assistant to H & D Barclay |  | 1908 | Watt Memorial School | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | As assistant with H & D Barclay |  | 1911 | Scottish Exhibition of National History, Art and Industry, 1911, Highland Village (An Clachan) | Kelvingrove | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1912 | Glasgow University, Officers' Training Corps Headquarters | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1913 | Jordanhill Teacher Training College | Jordanhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Barclay won competition to secure job; Sinclair worked with him and completed construction after his death |  | 1913 | Ormidale House | Loch Riddon | | Argyll | Scotland | Additions |  | After 1919 | Housing scheme | Bishopbriggs | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | After 1919 | Housing scheme | Inveraray | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | After 1919 | Housing scheme | Tobermory | Mull | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1920 | Office block for Blythswood Shipbuilding Company | Scotstoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1920 | Royal Technical College War Memorial (within Barclay building) | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Execution |  | 1920 | War Memorial | Scarinish | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1926 | Govan Combination Poorhouse and Asylum | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Nurses' home extended, original asylum extended and Female Defectives Home built |  | 1930 | Memorial cairn to Evan McColl, Gaelic poet | Kenmure | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Chemical Works | St Rollox | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Croftpark Public School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Monument to Neil Munro | Cladich, Glen Aray | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Dunvegan Castle | Dunvegan | Skye | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Repairs to SW wing after fire damage |  | 1938 | Dunvegan Castle gates | Dunvegan | Skye | Inverness-shire | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions |  | 1938 | Stag Hotel | Lochgilphead | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | c. 1938 | Glasgow International Exhibition of 1938, design for a Highland clachan | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1944 | Design for a war memorial for the Gaelic Isles | | | | Scotland | Design exhibited |  | 1947 | H Pooley & Sons Limited | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and Additions |  | 1951 | Housing, Barn Park | Inverary | | Argyllshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1952 | Council Housing, Lochnell Street | Lochgilphead | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 17 July 1953 | Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New building |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 1 June 1951 | | | p803 |  | Builder | 8 June 1951 | | | p837 |  | Builder | 1 August 1952 | | | p180 |  | Builder | 17 July 1953 | | | p121 |  | Oban Times | 2 November 1957 | | | Obituary |  | RIBA Journal | April 1958 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p212 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Family and address information from research by Iain Paterson |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v1 no54 (microfilm reel 29); F no1825 (microfilm reel 15) |
Images © All rights reserved. Building Industries 16 December 1919 (Who's who series) (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) |