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Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Milne Monro
Designation: Architect
Born: 1840
Died: 27 June 1921
Bio Notes: James Milne Monro was born in 1840, the son of John Monro, glass merchant and Helen Allan. He was articled to John Henderson in Edinburgh c.1855. Either just before or at Henderson's death in 1862 he became an assistant in the office of Brown & Wardrop. In the mid-1860s he moved to Glasgow as assistant to William Spence before setting up his own practice at 33 Bath Street in 1872 (Bailey: Gregory, 'Architectural History' XIV gives 1870).

In 1883 Monro's son Charles Ernest Monro, born 1867 (Bailey and Gregory give 1876) joined the firm as an apprentice becoming assistant in 1888 and partner as J M Monro & Son in 1893. He passed the qualifying exam relatively late in 1902, although he had probably been responsible for most of the firm's Free Renaissance design work since c.1890. He was admitted ARIBA on 2 March 1903, his proposers being David Barclay, Horatio Kelson Bromhead and John Slater. His father then sought admission as Fellow in 1906, his proposers being John James Burnet, John Keppie and David Barclay. The practice moved to 134 Bath Street in 1912.

James Milne Monro died at his home, Saxonholme, Bearsden on 27 June 1921. Throughout his lifetime the firm had concentrated on hotel and industrial work, particularly for bakers. The practice was continued by his son.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 433, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18721874 
Item 2 of 428, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18741912 
Item 3 of 4Saxonholme, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate18781921 
Item 4 of 4134, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19121921 

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 4John Hendersonc. 1855c. 1862Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Brown & Wardropc. 1862c. 1865Assistant 
Item 3 of 4William Spencec. 18651872Assistant 
Item 4 of 4J M Monro & Son18931921Partner 

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 8John Campbell McKellar18751879Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8Henry Denison Walton18771882Apprentice 
Item 3 of 8John Campbell McKellar1879c. 1881Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 8John Fairweather18821887Apprentice 
Item 5 of 8Charles Ernest Monro18831888ApprenticeApprentice in 1888 and partner in 1893
Item 6 of 8John Gaff Gillespie18861891Apprentice 
Item 7 of 8Charles Ernest Monro18881903Chief Assistant 
Item 8 of 8James Montgomerie Alexander18981898Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3David BarclayApril 1906for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3(Sir) John James BurnetApril 1906for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3John KeppieApril 1906for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 17Alexander Adam27 March 1911for Associateship
Item 2 of 17John Armour (junior)Early 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 17George Bell II3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 4 of 17James Stirling Boyd18 July 1910for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 17James Davidson3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 6 of 17John FairweatherEarly 1916for Fellowship
Item 7 of 17John Gaff Gillespie3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 8 of 17David Bateman Hutton3 December 1906for Associateship
Item 9 of 17James Lochhead1911for Fellowship
Item 10 of 17Ninian Macwhannell3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 11 of 17William McClelland20 July 1911for Licentiateship
Item 12 of 17John Campbell McKellar3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 13 of 17James Campbell Reid4 March 1907for Associateship
Item 14 of 17James Smith3 December 1906for Associateship
Item 15 of 17James Baird Thomson3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 16 of 17William Aitken Thomson3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 17 of 17William Brown Whitie2 March 1908for 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 1301860Seton Offices, coach house and stables   Scotland 
Item 2 of 1301865Edinburgh Corn ExchangeOld Town EdinburghScotlandAlterations to roof? - nature of involvement unclear, but probably assisted his former employer Henderson's friend David Cousin
Item 3 of 1301865Gate pillars, some for Peter Hastie Esq   Scotland 
Item 4 of 1301865Railings for property, BearsdenBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 1301872Warehouse for Macintyre, Hogg & Co  GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 1301873J & G Melior Building  GlasgowScotland 
Item 7 of 1301874Public Hall, Ingram Street and North Albion Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 1301875Auchinloch   ScotlandAdditions? (drawings show details of entrance porch)
Item 9 of 1301875Eastfield   ScotlandAdditions? (drawings show details of entrance porch)
Item 10 of 1301875Falkirk Post OfficeFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 11 of 1301875Glenview   ScotlandAdditions? (drawings show details of entrance porch)
Item 12 of 1301875The AnchorageBurnside GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 1301875Villa for Robert Gibb   Scotland 
Item 14 of 130c. 1875Designs for eight villas   Scotland 
Item 15 of 1301878BarticaBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 1301879Premises, Lyon Street East  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 1301879SaxonholmeBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 1301879Villa for James G McLaurin   Scotland 
Item 19 of 1301880St Joseph's House for the Little Sisters of the PoorRoystonhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 1301880Tenement, Albert RoadPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 21 of 1301882Hazelwood HouseDumbreck GlasgowScotland 
Item 22 of 1301882Tenement, Keir Street and Albert RoadPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 1301883Bellgrove Bakery  GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 1301884Two tenements, Herriet Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 1301885Tenement, Keir Street and Maxwell RoadPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 1301885Two tenements, Maxwell Street and Herriet StreetPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 27 of 1301886Dennistoun BakeryDennistoun GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 28 of 1301886DuniraBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 1301886Tenement, Cadder StreetPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 30 of 1301887Bearsden UP Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 1301888Convent of the Little Sisters of the PoorGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandIn partnership with Charles Ernest from 1893
Item 32 of 1301888St Joseph's Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor  EdinburghScotland 
Item 33 of 1301889Callander HydropathicCallander PerthshireScotlandAlterations and additions - including minor alterations to adapt building as hotel
Item 34 of 1301889Sausage Factory  GlasgowScotland 
Item 35 of 1301890Factory, Ingram Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 1301890Markree Castle  County SligoEireAlterations
Item 37 of 1301890Victoria Bread and Biscuit Works  GlasgowScotlandAdditions.
Item 38 of 130After 1890Bakery for John Angus & SonAlexandria DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 39 of 130After 1890Public Bar for David Graham Esq  GlasgowScotland 
Item 40 of 130After 1890Public Bar, Saltmarket  GlasgowScotland 
Item 41 of 130After 1890Villa   Scotland 
Item 42 of 130c. 1890Sausage FactoryBlythswood GlasgowScotland 
Item 43 of 1301891Eagle Pottery  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 44 of 1301892Castle HotelDunoon ArgyllScotland 
Item 45 of 1301892Dreadnought HotelCallander PerthshireScotlandAddition
Item 46 of 1301892Rumford Works (Ironmongery)  GlasgowScotlandStevenson Street block
Item 47 of 13018931 Huntly Gardens  GlasgowScotlandBilliard room - design exhibited
Item 48 of 1301893Grand HotelSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 49 of 1301894House for James Halliday   ScotlandAddition of scullery
Item 50 of 1301895Property for William RobinGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 51 of 1301895Victoria Bread and Biscuit Works  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 52 of 1301896Callander HydropathicCallander PerthshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 53 of 1301897Grand HotelSt Andrews FifeScotlandSouth east rear wing extension
Item 54 of 1301897House at Loch Fyne, conservatoryTarbert ArgyllScotland 
Item 55 of 1301898Alexandra HotelOban ArgyllScotlandLarge additions, including building containing bedrooms in garden grounds of hotel
Item 56 of 1301898Premises, Lyon Street East  GlasgowScotlandFurther work
Item 57 of 1301898Public Bar for David Graham & Sons  GlasgowScotland 
Item 58 of 1301898Public Bar for R W Cairns  GlasgowScotland 
Item 59 of 1301898Sausage Factory  GlasgowScotlandFurther building at rear
Item 60 of 1301899Premises for J H SimpsonBridgeton GlasgowScotland 
Item 61 of 1301899Tradeston Tube Works  GlasgowScotland 
Item 62 of 1301900Grant Arms HotelGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotlandLarge addition
Item 63 of 1301900Public bar, East Howard Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 64 of 1301900Public House for James McFarlaneMaryhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 65 of 1301900Station HotelOban ArgyllScotlandAlterations
Item 66 of 130c. 1900ChurchDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 67 of 1301901Alexandra HotelOban ArgyllScotlandLarge additions, including verandah
Item 68 of 1301901Daly's premises  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction
Item 69 of 1301901Double villa for Mr DayeBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 70 of 1301902McNaughton & Sinclair's premises  GlasgowScotland 
Item 71 of 1301902Shop, Buchanan Street  GlasgowScotlandShop fitting
Item 72 of 1301902St Matthew's School  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction as Industrial School
Item 73 of 1301902Tenements at DowanhillKelvinside GlasgowScotland 
Item 74 of 1301902Tenements for William Lightbody  GlasgowScotland 
Item 75 of 1301903HillcrestBearsden GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 76 of 1301903King's Arms HotelStranraer WigtownshireScotland 
Item 77 of 1301903Premises of George Boyd & Co  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 78 of 1301903The RidgeBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 79 of 1301903Wellburn Convent of the Little Sisters of the PoorLochee DundeeScotlandAdditions
Item 80 of 1301904St Joseph's Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor  EdinburghScotlandFurther work
Item 81 of 1301904Workshop for Clarkson BrothersAnniesland GlasgowScotland 
Item 82 of 1301904Workshop for James Herbertson & Son  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 83 of 1301905533-541 Duke Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 84 of 1301905SaxonholmeBearsden GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 85 of 1301905Villa for Mrs MillerBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 86 of 1301906Callander HydropathicCallander PerthshireScotlandTennis pavilion and other alterations
Item 87 of 1301906Dreadnought HotelCallander PerthshireScotlandAddition
Item 88 of 1301906McNaughton & Sinclair's premises  GlasgowScotlandAlterations?
Item 89 of 1301906Shop for Bayne & Duckett   Scotland 
Item 90 of 1301906Shop for Bayne & Duckett  GlasgowScotland 
Item 91 of 1301906St Joseph's Convent of the Little Sisters of the Poor  EdinburghScotlandChapel
Item 92 of 1301906Tea warehouse  GlasgowScotland 
Item 93 of 130190710 Walmer CrescentCessnock GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 94 of 1301907Country HouseWoldingham SurreyEngland 
Item 95 of 1301907Maryhill Industrial SchoolMaryhill GlasgowScotlandAdditions to gardener's cottage
Item 96 of 1301907Royal HotelCampbeltown ArgyllScotland 
Item 97 of 1301907Shop for Mrs McKinlay  GlasgowScotland 
Item 98 of 1301907Walmer Crescent (part), 292-308 Paisley Road WestCessnock GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 99 of 1301907Walmer Crescent (part), 310-328 Paisley Road WestCessnock GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 100 of 1301908Anderston Public School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 101 of 1301908Govanhill Free ChurchGovanhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 102 of 1301909Glasgow Cancer HospitalGarnethill GlasgowScotlandRebuilding (rebuilt from nurses' accommodation of earlier hospital)
Item 103 of 1301909Workshop for W & J Martin  GlasgowScotland 
Item 104 of 130Early 1900sDomestic Science School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 105 of 1301910sDesign for a wash stand     
Item 106 of 1301910sInvergyle House, septic tankInvergyle Stirlingshire?Scotland 
Item 107 of 1301910sProperty in West Graham Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 108 of 1301910Bearsden Primary SchoolBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 109 of 1301910Bellshill Public SchoolBellshill LanarkshireScotland 
Item 110 of 1301910Design for pavilion for James Gibbs     
Item 111 of 1301910Hydepark Street School  GlasgowScotlandCompetition entry
Item 112 of 1301910Kelvin Motor Works  GlasgowScotlandIn conjunction with Walter Robert Watson
Item 113 of 130c. 1910Bakery premises  GlasgowScotland 
Item 114 of 1301911DrumbegHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 115 of 1301912134-136 Buchanan Street  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 116 of 1301912TighnagarMonifieth AngusScotland 
Item 117 of 1301912Villa for George Duckett  GlasgowScotland 
Item 118 of 1301912Workshop for Messrs James Herbertson & Son  GlasgowScotland 
Item 119 of 1301913East Chapelton HomeBearsden GlasgowScotlandInternal alterations
Item 120 of 1301913Public bar for Thomas Gebbie  GlasgowScotland 
Item 121 of 1301913The ManseMilngavie DunbartonshireScotlandProposed alterations
Item 122 of 1301914RavenswoodBridge of Weir RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 123 of 1301917Counting House for Messrs InglisPointhouse? Glasgow?Scotland 
Item 124 of 1301917New dining hall, kitchen and lavatories   Scotland 
Item 125 of 1301919Property for Messrs James Herbertson & Son  GlasgowScotland 
Item 126 of 1301919Property for Richard Clay & SonsBlackfriars LondonEngland 
Item 127 of 1301920sDesign of a window     
Item 128 of 1301920Bearsden UP Church  GlasgowScotlandFurther work
Item 129 of 130c. 1920Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic  GlasgowScotland 
Item 130 of 130Late 1930sMarks & Spencer's store  EdinburghScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp148
Item 2 of 4Gregory, Neil2003Monro and Partners: shopping in Scotland with Marks and Spencer Architectural Heritage, Vol XIV, pp67-85 
Item 3 of 4Pride, Glen L1999The Kingdom of Fife2nd EditionThe Rutland Pressp134
Item 4 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder20 September 1921v121 p405 - obituary
Item 2 of 2RIBA Journal24 September 1921v28London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp596 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Additional research by Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F v16 p136 no1085 (microfilm reel 11)

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© All rights reserved. © Glasgow Institute of Architects