Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Bell I | Designation: | | Born: | 31 July 1814 | Died: | 4 January 1887 | Bio Notes: | George Bell was born on 31 July 1814 in Jedburgh, (the son of John Bell and Agnes Donaldson -W J Johnston- probably erroneous) and James Bell, builder and his wife Margaret Briggs (Iain Paterson), and joined the office of William Burn, having previously worked in the London office of Archibald Elliot II and his brother Alexander. In 1841 he made a joint competition entry with William Clarke (born 1809), while both were still in Burn's employ, for Lanarkshire County Buildings and the Merchant's House of Glasgow in which it was 'a condition…that each of the buildings was to have its individuality, but that together they would be in harmony'. Their design - what seems to be their perspective is now in NMRS - appears to have drawn inspiration from Harvey Lonsdale Elmes's original designs for St George's Hall and The Assize Courts in Liverpool when these were separate projects: Bell may have seen these when still in London. As a result of their success in the competition they formed a partnership which at once attained a place in the foremost rank of Scottish architects, a position consolidated by being premiated in the Edinburgh Free Church College competition two years later. The commission for the latter was, however, given to William Henry Playfair. By at least 1843 Clarke and Bell had opened an office in Glasgow at 135 Buchanan Street which seems to have also been their home address, a move further encouraged by the first of several commissions for the reconstruction of the Justiciary Courts in 1845. Together with Baird and Wilson, Clarke and Bell were the principal beneficiaries of the collapse of the D & J Hamilton/James Smith partnership in 1844.
Of the two partners, Clarke was the more active in public affairs. It was, however, Bell who sought membership of the RIBA during the Charles Barry Jun. - John Honeyman recruiting campaign, Clarke being by then sixty-nine and nearing retirement. Bell was admitted FRIBA on 16 December 1878, his proposers being John Baird II, John Honeyman and James Thomson.
Clarke's is the more readily identifiable architectural personality, with a marked predilection for shallow relief and Corinthian pilasters, his style changing little during his long career. The more three-dimensional columnar treatments and richer detail of the Caledonian and North British Insurance buildings were probably Bell's. In contrast to their refined classicism, their Gothic buildings were spiky, angular and hard-edged, perhaps influenced by the work of Billings.
Bell married twice; first to Beatrice Turnbull and then to Eliza Jenkins Turner. He died of encephalitis on 4 January 1887 at Invereoch Cottage, Kilmun. The practice, by then a loose partnership with Robert Alexander Bryden, (b. 1841), was continued by his son George Bell II (b. 1854), who had been articled to the firm in 1869 and became a partner in 1880. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Invereoch Cottage, Kilmun, Argyll, Scotland | Private | | 1887 | | | Tyne Castle Cottage, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1840 | 1841 | May be George Bell I of Clarke & Bell who moved to Glasgow to undertake the building of the City & County Buildings after winning the competition. | | Edgerston, Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, Scotland | Private | 1841 | | | | 135, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | 1843 | 1845 | | | Lower Mosesfield, Springburn, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1851 | 1854 | | | 51, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1851 | 1856 | | | Florence Place, Stanley Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1856 | | | | 2, Bank Street, Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1860 | | | | 37, West Nile Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1860 | 1875 | | | 2, St Bernard Place, Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1862 | | | | 4, Viewfield Terrace, Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1864 | | | | 212, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1880 | 1887 | and to after 1930 for Clarke & Bell) |
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | William Burn | After 1820(?) | 1841 | Assistant | | | Archibald Elliot II | c. 1820(?) | Before 1841(?) | Apprentice | In office of Elliot with Elliot's brother Alexander. | | Clarke & Bell | 1841 | Before 1887 | Partner | | | Clarke & Bell and R A Bryden | 1875(?) | Before 1887 | Partner | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Baird the Second | 16 December 1878 | for Fellowship | | John Honeyman | 16 December 1878 | for Fellowship | | James Thomson | 16 December 1878 | for Fellowship |
RIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | David Barclay | 3 January 1881 | for Fellowship | | John Bennie Wilson | 28 February 1910 | for Fellowship |
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 | | | Agricultural College | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extensions - date unknown | | | Blackburn, feuing plan | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Date unknown (1915 plans appear to be by another hand), therefore it is uncertain which partners were involved | | | Earlston School | Earlston | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Date unknown | | | Manse at Cove | Cove | | | Scotland | Date unknown | | 1842 | City and County Buildings and second Merchants' House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | S & W sections including second Merchants' House | | 1844(?) | National Bank of Scotland and Square of Business Chambers | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design (probably), though it may relate to Municipal Buildings proposal of 1873 | | 1846 | Abattoir, north side | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1846 | Dodridge Farm House | Hopetoun | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1846 | St Leonards | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | After 1846 | Abattoirs and Meat Market | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original abbatoirs | | 1848 | Anderston Free Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1848 | Barony Poorhouse | Foresthill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original building (including porter's lodge) | | 1848 | Inverdon | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1848 | Victoria Park feuing | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1849 | Biggar Parish School | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1849 | Justiciary Court Houses | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1849 | School | Alloway | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1849 | Schoolhouse | Alloway | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1850s(?) | Cambusdoon House | Alloway | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Plans drawn up for vinery | | 1852 | Triangular block of shops, Jail Square | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1853 | North British Insurance (Assurance) Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1854 | Ayr Fort feuing | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1854 | Jedburgh Free Church | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | c. 1854 | Caledonian Insurance Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1855 | Market Inn | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | c. 1855 | Bakery buildings | | | | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Brisbane Villa | | | Ayrshire? | Scotland | Porch | | c. 1855 | Dalziel Parish School | Dalziel | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Dolphinton House and lodge | | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Gate lodge - perhaps prepared plans for work on house as well and certainly for greenhouse. | | c. 1855 | Gatelodge for Mr Kerr | Gareloch | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Gothic villa for Mr Montgomrie [sic] | | | | | | | c. 1855 | Hayston House, Lodge | Kirkintilloch | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Hunthill House | Jedburgh? | | Roxburghshire? | Scotland | Alterations, screen in corridor etc | | c. 1855 | Hunthill House, stable offices | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Italian villa for Robert Henderson | | | Belfast | Northern Ireland | | | c. 1855 | Kayenne Cottage | Dunoon | | Argyll | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Lady Belhaven's School | Wishaw | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Mission Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Mission Church | Gorbals | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans drawn up - not selected | | c. 1855 | Monument to Mr Robertson | Dunoon | | Argyll | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Royal Theatre | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Shopfront for Arnott & Co | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Stanley Villa | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Tombstone for J S Fleming | Campsie | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Villa | Campsie | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | c. 1855 | Villa for Mr Murdoch | | | | | | | c. 1855 | Villa for Thomas Reid | Garliston | | Lanarkshire? | Scotland | | | 1857 | Ledcameroch | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1857 | Lochbrae | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1858 | Baronscourt Church | | | Ulster | Northern Ireland | | | 1859 | Abington House | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1859 | Justiciary Court Houses | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Further reconstruction work | | 1860s | Abattoir, south side | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans drawn up | | 1860s | Hawick Corn Exchange | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Plans drawn up - not executed | | 1860s | Motherwell First (United) UP Church | Motherwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Prepared pans - but John Grahame Peat secured commission | | 1860 | Arkleton House | Langholm | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Original house | | 1860 | Corn Exchange | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | 'Builder' says he was responsible | | 1860 | Darlington Place UP Church | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1860 | Milton Rooms | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion of Milton Rooms to Magnet Music Hall | | 1860 | Water Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1861 | Glasgow Royal Infirmary Surgical Hospital | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Added to Adam's infirmary | | 1861 | Hamilton Burgh Buildings | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1862 | Blantyre Parish Church | Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | c. 1862 | Scottish National Albert Memorial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design | | 1863 | Slaughter Houses, Market Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1866 | Property at High Street and Exchange Street | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | c. 1866 | Manchester Town Hall | | | Manchester | England | Competition design | | 1867 | Alexandra Music Hall | Cowcaddens | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1867 | Langbank UP Church | Langbank | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Competition design | | 1867 | Theatre Royal | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original building | | 1868 | City and County Buildings and second Merchants' House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions to the east (Brunswick Street) | | 1868 | Jamestown Parish Church | Jamestown | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Blantyre design reused | | c. 1870 | Girvan UP Church | Girvan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1871 | City and County Buildings and second Merchants' House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Northern section - Council Chambers and Municipal Offices in Ingram Street | | 1871 | St Andrews Free Church | Kirkintilloch | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1872 | Hillhead Town Hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1873 | Fish Market | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1873 | Johnstone Memorial Church | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1874 | Dunoon UP Church | Dunoon | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1874 | Lenzie Chapel of Ease | Lenzie | | Dunbartonshire/Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1874 | Premises, Cadogan Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1875 | Clyde Spinning Mill | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1875 | Home for Destitute Children | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1875 | Partick, Hillhead and Maryhill Joint Hospital for Infectious Diseases | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original building | | 1876 | Western Baths | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1876 | Cadzow Parish Church, Hamilton | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1877 | Ayr Town Hall | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Extension to High Street, and alterations - placed second in competition | | 1877 | Drill Hall and Headquarters for 1st Lanark Rifles | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | June 1877 | Trades House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans for new building submitted for invited competition; subsequently abandoned after failure to reach a decision | | 1878 | Ayr Academy | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1880 | Dunoon Infants' School | Dunoon | | Argyll | Scotland | | | c. 1880 | Redheugh | Kilbirnie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1881 | Trochraigue House | Girvan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Addition | | c. 1881 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design entered under the pseudonym Clutha | | 1884 | Dalnair House | Drymen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Buildings of Scotland wrongly ascribes this to James Bell, as does HS List | | 1884 | Dalnair House Lodge | Drymen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | c. 1884 | Seaman's Institute | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1885 | Adamton | Monkton | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1886 | Broughton Parish Church | Calzeat | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Rebuilding | | Mid 1800s | Bonhill Parish Church | Bonhill | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Plans for alterations? | | Mid 1800s | Bothwell UP Church | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans drawn up | | Mid 1800s | Campbell's Music Salon | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New entrance | | Mid 1800s | Commercial Bank of Scotland, Trongate | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans drawn up | | Mid 1800s | Design for a villa for Mr McNeill | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | East Kilbride UP Church | East Kilbride | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Hotel | | | | Scotland | Plans drawn up | | Mid 1800s | House | | | | Scotland | Plans prepared | | Mid 1800s | House | | | | Scotland | Plans drawn up | | Mid 1800s | Leck's Property | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans drawn up | | Mid 1800s | Manse | Wishaw | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Mr Adam Bryden's Cottage, Rachan Mill | Biggar (near) | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Mr Bannatyne's house | | | | | | | Mid 1800s | Mr Keir's Villa | Garscadden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Mr McCubbin's Villa | Langside Hill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Mr Monteith's villa | Ascog | Bute | Argyll & Bute | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Mr Robert Bell's villa | Wishaw | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Offices, West Nile Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations? | | Mid 1800s | Rachan | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Reformed Presbyterian Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Robertson Memorial Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Mid 1800s | Springburn Manse | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory | 1868 | Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory | | London, Wyman | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Dunoon Sheriff Court Sc51/32/35 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 22 January 1887 | | | Obituary | | Builder | 12 November 1887 | | | |
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 | | Additional information from Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v5 p121, microfiche 92/F6 - no job list |
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