Basic Biographical Details Name: | Watson, Salmond & Gray | Designation: | | Born: | 1914 | Died: | After 1947 | Bio Notes: | John Watson was born in Glasgow in 1872, the son of Joseph Watson, licensed grocer, and Hannah Peacock. He was articled to John Hamilton in Glasgow from 1887 to 1893, studying at Glasgow School of Art (1888 to 1894) and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. Having won a Royal Academy 'bone' (an inscribed ivory plaque) which provided free admission to the Royal Academy Schools, he moved to London as assistant to Niven & Wigglesworth where he remained until 1897. After a study tour of Italy he commenced practice at 231 St Vincent Street in Glasgow in 1898.
In the following year Watson took into partnership a younger colleague at Niven & Wigglesworth's, David Salmond. Salmond was born in 1876, the son of David Salmond, described as an 'agent' and his wife, Hannah Kennedy Millar, who were prominent in literary and musical circles in Glasgow and South Africa where the elder Salmond had business connections. He was articled to John Gordon in Glasgow from 1891 to 1896 and attended classes at Glasgow School of Art under William James Anderson and at the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. After the period of his apprenticeship he spent a year with Niven & Wigglesworth before leaving for South Africa, perhaps with a view to settling there; but following the outbreak of the Boer War he returned to Glasgow where he worked briefly in various as yet unidentified offices before joining Watson in partnership.
Both partners were admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects, which they had joined in 1907. Watson soon sought elevation to Fellow, and was elected on 2 December 1912, his lead proposer being Henry Edward Clifford with whom they shared an office and assistants, the others being James Miller and William Gardner Rowan. Salmond was admitted FRIBA on 9 June 1913, his proposers being Clifford, Alexander Nisbet Paterson and Herbert Hardy Wigglesworth.
In 1914 Watson & Salmond took into partnership another employee of Niven & Wigglesworth, James Henry Gray (born 1885), the practice having won the competition for the extension of Glasgow City Chambers. It was for this accomplished French Renaissance design that in 1927 the firm, renamed Watson, Salmond & Gray, was awarded the first RIBA Scottish Architecture medal for the best city building completed within the preceding five years. Much of the work of the practice was in Glasgow but further afield they won commissions for factories and other works in the Midlands and the south west of Scotland.
Gray was born in Glasgow in 1885 of old Quaker stock and was educated at Bootham School, York, where he excelled on the football field. In 1903 he was articled to Fred Rowntree, also a member of the Society of Friends, who had been based in London since the dissolution of his partnership with Malcolm Stark in 1899. In 1906 he moved to Glasgow as assistant to Alexander Nisbet Paterson of Campbell Douglas & Paterson, enabling him to study at the Glasgow School of Architecture. He returned to London in 1909, joining Niven & Wigglesworth as assistant. He passed the qualifying exam in 1910 and was admitted ARIBA on 27 February 1911, his proposers being Wigglesworth, Niven and Rowntree. From 1912 to 1914 he worked as assistant with Watson & Salmond in Glasgow, before being taken into partnership.
In 1925 Henry Edward Clifford retired and his practice was merged with that of Watson Salmond & Gray, making them architects to the Victoria Infirmary.
Watson was active in professional circles: he served on the RIBA Council and as an external examiner, was elected ARSA in 1929, and was President of the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts (1915-18) and of Glasgow Art Club (1931-32), Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights and Governor of Glasgow School of Art. He retired c. 1932, partly due to ill-health and partly to give more time to RIAS business: he was President when he died of a cerebral haemorrhage in the Victoria Infirmary on 24 August 1936. His address at that date was 12 Northland Drive, Scotstoun. He had been twice married: first to Elizabeth Cumming, and later to Margaret Pollock Spence.
Salmond, who was fairly well off, had retired early in 1933 to concentrate on his musical interests, being among other things on the management committee for the Scottish Orchestra, but his retirement was brief as he died at his home, Auchlyne, Fairlie, on 1 September 1938. He left moveable estate of £10,126 4s 9d in the UK and was survived by his wife Dorothy Gamble Herbert.
Salmond's place as partner was taken in 1934 by Watson's son, John Watson, Junior. Born in 1903, from 1920 he had been articled to Burnet Son & Dick where he worked on the Zoology Building at the University of Glasgow, and where Sir John Burnet, a friend of his father, had taken a personal interest in his development. While at Burnet's Watson Junior studied at the Glasgow School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Technical College. There he won several medals and bursaries, including a minor scholarship which enabled him to spend four weeks in France in 1924-25, and the John Keppie Travelling Scholarship which funded a year's study in Italy, France and Spain in 1925-26. In 1926 he settled in London as a senior draughtsman to Niven & Wigglesworth, but because of the dissolution of that partnership he moved in the following year to the office of Sir John William Simpson, and in 1929 to that of Emanuel Vincent Harris. Whilst with Harris, he travelled again to Italy, and to Sicily and the south of France, for seven weeks in 1930; and served as editor of the RIAS Quarterly in 1931 and 1932. He enjoyed his London years and it was with some regret that he returned to Glasgow with a view to taking up the partnership vacated by Salmond's departure.
In 1936 Gray became seriously ill and his health did not recover. He died at Strone on 17 August 1938, leaving moveable estate of £5830 12s 11d. His usual address at that date was 27 Heriot Street, Pollokshields. John Watson Junior then became sole partner at the age of 35 having been effectively in full charge of the practice since 1936, and at about that time he took over the practice of Alexander Nisbet Paterson on his retirement.
Watson Junior was a convinced classicist of the late Burnet-Vincent Harris school throughout his career. He was elected FRIBA on 16 November 1943, his proposers being William James Smith, John Stewart, A N Paterson and Andrew Graham Henderson. At that time his office was at 111 Union Street, Glasgow and he was living at Old Mains, Cadzow Avenue, Giffnock, a fine mid-18th-century country house which he had, with characteristic determination, rescued from demolition when its grounds became an exclusive housing estate. He was an important collector of Glasgow School paintings and architectural books throughout his life, and he and his much taller English wife Beryl were most generous hosts. Their later years were clouded by the death of their architect son who died while still a student.
Watson Junior retired c.1970 as a result of pneumonia which left him with a damaged heart. He and his wife then gave up their house at Giffnock and moved to a large flat at Netherlee. He died in 1977 and was survived by his wife.
In the late 1970s there were three partners in the practice William MacDonald, John McBride and Archie Crawford. By the 1980s MacDonald seems to have left. Besides the jobs listed they undertook restoration work for the National Trust for Scotland and the Trustees of Dollar Academy, housing rehabilitation work for Glasgow District Council and acted as environmental consultants for the Scottish Development Agency. They were also architects for Scottish & newcastle Breweries, William Grant & Son Ltd, William Teacher Ltd and Arthur Guiness, Glasgow. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 242, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1914 | c. 1934 | | | 111|11, Union Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1943 | After 1966 | Listed in the Builder of September 1950 as being the Central Station Buildings | | 245, North Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1970 * | After 1975 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
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 | | 1914 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Won competition (under earlier title of Watson & Salmond) to secure job for extension. Begun but never completed | | 1919 | Davidson Memorial Cottage Hospital | Girvan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1920 | 202 Bath Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | June 1920 | House for Herr Oswald | Milngavie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Chauffeur's cottage | | c. 1920 | Methodist Halls | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution | | 1921 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Scheme for enlargement of council chamber with giant Corinthian portico on George Square, to match Banqueting Hall on George Street and to complement Burnet's war memorial; canvas mock-up proposed by council which Watson declined to agree to; unexecuted | | 1922 | Castle Levan | Gourock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Survey and alterations | | 1922 | Cathkin House | Carmunnock | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations including entrance door | | 1922 | Pollokshields Free Church | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1922 | Waverley Cinema | Shawlands Cross | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1923 | Gracefield | Prestwick | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | October 1923 | Bungalow for Charles Gray | Bridge of Weir | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | December 1923 | Eastern District Hospital, Nurses' Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension | | 1925 | Cathcart Established Church and manse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Completion to Clifford's design | | 1925 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital | Thorntonhall | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1925 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Completion of new ward pavilion designed by H E Clifford | | 1927 | 101-103 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New shop front | | 1927 | Glenfeulan, chauffeur's cottage | Shandon | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1927 | House for Mrs Gray | Tayvallich | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1928 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital, nurses' home | Thorntonhall | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1928 | Scottish Ice Rink | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1929 | Glasgow Academy | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Science block | | 1929 | House at Whitecraigs | Whitecraigs | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1929 | Unspecified bank and offices | | | | Scotland | Competition design (presumably) | | 1930 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Paying patients' annexe | | 1930 | Victoria Infirmary, private annexe | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1931 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital, John Innes Memorial Chapel | Thorntonhall | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Biscuit Factory of Gray, Dunn & Co, Kinning Park | Kinning Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | South block | | 1934 | Church | Parkhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1934 | Glasgow Academy | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extensive additions, including 18 classrooms, large library, gymnasium, ancillary and administrative accommodation, monumental entrance gateway with two janitors' houses - steel-framed | | 1934 | Victoria Infirmary, nurses' home | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension | | 1935 | National Bank of Scotland, St Enoch Square | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction and new banking hall | | 1935 | Scottish Ice Rink | Crossmyloof | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1935 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Paying patients annexe and nurses home both extended | | 1935 | Victoria Infirmary, private annexe | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension | | 1935 | Victoria Infirmary, X-ray department and private wing | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1936 | 3, 4 and 5 Claremont Terrace | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations to no 3 for Woodland Nursing Home | | 1936 | British Linen Bank, Orchardhill Church branch | Giffnock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions | | 1936 | House for Miss Somerville | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1938 | British Linen Bank | Dunoon | | Argyll | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1938 | British Linen Bank, Wishaw | Wishaw | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions | | 1938 | Glasgow Academy | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction of main building, dormers on main elevation, new east façade, lodges and claire voyee railing on Holland Street | | 1938 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Scheme for future extension | | 1939 | British Linen Bank | Lesmahagow | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1939 | Hairmyres Emergency Hospital | East Kilbride | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1939 | Maukinhill Filter Station | Greenock | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | | 1939 | Millport Emergency Hospital | Millport | Great Cumbrae | Bute | Scotland | | | 1939 | National Bank of Scotland, Dalmarnock Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1939 | The Garrison | Millport | Great Cumbrae | Bute | Scotland | Conversion to St Andrews Emergency Hospital | | 1939 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Adaptation of ground floor of north west pavilion for outpatients department. Other additions? | | 1939 | Victoria Infirmary, kitchens | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions | | 1940 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital | Thorntonhall | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Extension | | 1940 | Victoria Infirmary, boiler house | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1944 | Grogarry Lodge | | South Uist | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Additions | | 1944 | Property, Hamilton Road | Cambuslang | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1944 | The Devon Bar | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1945 | Premises, Torrisdale Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1946 | Centre Street Grain Mills | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Survey and alterations | | 1947 | Bank of England, St Vincent Place | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Proposed alterations and additions | | 1947 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Outpatient and casualty block - design (executed 1966) | | 1948 | Bakery for R A Peacock and Son | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1949 | Storage Buildings for Thomas Ballantyne & Co, Dobbies Loan | | | Glasgow | | | | 1950 | British Linen Bank, Great Western Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Architects for alterations and additions | | 1950 | Factory for John Drummond & Co Ltd, Caird's Shipyard | Caird's Shipyard | | Greenock | Scotland | To prepare plans | | 1950 | Factory for John Mitchell & Co Ltd, Caird's Shipyard | Caird's Shipyard | | Greenock | Scotland | To prepare plans | | 1950 | Protestant Secondary School, Pollock Scheme | Pollock | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1950 | Public School, No 2 Pollock Site | Pollock | | Glasgow | Scotland | To prepare plans | | 1950 | School, Pollock | Pollock | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1950 | Senior Secondary School, Pollock No 2 Site | Pollock | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1951 | Biscuit Factory of Gray, Dunn & Co, Kinning Park | Kinning Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1951 | Gartloch Mental Hospital, Block of Houses | Gartloch | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1951 | Offices and Workshops for Osbourne and Hunter Ltd, North Fredrick Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1952 | Buildings, Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | To prepare plans for alterations and additions | | 1952 | Premises of James Aitchison & Co (Glasgow) Ltd, Cheapside Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | To prepare plans for reconstruction and additions | | 1952 | Premises of Malga Products Ltd, Muirend Avenue Works | Clarkston | | East Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1953 | Biscuit Factory of Gray, Dunn & Co, Kinning Park | Kinning Park | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans in hand for extension | | 1953 | Factory for Scottish Industrial Estates Ltd, Thornliebank | Thornliebank | | East Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans in hand for new factory block | | 6 March 1953 | Commercial garage and storage buildings, Jessie Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New buildings | | 10 April 1953 | School, Old Crookston Farm Site | | | Glasgow | Scotland | To prepare plans for new school | | 19 June 1953 | Premises of G.D. & Co Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 25 September 1953 | Premises of WB Dick and Co Ltd, Crownpoint Road | Dennistoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | Plans in hand for alterations and additions | | 1957 | Cardross Crematorium and Cardross | Cardross | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 15 March 1957 | Victoria Infirmary, laboratory etc | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | per Builder p523 | | 1958 | Store For A Guiness & Sons | Finnieston | | Glasgow | | Survey | | 7 November 1958 | Office and store for Messrs Arthur Guinness, Son & Co (Park Royal) Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | per Builder p773 | | 7 November 1958 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital, nurses' home | Thorntonhall | | Glasgow | Scotland | per Builder p773 | | 7 November 1958 | St Augustine's RC Junior Secondary School | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | per Builder p805 | | 1960s | British Linen Bank | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | British Linen Bank | Prestwick | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | British Linen Bank | Motherwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | Brodick Castle | Brodick | Arran | Bute | Scotland | Restoration | | 1960s | Cairds Yard Factory | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | Caledonian Insurance Building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations? additions? | | 1960s | Caledonian Insurance Company Offices | | | London | England | | | 1960s | Carntyne Industrial Estate | Carntyne | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Cooperage for Teachers (Distillers) Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Craigbank Senior Secondary School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Factory for Gray Dunn | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Govan District Asylum | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Treatment block; laboratoy block, mortuary, units for intensive case and paraplegics, twin theatre unit. (Some or all of these - the RIBA Directory is vague.) | | 1960s | Holmwood House | Cathcart | | Glasgow | Scotland | Restoration | | 1960s | Industrial Estate | Kilwinning | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | Offices for Arthur Guiness | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Offices for P & W MacLellan | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Premises of John G Kincaid & Co Ltd (Engineers), East Hamilton Street | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | New works? extension to old works? | | 1960s | Residential Spastics School | Little Corseford, Johnstone | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | Royal Bank of Scotland | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | Royal Bank of Scotland | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | Royal Bank of Scotland | Dumfries | | Dumfreisshire | Scotland | | | 1960s | St Margaret Mary's RC Senior Secondary School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Thornliebank Industrial Estate | Thornliebank | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Treatment block; laboratory block, mortuary, units for intensive case and paraplegics (Philipshill paraplegic unit), twin theatre unit. Also coronary unit, ward upgrading, occupational therapy unit. | | 1962 | 4-6 George Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1964(?) | Dollar Academy, Playfair block | Dollar | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Restoration | | 1968 | Dumfries House | Cumnock (near) | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Restoration. Dining room (proposed reduction in size, not carried out, coffering in Venetian window alcove which was executed) | | Before 1975 | Guardian Assurance Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | Office for F S Assurance | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | Office for the Woolwich Equitable | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | c. 1975 | Barony Parochial Asylum | Lenzie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Upgrading and modernisation. | | c. 1975 | City of Glasgow District Asylum for Pauper Lunatics | Gartcosh | | Glasgow | Scotland | Upgrading and modernisation. | | c. 1975 | Factory | Girvan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | c. 1975 | Factory for SIEC | Larkfield | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | c. 1975 | Stoneyetts Hospital, Woodilee | Lenzie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Upgrading and modernisation. | | Before 1981 | Bank of Scotland | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Bank of Scotland | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Castlemilk Secondary School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Factory for Adam Fleck Bakeries | Drumchapel | | | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Factory for Rowntree Mackintosh | | | | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Factory for the Scottish Development Agency | | | | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Royal Bank of Scotland | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | Before 1981 | Royal Bank of Scotland | Motherwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1987 | St Andrew's RC Church | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | With Archie Crawford as project architect/partner in charge |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Murray, Ian (parts written by John Watson Junior) | | The Victoria Infirmary of Glasgow 1890-1938 | | | pp87-8 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 4 September 1936 | | | Obituary of Watson Senior | | Builder | 9 September 1938 | | | Obituary of Salmond | | Builder | 4 March 1949 | | | p288 | | Builder | 24 November 1950 | | | p550 | | Builder | 8 December 1950 | | | p617 | | Builder | 17 February 1950 | | | p246 | | Builder | 17 March 1950 | | | p375 | | Builder | 31 March 1950 | | | p438 | | Builder | 14 July 1950 | | | p77 | | Builder | 29 September 1950 | | | p379 | | Builder | 5 January 1951 | | | p27 | | Builder | 4 May 1951 | | | p640 | | Builder | 31 August 1951 | | | p307 | | Builder | 28 March 1952 | | | p500 | | Builder | 29 August 1952 | | | p313 | | Builder | 6 March 1953 | | | p400 | | Builder | 10 April 1953 | | | p581 | | Builder | 15 May 1953 | | | p776 | | Builder | 19 June 1953 | | | p969 | | Builder | 11 September 1953 | | | p413 | | Builder | 25 September 1953 | | | p485 | | Glasgow Herald | 24 August 1936 | | | Obituary of Watson Senior | | Glasgow Herald | 25 August 1937 | | | Obituary of Watson Senior | | Glasgow Herald | 3 September 1939 | | | Obituary of Salmond | | RIAS Quarterly | 1927 | | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | pp32-40 (Report of RIBA street architecture medal award for extension) | | RIBA Journal | 20 March 1937 | v44 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p 516 - obituary of Watson Senior | | RIBA Journal | 15 August 1938 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary of Gray p943-4 |
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