Basic Biographical Details

Name: Wilsons & Walker
Designation:  
Born: 1906
Died: Before 1933
Bio Notes: Wilsons & Walker was the successor to the Aberdeen firm of Ellis & Wilson, which had been continued by Robert Gordon Wilson after the retirement of Ellis in 1896. In 1906 he took into partnership his son, also Robert Gordon Wilson (who had served his apprenticeship there in 1893-8), and John Wilson Walker, the firm's name changing to Wilsons & Walker.

The elder Wilson's later years in practice were spent more as a man of business than as an architect. He was elected to the Town Council 1914-24 and after he retired in 1915 he became chairman of the Plans Committee. At various times he was Chairman of the Rubislaw Granite Company and of Kilgour and Walker, and was a director of Richards. On the voluntary side he was Chairman of the Royal Asylum Board and of Aberdeen University Press, a Trustee of Aberdeen Savings Bank and an active member of the Association for Improving the Condition of the Poor.

Walker was mobilised in the first days of the First World War and was demobilised with the rank of Major in 1919. Walker and the younger Wilson were both admitted FRIBA in early 1922.

The elder Wilson died at Westholme, Queen's Road on 28 July 1931; Walker on 18 November 1926; and the younger Wilson on 13 December 1939, after six years of retirement. Like his father he was a director of Richards but was not otherwise active in public affairs.

NB Two buildings (Cluny Free Church and Ballogie) were claimed by the sources to have work done by 'Walker & Wilson'. This is almost certainly an error for Wilsons & Walker since the dates seems to overlap. However this should be investigated further in the local directories.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2181a, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1908 British Architect 10 Jan 1908
Item 2 of 2375, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1921 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 11Robert Gordon Wilson (senior)19061915Partner 
Item 2 of 11John Wilson Walker19061926(?)Partner 
Item 3 of 11Robert Gordon Wilson (junior)19061933(?)Partner 
Item 4 of 11Joseph Addison19091914Apprentice 
Item 5 of 11John Kirkwood CurrieJanuary 1909January 1914Apprentice 
Item 6 of 11Leo DurninJuly 19191922Apprentice 
Item 7 of 11William TocherJune 1920March 1923Apprentice 
Item 8 of 11William George Hay Black Bruce (or William George Bruce)1 July 192230 June 1925Apprentice(?)Apprentice, improver or assistant - unclear
Item 9 of 11Robert Primrose Morris19231926Apprentice 
Item 10 of 11William George Hay Black Bruce (or William George Bruce)1926(?)Before 1931Assistant(?)Possibly returned to this office at this time
Item 11 of 11Kenneth Bradley Miller17 May 193117 May 1934Apprentice 

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 311906114 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotlandRobert Gordon Wilson senior, unclear whether under partnership of Ellis & Wilson or Wilsons & Walker (practice title changed in this year)
Item 2 of 311906House, Polmuir Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 3 of 311906Ironmongers Court, Upperkirkgate  AberdeenScotland 
Item 4 of 311906Royal Mills, Palmerston Road  AberdeenScotlandAdditions
Item 5 of 311906Two houses, Queen's Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 6 of 311906Villa, Rubislaw Den North  AberdeenScotland 
Item 7 of 31After 1906Aberdeen Steam Laundry Works  AberdeenScotland 
Item 8 of 31After 1906Blairs College  AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions/alterations?
Item 9 of 31After 1906Bleach and DyeworksGarthdee AberdeenScotland 
Item 10 of 31After 1906Broadford Works  AberdeenScotlandLarge alterations and additions - flax store and spinning mill, alterations to beam engine house and new north and south mills
Item 11 of 31After 1906Carden Place UP Church  AberdeenScotlandAlterations/additions?
Item 12 of 31After 1906Daily Free Press Buildings, shops, offices and printing and publishing premises  AberdeenScotlandAlterations/additions?
Item 13 of 31After 1906Higher Grade SchoolBanchory AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 14 of 31After 1906House, Rubislaw Den South  AberdeenScotland 
Item 15 of 31After 1906John Knox Established ChurchMounthooly AberdeenScotlandAdditions/alterations?
Item 16 of 31After 1906Nazareth House  AberdeenScotlandAdditions?
Item 17 of 31After 1906North of Scotland meal mills  Aberdeenshire?Scotland 
Item 18 of 31After 1906Northern Co-operative Society Bakery  AberdeenScotland 
Item 19 of 31After 1906Provision WorksTorry AberdeenScotlandAdditions/alterations?
Item 20 of 31After 1906Secondary SchoolPeterculter Kincardineshire/AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 21 of 31After 1906St Margaret's PresbyteryAboyne AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 22 of 311907UP ChurchBurghead Morayshire Renovations
Item 23 of 311908Ballogie House  AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations
Item 24 of 311909Bakery and flour stores for Northern Co-operative  AberdeenScotlandAlterations to bakery
Item 25 of 311909Ellon Free ChurchEllon AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions
Item 26 of 311909Villa, Queen's Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 27 of 311910Sausage Factory, MillbankBerryden AberdeenScotland 
Item 28 of 311914Cluny Free ChurchCluny AberdeenshireScotlandRemodelling
Item 29 of 31Before 1915(?)Banchory Ternan SchoolBanchory Ternan Aberdeenshire/KincardineshireScotlandRobert Gordon Wilson senior, unclear whether under partnership of Ellis & Wilson (up to 1906) or Wilsons & Walker (1906 onwards)
Item 30 of 31Before 1915(?)Torry Primary SchoolTorry AberdeenScotlandRobert Gordon Wilson senior, unclear whether under partnership of Ellis & Wilson (up to 1906) or Wilsons & Walker (1906 onwards)
Item 31 of 31After 1919Government Housing SchemeTorry AberdeenScotland 

References

Currently, there are no references for this . The information has been derived from: the British Architectural Library / RIBA Directory of British Architects 1834-1914; Post Office Directories; and/or any sources listed under this individual's works.