Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Riddell Glen | Designation: | | Born: | 1884 or 1885 | Died: | 19 February 1950 | Bio Notes: | William Riddell Glen was born in Hutchesontown in 1885 (Dist. no. 644/11, entry 2703; although in his RIBA nomination papers he claims his year of birth to be 1884), the son of James Glen, provision merchant and his wife Margaret Riddell. He won a studentship at Glasgow School of Architecture where he studied from 1900 whilst undertaking an apprenticeship to Burnet, Boston & Carruthers. He transferred to the practice of John Archibald Campbell in 1904 whilst continuing his studies for a further year.
He commenced independent practice in 1912 at 144 St Vincent Street, Glasgow, but his career was soon interrupted by the First World War, during which he served in the Glasgow Highlanders, rising to the rank of major and winning an MC. On completion of his active war service in 1919 he returned to Glasgow and went into partnership with Albert Victor Gardner. The practice, Gardner & Glen, had offices at 164 Bath Street, Glasgow and specialised in the design of 'atmospheric' cinemas. One of their clients, George Singleton, regarded Glen as a far superior architect to Gardner, describing the latter as 'the most awful faker in the world. He used every substitute for the decent thing'. The partnership was dissolved in 1929 when Glen left for London having obtained an appointment as Architect to Associated British Cinemas Ltd, based at 30-31 Golden Square and working under John Maxwell. He remained in this post for the rest of his career and appears to have traded as W R Glen & Co from at least 1933 though the idetity of his partners is yet to be established. He was elected LRIBA on 18 June 1934, his proposers being William James King, John Edwin Yerbury and Andrew Graham Henderson. At that time he was living at 'Stedly', The Park, Sidcup, Kent.
Glen was forced into early retirement by illness, but retained by the ABC chain as a consultant. He died on 19 February 1950 after an illness which lasted five months. He left a widow and two daughters. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 353, Cathcart Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1900 * | | | | 144, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1912 | c. 1914 | | | 164, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1919 | 1929 | | | 18, Clincart Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1921 * | | | | 30-31, Golden Square, Upper John Street, London, England | Business | 1929 | 1939 or after 1940 | As Architect to Associated British Cinemas Ltd | | Heddon House/149, Regent Street, London, England | Business | 1930 * | | | | Stedly, The Park, Sidcup, Kent, England | Private | Before 1934 | After 1940 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA Proposers
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | 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 | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Journal | April 1950 | v57 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p246 - obituary (dates of training and early career appear to be incorrect) |
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 research by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L no4403 (combined box 12) (dates of birth and study at GSA are incorrect in these papers) |
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