Basic Biographical Details

Name: Francis ('Frank') Stirrat
Designation:  
Born: c. 1833
Died: 29 March 1895
Bio Notes: Francis Stirrat was born c.1833 at Dalry, Ayrshire, the son of James Stirrat, wool-spinner and his wife Barbara Cochrane Miller. He supervised the building of James Hamilton's Ulster Bank in Belfast in 1857-60, but whether he had been a pupil or assistant of Kirkland when Hamilton was working for him is as yet unknown. In 1863 James Hamilton took him into partnership in charge of his Belfast office but this seems to have dissolved in 1866. Stirrat remained in practice in Belfast at Donegall Place where he was described as 'architect's surveyor', perhaps a typographical error for architect and surveyor as he was certainly in architectural practice.

Stirrat subsequently returned to Glasgow by 1879 when he won the competition for the Govanhill Burgh Hall. His practice thereafter was predominantly a south-side one but in the early 1890s he moved to Dunfermline where he died of an internal haemorrhage on 29 March 1895 at 10 Bridge Street. He had probably obtained a significant commission or employment there but this has yet to be identified.

Stirrat was unmarried. He was survived by his sister Mary who lived in Gourock.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 596, North Hanover Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 510, Bridge Street, Dunfermline, Fife, ScotlandBusiness 1895 
Item 3 of 5145, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1860  
Item 4 of 5Donegall Place, Belfast, Northern IrelandBusinessAfter 1860  
Item 5 of 5121, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1879 *After 1891(?) 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Hamilton & Stirrat18631866Partner 

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 1William Leck1870c. 1875Apprentice 

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 151863Ulster BankSligo County SligoEire 
Item 2 of 151866Parsonage for Glencraig ChurchCraigavad DowNorthern Ireland 
Item 3 of 151866Shops and premises, High Street and Church Lane  BelfastNorthern Ireland 
Item 4 of 151866Warehouse, Wellington Place  BelfastNorthern IrelandConversion of dwelling house into warehouse
Item 5 of 151867Premises for William Reid  BelfastNorthern Ireland 
Item 6 of 151869Castleward  DowNorthern IrelandAlterations to porch
Item 7 of 151870Great Victoria Street Synagogue  BelfastNorthern IrelandWith Nathan Joseph
Item 8 of 151872Geraldstown House (Navan)  MeaEireAlterations
Item 9 of 151879Govanhill and Crosshill Burgh HallGovanhill and Crosshill GlasgowScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 10 of 151880Glasgow Municipal Buildings  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design for second competition, under pseudonym 'Peradventure', strongly influenced by the work of James Sellars, with the tower adapted from that of Cuthbert Brodrick's Leeds Town Hall - shortlisted in final ten, but unplaced
Item 11 of 151882Victoria InfirmaryLangside GlasgowScotlandUnsuccessful competition design
Item 12 of 151885Hartwood AsylumShotts LanarkshireScotlandSecond premium in competition
Item 13 of 151888Southern Press Printing WorksGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 151889Southern Press BuildingGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 15 of 151891Commercial building, Dundas Street  GlasgowScotland 

References

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Mitchell LibraryGildard's 'Some Old Glasgow Architects' supplementary manuscript pp20-21
Item 2 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research on birth and death by Iain Paterson