Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Forsyth McGibbon | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 30 March 1856 | Died: | 17 March 1923 | Bio Notes: | William Forsyth McGibbon was born at Anderston on 30 March 1856, the son of William McGibbon, commercial traveller and wis wife, Margaret Walker. No particulars of his early education are at present available, but he was articled to H & D Barclay of Glasgow in December 1870, remaining with them as a draughtsman after completing his apprenticeship, and travelling in France, Belgium and Holland during his holidays in 1876 and 1877. He commenced independent practice in 1878 at the very early age of twenty-one or twenty-two, evidently with particularly good Methodist connections. His Wesleyan churches at Govan and Partick were carefully detailed but in no way exceptional, but his church at Pollokshields was tall and ambitious, rather Pearsonesque in style externally.
McGibbon designed only one important public building, the Corn Exchange of 1896. It was by this work that he was chiefly noticed in his lifetime, a bold Italian design derived in style from Belcher's Institute of Chartered Accountants Building in London. It challenged comparison with the best work by Burnet and Campbell in the nineties.
McGibbon was admitted FRIBA on 11 June 1906, his proposers being David Barclay, John James Burnet, John Keppie and C J MacLean. He died of heart failure and apoplexy on 17 March 1923 at his house, 'Allerly' (or 'Allerley'), 229 Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields; no notices of his death appear to be available. He was survived by his wife, Mary Halley Small (whom he had married at Bellahouston Parish Church on 6 December 1883), two daughers and three sons, one of whom, Charles George, was an architect and assisted in the practice. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 175, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1879 * | | |  | 7, Berlin Terrace, Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1883 * | | |  | 71, Nithsdale Drive, Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1888 * | 1889 | |  | 221, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1888 | After 1919 | |  | Allerley (or Allerly)/229, Nithsdale Road, Pollokshields, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1901 | 17 March 1923 | Place of death |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | H & D Barclay | December 1870 | 1875 | Apprentice | |  | H & D Barclay | 1875 | Before 1878 | Draughtsman | |
Employees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | David Barclay | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |  | (Sir) John James Burnet | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |  | John Keppie | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |  | C J MacLean | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |
RIBA ProposalsThis architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | Henry Higgins | Early 1911 | for Licentiateship |  | John Marshall Hunter | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship |
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | | Factory for the Scottish Dried Grains Co | Campbeltown | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | | Speculative houses in Pollokshields | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1880 | Partick Methodist Church | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1880 | Tenement, Herriet Street | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | c. 1880 | 227 Nithsdale Road | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution on sound stylistic grounds |  | 1882 | Pollokshields UP Church | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1883 | Tenement, Cadder Street and Albert Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1883 | Tenement, Herriet Street and Albert Road | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1883 | Wesleyan Church | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1885 | St Ninian's Church | Port Bannatyne | Bute | Bute | Scotland | |  | 1886 | Barony Parish Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Unsuccessful competition design |  | 1886 | Barrowfield Weaving Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions at rear |  | 1886 | Dykeneuk House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution on sound stylistic grounds |  | 1886 | Garnethill School | Garnethill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition (east side of old school) |  | 1886 | Hazliebrae | | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution on sound stylistic grounds |  | 1886 | Wesleyan Church | Clydebank | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1886 | Oak Neuk | | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution on sound stylistic grounds |  | c. 1887 | Allerley, 229 Nithsdale Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1888 | Victoria Grain Mills | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Three blocks built |  | 1889 | Contractor's Depot | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension |  | 1891 | Neill & Reid's | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1891 | Tenements and shop, Orchard Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1892 | 48 and 48A Dalziel Drive | | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution on sound stylistic grounds or perhaps Dean of Guild |  | 1894 | Calton Brass Foundry | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rebuilding |  | 1894 | Hall, Sherbrooke St Gilbert's Free Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1895 | Corn Exchange | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New building on same site. |  | 1896 | Armour Street bakery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1896 | Clydesdale Paint, Colour and Oil Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1896 | Clydesdale Paint, Colour and Oil Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of two mansarded buildings |  | 1896 | Offices, 13-15 York Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1896 | Scotstoun Flour Mills | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Riverside block |  | 1896 | Shettleston Free Church | Shettleston | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | Bellahouston Established Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New chancel and transepts added |  | 1898 | St Cuthbert's Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1899 | Sherbrooke St Gilbert's Free Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1900 | Blacklock & McArthur's premises | Tradeston | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1900 | Clydesdale Paint, Colour and Oil Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition |  | c. 1900 | The Tower | Lenzie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | HS 'style of W F McGibbon' |  | 1902 | Tenement and shops, Causeyside | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1903 | Tenement in Brown Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | Before 1906 | St David's Ramshorn | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1907 | Building in Cadogan Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1908 | Steven Memorial Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Bowling Church | Bowling | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Transepts and sanctuary added |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | 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 (birth, death and family history) by Iain Paterson |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v17 p39 no1116 (microfilm reel 12) |
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