Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Gilchrist Gilmour
Designation:  
Born: 1881
Died: 11 November 1966
Bio Notes: Thomas Gilchrist Gilmour was born in Irvine in 1881 (Reg Dist 595, entry 379), the son of John Gilmour, master baker and his wife Maggie Gilchrist. He was articled to Bruce & Hay of Glasgow in 1897, studying at the Royal Technical College, and was assistant clerk of works at Messrs Bain & Co from 1900 to 1901, working on 'a government contract'. From there he moved to the offices of John Ure MacDurslaw and of John Fairweather, entering the service of Glasgow Office of Public Works in July 1903. Soon after joining that office he won the competition for Pollokshields District Library, his designs being revised by Alexander Beith McDonald. There is no record of him having travelled during his training but subsequent to becoming a principal he made a number of study tours, including two months in Italy and Paris and one week in Oxford in 1906; a further week in Oxford and two weeks in Bath, Wells and district in 1909; a week in Paris and its environs in 1911; and two weeks in Somerset in 1912, visiting Barrington Court, Montacute House and the Yeovil area.

He passed the qualifying exam in London in June 1912 and was admitted ARIBA on 2 December of that year with the influential support of John James Burnet, Harry Redfern and William Brown Whitie as proposers. He served in the Royal Engineers during the First World War, returning to the Glasgow Office of Public Works thereafter, and was still working there when he was admitted FRIBA in 1928 at the age of forty-six, his proposers being John Watson, John Keppie and William Brown Whitie.

Gilmour was twice married, first to Emily Challis and secondly to Sarah Challis. He died of cardiac failure and arterio sclerosis at 11 Snaefell Avenue, Burnside, Cambuslang on 11 November 1966.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Monteith Row, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1904  
Item 2 of 5101, Craigpark Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19111924 or 1925 
Item 3 of 5501, Mosspark Drive, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1924 or 1925After 1930 
Item 4 of 585, Briarhill Road, Prestwick, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1931 *  
Item 5 of 511, Snaefell Avenue, Burnside, Cambuslang, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19391966 

* 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 5Bruce & Hay18971900Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Messrs Bain & Co19001901Clerk of Works 
Item 3 of 5John Ure MacDurslaw19011902Improver 
Item 4 of 5John FairweatherMarch 1902July 1903Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Glasgow Office of Public Works Architectural Department (later Glasgow Corporation City Engineer's Department)July 1903After 1928Architect 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6(Sir) John James Burnet2 December 1911for Associateship
Item 2 of 6John Keppie1928for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Harry Redfern (or Henry Redfern)2 December 1911for Associateship
Item 4 of 6John Watson1928for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6William Brown Whitie2 December 1911for Associateship
Item 6 of 6William Brown Whitie1928for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 7Thomas Barclay13 August 1940for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 7John Hogg FerrieEarly 1932for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 7James Kernohan8 March 1937for Associateship
Item 4 of 7Alexander Hodge LivingstoneEarly 1932for Associateship
Item 5 of 7Forbes MurisonLate 1931for Associateship
Item 6 of 7Peter Tinto6 March 1939for Associateship
Item 7 of 7Robert Harkness Wallace10 July 1939for Licentiateship

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 111904Pollokshields District LibraryPollokshields GlasgowScotlandWon competition (on staff of City Surveyor's office). A B McDonald revised design. (Drawings by Gilmour)
Item 2 of 111904Townhead Public LibraryTownhead GlasgowScotlandThird premium
Item 3 of 111907Perth Town HallPerth PerthshireScotlandCompetition design - unsuccessful
Item 4 of 111914Calder Street Public Baths and WashhousesGovanhill GlasgowScotlandAs assistant in the City Architect's Department
Item 5 of 111915Couper Institute and libraryCathcart GlasgowScotlandExtension and alteration
Item 6 of 111920Govan Baths and WashhouseGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 7 of 111921Shettleston Hall and Public LibraryShettleston GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 111923Whiteinch Baths and WashhousesWhiteinch GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 111923Whiteinch District LibraryWhiteinch GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 111924(?)Shettleston Baths and WashhousesShettleston GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 111926Kelvin Hall  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Building25 November 1966v211 p86 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Additional research by Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A v20 no2329 (microfilm reel 21); F no2591 (box 8)