Basic Biographical Details Name: | Gardner & Gardner-McLean | Designation: | | Born: | 1925(?) | Died: | | Bio Notes: | Alexander Gardner was born at 95 Regent Street, Greenock on 20 May 1863, the son of Alexander Gardner, grocer and flour miller, and his wife Janet Crawford. He was articled to Malcolm Stark in 1878, moving in 1883 to the office of Hugh Hough Maclure as assistant. During that period he studied at Glasgow School of Art (in 1883-4) and Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. He progressed to the position of head assistant in Maclure's office and left in 1888 to commence practice in Glasgow on his own account. He was an active member of the Architectural Section of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow, holding the offices of Honorary Secretary (1901-05), Vice-President (1905-07) and President (1907-09); amongst his papers read to the Society were 'The City Churches of Glasgow', 'Some Old Glasgow Buildings' and his presidential address, 'Notable Scottish Architects'.
Gardner was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects. He was admitted FRIBA in November 1925, his proposers being John Fairweather, John Thomson and Ninian Macwhannell. It appears to have been in this year that he entered into partnership with George Hunter Gardner-McLean, who may have been a relative. Born in Glasgow on 18 November 1885, the son of John Gardner McLean, solicitor and Lorenza Hamlin Hunter (subsequently Henry), Gardner-McLean had been educated at Hutcheson's School for Boys and began his architectural training in 1900, serving a five-year apprenticeship with an unspecified firm and studying at the Glasgow School of Art and Royal Technical College. After completing his apprenticeship he had worked in the office of John James Burnet for two years, and from 1912 to 1915 was an assistant in the Public Works Department, Glasgow. From 1915 to 1918 he had served in the First World War as a Captain with the Royal Engineers and commanded the 52nd (Lowland) Divisional Engineers, Royal Engineers Territorial Army with the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and Brevet Colonel. From 1919 he had worked in partnership with Hugh Campbell.
Gardner was married to Euphemia Ann Carrick Barclay. He died on 2 February 1926 at 121 Hill Street, his normal address at that time being 89 Eldon Street, Greenock. Gardner-McLean then became sole partner of the firm which retained the Gardner name.
Gardner-McLean had a particular interest in church buildings and for a number of years he served on the Church of Scotland Committee on artistic matters. He was admitted LRIBA in early 1931, his proposers being John Maurice Arthur, George Arthur Boswell and the then secretary of the Glasgow Institute of Architects. He was appointed OBE in 1935 and was a Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh. He was elected FRIBA on 9 January 1939, proposed by William Brown Whitie, John Stewart and James Lochhead. For some years he was a member of the Council of the Glasgow Institute of Architects and became its President in 1939-40. He was also chairman of the Garden Cities and Town Planning Association in Scotland and for several years acted as Chairman of the Scottish Building Centre in Glasgow, of which he was a director.
In the Second World War he was Deputy Chief Engineer Scottish Command with the rank of Colonel and he became Chief of the Directorate of Emergency Works in Scotland. He died of cancer and cerebral thrombosis at Canniesburn on 24 December 1961. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 134, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1919 | c. 1932 | | | 6, India Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1934 | After 1950 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | After 1925(?) | Garage and stores | Polmadie | | Glasgow | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | After 1925(?) | Metallic Manufacturing Company | Ardrossan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | After 1925(?) | Offices of Clyde Bonding Company Ltd | | | | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | After 1925(?) | Residence(s) | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | After 1925(?) | Residence(s) | Whitecraigs | | Glasgow | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | After 1925(?) | Residence(s) | Millport | Great Cumbrae | Bute | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | After 1925(?) | Residence(s) | Newlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | After 1925(?) | Residence(s) | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | Before 1925(?) | Institute | Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Date and therefore partnership uncertain; by Campbell & Gardner-McLean if before 1925, and by Gardner & Gardner-McLean if after 1925 | | c. 1925(?) | Factory for the British Oxygen Company Ltd | Polmadie | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1929 | St David's Church, hall church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1930 | Gartcosh Parish Church | Gartcosh | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1932 | Caledonian Baking Co | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1932 | Newton Mearns Parish Church | Newton Mearns | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1933 | Burns Memorial Church, Church halls and rooms | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1933 | Caledonia Bakery | Kilsyth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1934 | Scottish National Development Council Exhibition House, Kelvin Hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1935 | Broom Cottage | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | West Fairfield | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1937 | Scottish Special Areas - exhibition house | | | | Scotland | | | 1938 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Gas Pavilion | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1938 | St David's Church | Knightswood | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1950 | Askit Laboratory and Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | To prepare plans for extensions | | 1952 | New buildings, Kelvinside | | | Glasgow | Scotland | To prepare plans for new buildings | | 1952 | Queen's Own Camerons Highlanders Club, Queen's Crescent | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1958 | Maritime House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 10 November 1950 | | | p483 | | Builder | 1 February 1952 | | | p205 | | Builder | 25 April 1952 | | | p641 |
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