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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Ninian Macwhannell
Designation: Architect
Born: 15 October 1860
Died: 23 December 1939
Bio Notes: Ninian Macwhannell was born in Hutchesontown on 15 October 1860, son of John Macwhannell, Treasurer and later Secretary of the Glasgow School Board, and Elizabeth Parker. He was educated at Glasgow High School and was articled to Alexander Petrie in 1877, remaining as assistant until 1884 and latterly studying at Glasgow School of Art (1881 to 1884). Thereafter he spent a year as chief draughtsman to Charles Davidson of Paisley before commencing practice in 1885. His partner John Rogerson was born about 1862, the son of Provost David Rogerson of Dumbarton and Mary Roy, and was principally responsible for the designs of the partnership. Like Macwhannell, Rogerson was an apprentice in Petrie's office, which he entered at the age of twenty in 1882 for four years, remaining as assistant for a further two years and three months. During that period he studied at Anderson's College and Glasgow School of Art, passing the qualifying exam in 1889. He was admitted ARIBA on 13 January 1890, his proposers being James Archibald Morris of Ayr, John Burnet Senior and Thomas Lennox Watson.

Macwhannell married Elizabeth Sellars Mason, daughter of Robert Mason, master plumber, on 15 January 1890 at 4 Provan Place: they had one daughter. His father's connections brought a significant share of the business of Glasgow School Board, his designs for Alexandra Parade School being exhibited at the Paris Exhibition of 1900. He was elected FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being James Milne Monro, Robert Douglas Sandilands (also from Petrie's office) and C J MacLean.

Macwhannell was a man of exceptionally wide business and social interests. In 1885 he was a keen footballer in the Queens Park team; in 1901 he was very oddly Deacon of the Fleshers Incorporation, and during the Great War Inspector of Munitions at Georgetown, Renfrewshire. In 1925 he was elected to Glasgow Corporation for Pollokshaws; in 1929 he was a magistrate and President of the Association of Deacons; and in 1930 a senior Baillie. He retired from the Corporation in 1934 and was appointed Baillie of Provan in 1937. Throughout his career Macwhannell was well known for his love of the Doric, and was much in demand as a reader, reciter and lecturer. He compiled an anthology entitled 'Oor Mither Tongue' and was President of the Burns Federation from 1934 to 1937. At various times he was Head of the Scottish National Song Society, Preses of the Grand Antiquity Society, and President of the Glasgow District Branch of the Rationalist Press Association.

After a brief period of retirement, Macwhannell died at 1366 Pollokshaws Road on 23 December 1939, leaving moveable estate of £2,085 10s 6d.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 890, Stirling Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1883 *  
Item 2 of 812, Queen Square, Strathbungo, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1888 *1890 
Item 3 of 858, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1888After 1911 
Item 4 of 8129, Whitehill Street, Dennistoun, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1891 *  
Item 5 of 8Mossgiel/1366, Pollokshaws Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 190623 December 1939 
Item 6 of 811, Jane Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1914After 1925 
Item 7 of 8309, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1929After 1931 
Item 8 of 8233, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1939 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6Alexander Petrie18771882Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Alexander Petrie18821884Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 6Charles Davidson18841885Chief Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 6Ninian Macwhannellc. 1888(?)1908Partner 
Item 5 of 6John Andrew Reid19081930Partner 
Item 6 of 6Macwhannell & Reid19301939Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5Ninian Macwhannellc. 1888(?)1908Partner 
Item 2 of 5Joseph Charles Miller19181923Apprentice 
Item 3 of 5Joseph Charles Miller19231925Assistant 
Item 4 of 5James Miller19231928Apprentice(?) 
Item 5 of 5Hugh McMasterAugust 1927 Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3C J MacLean3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3James Milne Monro3 December 1906for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Robert Douglas Sandilands3 December 1906for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 10John Easton2 December 1935for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 10William Gordon Galloway20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 10Alexander Gardner30 November 1925for Fellowship
Item 4 of 10Andrew Graham Henderson3 January 1910for Associateship
Item 5 of 10Joseph Charles Miller30 November 1925for Associateship
Item 6 of 10Joseph Charles Miller7 February 1938for Fellowship
Item 7 of 10John Andrew ReidLate 1910for Licentiateship
Item 8 of 10John StewartLate 1930for Licentiateship
Item 9 of 10John Stewart1931for Fellowship
Item 10 of 10James Balderston Whyte20 March 1911for Licentiateship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 671882Clyde Dye Works  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 2 of 67After 1885Barrachuie InnBarrachuie/Barachuie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 3 of 67After 1885TenementsPollokshaws GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 67After 1885VillaBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 5 of 67After 1885VillaNewlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 671888Engineering Works, James Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 7 of 671888Greenhead Weaving Factory  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 671891Engineering Works, James Street  GlasgowScotland£1,000 additions
Item 9 of 671891Miller's InstitutionThurso CaithnessScotlandAdditions - plans only? Executed by Sinclair MacDonald
Item 10 of 671891Tureen Street SchoolCalton GlasgowScotlandJanitor's house and offices
Item 11 of 671893Cottage AlmshousesLiberton EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 671895Glasgow Samaritan Hospital for Women  GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 671897Alexandra Parade School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 671897Carron Grange HouseStenhousemuir StirlingshireScotland 
Item 15 of 671899Dr Little HospitalDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 16 of 671900Stobhill HospitalSpringburn GlasgowScotlandFourth premiated competition design (£50 premium)
Item 17 of 67After 1900Neilston Parish SchoolNeilston RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 18 of 67After 1900VillaDumbreck GlasgowScotlandWilliam Gordon Galloway carried out the work, whilst apprentice/assistant
Item 19 of 671901Barony PoorhouseForesthill GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 20 of 671901John Street SchoolBridgeton GlasgowScotland£15,000 additions
Item 21 of 671902Burgh Police Buildings and Court HallBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 22 of 671903Quarrybrae SchoolParkhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 671903Renfrewshire Combination PoorhouseCrookston RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 24 of 671903University of Glasgow, New Medical Buildings  GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 671903Western District HospitalOakbank GlasgowScotlandNarrowly missed winning commission
Item 26 of 67c. 1903ArnhallWhiting BayArranButeScotland 
Item 27 of 671904(?)Dalziel PoorhouseMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandSecond premiated competition design
Item 28 of 671904Glasgow Samaritan Hospital for Women, Alice Mary Corbett Memorial Nurses' Home  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 671904Greenhead House for Mr McPhailCalton GlasgowScotlandWorkshops, drill hall and janitor's house
Item 30 of 671904St Mungo Vintners Co Bar  GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 671904Workshops, 63 Ladywell Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 32 of 671905Buchanan Institute  GlasgowScotlandAdditions including Workshops, drill hall, janitor's house
Item 33 of 67After 1906Golf HousePollok GlasgowScotlandWilliam Gordon Galloway carried out the work, whilst apprentice/assistant
Item 34 of 671907Glasgow Samaritan Hospital for Women  GlasgowScotlandNew ward block
Item 35 of 671908Terraced houses, Athol Place, Bath Street  GlasgowScotlandWest end altered
Item 36 of 67Before 1908Villa, Albert Drive and Springkell AvenuePollokshields GlasgowScotlandDate unknown
Item 37 of 671910Giffnock SchoolGiffnock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 38 of 671910Masonic TempleBarrhead RenfrewshireScotlandCompetition entry
Item 39 of 671911Darnley HospitalEastwood RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions
Item 40 of 671911Villa at NeilstonNeilston RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 41 of 671912Battlefield Congregational Church HallBattlefield GlasgowScotland 
Item 42 of 671912Battlefield Public SchoolLangside GlasgowScotlandNew block
Item 43 of 671912Cathkin Road School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 44 of 671912Dumbarton AcademyDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandDesigned but not built
Item 45 of 671913Buchanan Institute  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 46 of 671913Greenhead House for Mr McPhailCalton GlasgowScotlandInterior of house remodelled
Item 47 of 671913Shakespeare Street School  GlasgowScotlandSome later drawings signed by Macwhannell alone
Item 48 of 67c. 1913Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women, Laundry and Laboratory  GlasgowScotland 
Item 49 of 671914Govancroft Potteries  GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 67c. 1915National Burns Memorial, Cottage Homes, Museum and TowerMauchline AyrshireScotlandRestoration of cottages for Burns Federation
Item 51 of 671922Royal Samaritan Hospital for Women, Agnes Barr Dispensary  GlasgowScotland 
Item 52 of 67Before 1923Gate Lodge at Thornliebank CemeteryThornliebank RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 53 of 67Before 1923House near LarbertLarbert StirlingshireScotland 
Item 54 of 671924Queen's Park Synagogue  GlasgowScotland 
Item 55 of 67c. 1924National Burns Memorial, Cottage Homes, Museum and TowerMauchline AyrshireScotlandRestoration of cottages for Burns Federation
Item 56 of 67c. 1925Jean Armour's HouseMauchline AyrshireScotlandRestoration
Item 57 of 671930Cochran Memorial GymnasiumKirkcudbright KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 58 of 671930Hotel, Buchanan Street  Glasgow  
Item 59 of 671930National Burns Memorial, Cottage Homes, Museum and TowerMauchline AyrshireScotland5 cottages
Item 60 of 671930Tearoom and restaurant  GlasgowScotland 
Item 61 of 671932Block of warehouses and offices for Milne & Co  GlasgowScotland 
Item 62 of 671932Buchanan Street Bus Station  GlasgowScotland 
Item 63 of 671932Factory, 70-80 Cheapside Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 64 of 67c. 1932King's Park Primary School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 65 of 671933Louvre TheatreParkhead GlasgowScotlandEnlargement proposed
Item 66 of 671936Dunoon HydropathicDunoon ArgyllScotlandExtension
Item 67 of 671939Convalescent HomeKilmun ArgyllScotlandExtension

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 6Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 
Item 3 of 6Post Office Directories     
Item 4 of 6RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 5 of 6Scottish Biographies1938  E J Thurston (pub.) 
Item 6 of 6Who's Who in Architecture1926    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder5 January 1940  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 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 F v17 p146 no1169

Images

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© All rights reserved. 'Who's Who', Building Industries 16 May 1927 (Courtesy of Iain Paterson)