Basic Biographical Details

Name: James William Laird
Designation:  
Born: 30 March 1880
Died: 23 December 1939
Bio Notes: John William Laird was born at 137 Greenhead Street, Glasgow, on 30 March 1880, the son of George Laird, upholsterer, joiner and cabinetmaker, and his wife, Margaret Donald.

Laird studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1897 until 1901 but it is not yet known to which practice he was articled. He commenced independent practice at 93 Hope Street at the early age of twenty in 1900 or 1901, but by 1903 or 1904 he had taken his much older brother, born 1868 into partnership as J W & J Laird.

The partnership of J W & J Laird was dissolved in 1925 when John left to form a partnership with his son, George. Shortly thereafter James took James Napier from Burnet Son & Dick's office into partnership as J W Laird & Napier.

James William Laird married Elizabeth Stevenson: they had a daughter, Dorothy. Laird died on bronchial pneumonia at 1554 Barrhead Road Glasgow on 23 December 1939.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5137, Greenhead Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18971902His parent's address
Item 2 of 593, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19011905 
Item 3 of 5163, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19091915 
Item 4 of 5East Hurlet, Nitshill, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19121940 
Item 5 of 5219, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1924(?)After 1940(?) 

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 2J W Laird & J Laird19011911(?)Partner 
Item 2 of 2Laird & Napierc. 1926(?) Partner 

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 3319073rd VB Argyll and Southern Highlanders HeadquartersPollokshields (or Pollokshaws) GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 331907Aerated Water Factory  GlasgowScotland 
Item 3 of 331907Bramwell LodgeHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAddition of room
Item 4 of 331907Institute of Engineers and Shipbuilders  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 5 of 331907Kiltarlity UF ManseKiltarlity Inverness-shireScotlandProvided standard design
Item 6 of 331907Masonic hallHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 7 of 331907Old ManseBower (near Wick) CaithnessScotland 
Item 8 of 331907Olrig UF Church and manseCastletown CaithnessScotlandProvided plans for church - Sinclair MacDonald as executant architect
Item 9 of 331907Tarbat UF MansePortmahomack Ross & CromartyScotlandProvided standard design
Item 10 of 331907UF Church manses in the Highland area   Scotland 
Item 11 of 331907(?)UF ManseSymington LanarkshireScotland 
Item 12 of 33c. 1907UF ManseDrumnadrochit Inverness-shireScotlandProvided standard design
Item 13 of 33c. 1907UF ManseAultbea Ross & CromartyScotlandProvided standard design
Item 14 of 331908Farr Free ChurchBettyhill SutherlandScotlandWith Sinclair MacDonald acting as executant architect
Item 15 of 331909Scotstoun Flour Mills  GlasgowScotlandBlock to Thurso Street added
Item 16 of 33c. 1909UF ManseLochcarron Ross and CromartyScotlandProvided standard design
Item 17 of 331910Clyde Spinning Mill  GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 331910St Catherine's Leather Works  GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 331911Glasgow Glass Works  GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 331911Star PalaceBridgeton GlasgowScotland 
Item 21 of 331913Cold Store, Melbourne Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 22 of 331913Motor Garage, Alexandra Parade  GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 331914Greenhead Brewery  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction
Item 24 of 331927Legal and General Assurance office  GlasgowScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 25 of 331930Ladykin SchoolGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 26 of 331931Proposed churchMelville Grange EdinburghScotland 
Item 27 of 331931Scottish Ideal Home ExhibitionKelvin Hall GlasgowScotlandWon competition, All Scottish House competition
Item 28 of 331933MoorhouseStrathblane StirlingshireScotland 
Item 29 of 331935Buchanan Arms HotelDrymen StirlingshireScotland 
Item 30 of 331936Norwood Cinema  GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 331938Bay HotelGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 32 of 331938Yorkshire Insurance Company offices, St Vincent Street  GlasgowScotlandDrew up plans
Item 33 of 331939Offices and teahouseMonkton AyrshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 
Item 2 of 3RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research by Iain Paterson