Basic Biographical Details Name: | Leiper & McNab | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1899 | Died: | After 1919 | Bio Notes: | William Hunter McNab was born in Stirling in 1862, the son of James McNab, and educated at 'several schools in Stirling, finishing at [The] High School there.' In 1877 he was articled to John Allan of Stirling, a somewhat whimsical architect, but he attended classes held by Leonard Baker, who was 'connected with South Kensington Science and Art Department' and 'whose classes were unsurpassed by any similar classes in the country'. In 1881 he secured a place in the office of William Leiper, which enabled him to study at Glasgow School of Art and in 1883 Leiper put him in charge of his drawing office, although responsibility may in some degree have been shared when William James Anderson was in the office in 1889 to 1891 helping with the detailing of the Sun building.
It is not entirely clear at what point Leiper took him into partnership. His RIBA nomination paper states that he commenced practice in 1896 with additions to Glenfinnart House at Ardentinny, which he may have been allowed to undertake separately from the practice. 'Who's Who in Architecture 1914' gives 1899 as the date of commencement of practice, which is probably the date of the partnership agreement. Although not claimed as his own work in his nomination papers, Leiper's two large houses at Stirling probably came to the practice through McNab's connections there.
McNab was admitted FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being Leiper, John Keppie and John James Burnet. At that date he had travelled in France and Holland.
Leiper suffered a protracted illness and McNab gradually took over the business, becoming sole partner on Leiper's retirement in 1909. He retained Leiper's name in the practice title until at least 1919, but although McNab was a very able architect the firm had very little business after Leiper's death in 1916.
McNab married Isabella Braid Christie Walls. Their son Hamish continued the practice but by that date it was more a studio for interior decorating and other forms of artwork on a husband-and-wife basis.
William Hunter McNab died in December 1935. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 121, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1899 | 1909 | |
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 | | 1897 | Volunteer Headquarters and Drill Hall | Yorkhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extensions and new building | | 1898 | Red Tower | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1899 | Ballimore, Otter Ferry | Loch Fyne | | Argyll | Scotland | Remodelling | | 1899 | Barnlongart, Ballimore Estate | Loch Fyne | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1900 | Ard Choille | Clynder | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1900 | Ard Luss | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1900 | Deroran | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Also lodge at 16 Polmaise Road | | 1900 | Glasgow Royal Infirmary | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - unplaced | | 1900 | Glendaruel House | Kilmodan | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1902 | Victoria Infirmary | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Operating theatre | | c. 1902 | St James's Church of Scotland | Kilmacolm/Kilmalcolm | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1903 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | House, motor house, and laundry | | 1904 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Motor house and laundry | | 1904 | Rockbank House and Lodge | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | c. 1904 | Commercial building, 153 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1905 | Business Premises and House for William Chambers | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1905 | Premises, George Street and Argyll Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Major rebuilding: conversion of old premises into shop and tenement 'in progress' in 1905 | | 1906 | Brownhill | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Alterations and bay window addition | | 1906 | High Mayfield | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Bay window addition | | 1906 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Gardener's cottage | | 1906 | Rockbank, Three Villas | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1906 | Victoria Infirmary | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Gatehouse | | 1907 | Morar House | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Attic-level addition and billiard room | | 1907 | Uplands | Bridge of Allan | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | c. 1907 | Averley | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Redecoration, including panelling in drawing room, dining room and hall (carried out by Matthew Henderson of Glasgow) and furniture (made by Wylie & Lochhead) | | 1908 | Ard Luss | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Rear extension | | 1908 | Polkemmet | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | c. 1909 | Rossdhu House | Luss | | Argyll | Scotland | Internal work and additions, dining room | | 1910 | Beneffrey House | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | McNab practising alone | | 1911 | Tenement, West Princes Street and Sinclair Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | McNab practising alone | | 1912 | St Sophia's RC Chapel | Glendaruel | | Argyll | Scotland | McNab practising alone | | 1913 | Glenkin | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Extension - McNab responsible | | 1913 | Rockbank, Three Villas | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Addition of billiard room to Hilden, no 45 Charlotte Street - McNab practising alone | | 1914 | Brantwood | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Garage | | Before 1914 | Catholic Apostolic Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of transepts and chancel - McNab practising alone | | c. 1914 | Carrickarden | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Library - converted from parlour - McNab practising alone | | c. 1914 | Newstead | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | McNab practising alone | | c. 1914 | Redlands | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | McNab practising alone | | 1916 | Premises, George Street and Argyll Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Internal alterations (McNab practising alone) |
ReferencesCurrently, there are no references for this . The information has been derived from: the British Architectural Library / RIBA Directory of British Architects 1834-1914; Post Office Directories; and/or any sources listed under this individual's works. |