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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1121, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 18991909 

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 11William Leiperc. 18991909Partner 
Item 2 of 11William Hunter McNabc. 1899After 1919Partner 
Item 3 of 11James Steel Maitland19031909Apprentice 
Item 4 of 11Henry Neil WhimsterSeptember 19061911Apprentice 
Item 5 of 11Thomas Callender Campbell Mackiec. 1907Before 1909Assistant 
Item 6 of 11Leslie Gordon Lunan8 October 19098 October 1913Apprentice 
Item 7 of 11Henry Neil Whimster19111912Draughtsman 
Item 8 of 11James McNab (or Hamish McNab)1911Before 1915Assistant 
Item 9 of 11James McNab (or Hamish McNab)After 19111915Chief Draughtsman 
Item 10 of 11Alan CrombieSeptember 1912August 1915Apprentice(?) 
Item 11 of 11Leslie Gordon Lunan8 October 19138 December 1914Assistant 

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 391897Volunteer Headquarters and Drill HallYorkhill GlasgowScotlandExtensions and new building
Item 2 of 391898Red TowerHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 3 of 391899Ballimore, Otter FerryLoch Fyne ArgyllScotlandRemodelling
Item 4 of 391899Barnlongart, Ballimore EstateLoch Fyne ArgyllScotland 
Item 5 of 391900Ard ChoilleClynder DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 6 of 391900Ard LussHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 7 of 391900DeroranStirling StirlingshireScotlandAlso lodge at 16 Polmaise Road
Item 8 of 391900Glasgow Royal Infirmary  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design - unplaced
Item 9 of 391900Glendaruel HouseKilmodan ArgyllScotland 
Item 10 of 391902Victoria InfirmaryHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandOperating theatre
Item 11 of 39c. 1902St James's Church of ScotlandKilmacolm/Kilmalcolm RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 12 of 391903Morar HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandHouse, motor house, and laundry
Item 13 of 391904Morar HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandMotor house and laundry
Item 14 of 391904Rockbank House and LodgeHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 15 of 39c. 1904Commercial building, 153 St Vincent Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 391905Business Premises and House for William Chambers  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 391905Premises, George Street and Argyll StreetOban ArgyllScotlandMajor rebuilding: conversion of old premises into shop and tenement 'in progress' in 1905
Item 18 of 391906BrownhillHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations and bay window addition
Item 19 of 391906High MayfieldHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandBay window addition
Item 20 of 391906Morar HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandGardener's cottage
Item 21 of 391906Rockbank, Three VillasHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 22 of 391906Victoria InfirmaryHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandGatehouse
Item 23 of 391907Morar HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAttic-level addition and billiard room
Item 24 of 391907UplandsBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotland 
Item 25 of 39c. 1907AverleyKelvinside GlasgowScotlandRedecoration, including panelling in drawing room, dining room and hall (carried out by Matthew Henderson of Glasgow) and furniture (made by Wylie & Lochhead)
Item 26 of 391908Ard LussHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandRear extension
Item 27 of 391908PolkemmetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 28 of 39c. 1909Rossdhu HouseLuss ArgyllScotlandInternal work and additions, dining room
Item 29 of 391910Beneffrey HousePollokshields GlasgowScotlandMcNab practising alone
Item 30 of 391911Tenement, West Princes Street and Sinclair StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandMcNab practising alone
Item 31 of 391912St Sophia's RC ChapelGlendaruel ArgyllScotlandMcNab practising alone
Item 32 of 391913GlenkinHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension - McNab responsible
Item 33 of 391913Rockbank, Three VillasHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAddition of billiard room to Hilden, no 45 Charlotte Street - McNab practising alone
Item 34 of 391914BrantwoodHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandGarage
Item 35 of 39Before 1914Catholic Apostolic Church  GlasgowScotlandAddition of transepts and chancel - McNab practising alone
Item 36 of 39c. 1914CarrickardenBearsden GlasgowScotlandLibrary - converted from parlour - McNab practising alone
Item 37 of 39c. 1914NewsteadBearsden GlasgowScotlandMcNab practising alone
Item 38 of 39c. 1914RedlandsBearsden GlasgowScotlandMcNab practising alone
Item 39 of 391916Premises, George Street and Argyll StreetOban ArgyllScotlandInternal alterations (McNab practising alone)

References

Currently, 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.