Basic Biographical Details

Name: Miller & Black
Designation: Architectural practice
Started: 1899
Ended: After 1981
Bio Notes: Robert Miller was born c.1867 the son of Robert Miller, master joiner, and Janet Newlands. In 1882 he was articled to McKissack & Rowan, where he remained as draughtsman for two years after completing his apprenticeship. He then spent two years as assistant to Alexander Skirving before moving to Ayr, where he served as assistant to Morris & Hunter for two years, returning to Glasgow in 1892 to join William Gardner Rowan, who was now in independent practice, as assistant. The following year he commenced practice on his own account.

In 1899 Miller was joined in partnership by Andrew Black who was five years older, born in 1862. He had been articled to John Hutchison in 1877 and remained with him for fifteen years. He was a fine draughtsman and has a place in history as an influential teacher of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Towards the end of his time at Hutchison's he was largely responsible for the design of Wylie Hill's department store on Buchanan Street. He had set up his own practice in Galashiels in 1891, and remained there until joining Miller. Both architects were admitted FRIBA on 11 June 1906, their proposers being John Keppie, Horatio Kelson Bromhead and C J MacLean. In their Gothic work the influence of Rowan's free neo-perpendicular was marked.

Miller was active in public life as President of the Rutherglen Unionist Association and at the Trades House where he reached the Visitor's Chair in the Incorporation of Maltmen and Mealmen in 1906; and in 1923 he was Deacon of the Incorporation of Skinners. He was also a prominent mason as master of the Lodge of St John No. 3 bis and a Burns enthusiast, becoming President of the Bridgeton Burns Club. His other interests included the Grand Antiquity Society.

Black died in 1927. Miller continued the practice under the existing title of Miller & Black until at least 1939. He died on 9 January 1950 at 47 Viewpark Drive, Rutherglen.

James Milne who had been assisting in the practice was taken into partnership in the 1940s andafter his death in 1947 John Wilson Paterson may have stepped into the breach. He was senior partner by 1960 and presumably in charge of the Edinburgh branch. Alexander Heward was also a partner from the late 1960s and was based in Glasgow.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architectural practice:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 558, Renfield Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1904After 1930 
Item 2 of 5132, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19341953 
Item 3 of 511, Lynedoch Crescent, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1960s *After 1970 
Item 4 of 5Newton Place, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1961 *  
Item 5 of 56, Melville Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1964 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architectural practice (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 15David Bateman Hutton18991901Assistant(?) 
Item 2 of 15Andrew Black18991927Partner 
Item 3 of 15Robert Miller1899After 1939Partner 
Item 4 of 15James Bennett19071908Assistant 
Item 5 of 15Thomas McGarrigle1907Early 1912Apprentice 
Item 6 of 15James Milne1912 Apprentice 
Item 7 of 15Robert Norman Houghton MacKellar1912(?)Before 1914Draughtsman 
Item 8 of 15James Milnec. 1917(?) Assistant 
Item 9 of 15James Milnec. 1945(?)1948Partner 
Item 10 of 15Alexander Heward1960sAfter 1981Partner 
Item 11 of 15John Wilson PatersonBefore 1960 Partner 
Item 12 of 15Neil McLean Jackc. 1969After 1981Partner 
Item 13 of 15Alexander FarquharLate 1970s1980sArchitect 
Item 14 of 15Peter Halliday1981 * Partner 
Item 15 of 15Alexander Gilchrist McCaw1981 * Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Buildings and Designs

This architectural practice 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 85After 1899Kingston Mission  GlasgowScotlandMain part of building - date unknown
Item 2 of 851900Dennistoun UP (or UF) Church hall and church officer's houseDennistoun GlasgowScotland 
Item 3 of 851900Engine Waste Factory  GlasgowScotlandAddition.
Item 4 of 851900Offices for Thomas Hinshelwood & Co  GlasgowScotlandMiller responsible
Item 5 of 851900Shawlands UF ChurchShawlands GlasgowScotlandBlack responsible
Item 6 of 851902Broomhill UF Church and hallsPartick GlasgowScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 7 of 851903Kennyhill House  GlasgowScotlandMiller responsible
Item 8 of 851903St Crispin Works  GlasgowScotlandNew building
Item 9 of 851904Glenbarry HouseLenzie DunbartonshireScotlandMiller responsible
Item 10 of 851904R Wylie Hill's warehouse  GlasgowScotlandRebuilding after fire
Item 11 of 851905Bridgeton Baptist ChurchBridgeton GlasgowScotlandBlack responsible
Item 12 of 851905Strathblane Free ChurchBlanefield StirlingshireScotlandRebuilding after fire - Miller responsible
Item 13 of 851907Bakery, Soho Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 851907St Andrews Church of Scotland  ColomboSri Lanka (formerly Ceylon, un 
Item 15 of 851909Bellshill Baptist ChurchBellshill LanarkshireScotland 
Item 16 of 851909Engine Waste Factory  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 17 of 851909Hamilton Baptist Church and HallsHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 18 of 851909South Shawlands church hallShawlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 851910Reformed Presbyterian Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 851911Barrowfield Weaving Factory  GlasgowScotlandThree storey block added at rear
Item 21 of 851911Hillhead Baptist Church Mission  GlasgowScotland 
Item 22 of 851912Engineering Works  GlasgowScotlandReinstatement after fire
Item 23 of 851912Ladywell Wire Works  GlasgowScotlandRear extension
Item 24 of 851912South Shawlands ChurchShawlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 851920sChurch of Christ  GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 851921Factory for Messrs Samuel GilchristHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 27 of 851922Harper Memorial Baptist Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 28 of 851927Partick Baptist ChurchPartick GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 851929Rutherglen West Parish Church Halls and church houseRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 30 of 851931Hall Memorial Church of Scotland, Dalmarnock RoadBridgeton Glasgow  
Item 31 of 851932Cambuslang Baptist Church, Memorial hallsCambuslang LanarkshireScotland 
Item 32 of 851932Congregation of Christians  GlasgowScotland 
Item 33 of 851933Shawlands & Langside UF Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 851934Church HallsCowie StirlingshireScotland 
Item 35 of 851934Halls for Methodist ChurchWhiteinch GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 851934Infants' SchoolBo'ness / Borrowstouness West LothianScotland 
Item 37 of 851934Premises of D J Black, printerBridgeton GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 38 of 851935Milk Marketing Board depot  GlasgowScotland 
Item 39 of 851935South Carntyne ChurchCarntyne GlasgowScotland 
Item 40 of 851937Buildings for Film Transport Services  GlasgowScotland 
Item 41 of 851937Chalmers Memorial Free ChurchAnstruther Easter FifeScotland 
Item 42 of 851939St Philomena's RC School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 43 of 851945Premises for Kidmar Hosiery Co Ltd, Swanston Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 44 of 851947Hinchelwoods, Glenpark Road  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 45 of 851948Redhall, Parkhhouse RoadBarrhead RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations and additions.
Item 46 of 851948Scottish Asbestos Company Limited  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 47 of 851949Boden Street Factory  GlasgowScotlandAdditions and alterations.
Item 48 of 851949Premises for William Hollins & Son Ltd  GlasgowScotland 
Item 49 of 851950Buildings for John Baird Hinds, Thistle StreetGarnethill GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 85Before 1950CottagesColintraive ArgyllScotland 
Item 51 of 851951Premises, Arcadia Street and London RoadBridgeton GlasgowScotland 
Item 52 of 851952Premises of Scottish Farmers Union Mutual Insurance Society Ltd, Blythswood Square  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 53 of 853 July 1953Church of Scotland Halls, Haughburn Road  GlasgowScotlandNew halls
Item 54 of 8522 February 1957Primary School, Site 16  GlasgowScotlandper Builder p391 - CHECK
Item 55 of 8510 March 196116-storey office block between McAlpine Street & Carrick StreetBroomielaw GlasgowScotlandper Builder p482
Item 56 of 851963Three tower blocks, Broomloan Road (Albion Site)Broomloan GlasgowScotland 
Item 57 of 8520 March 1964Haymarket Station  EdinburghScotland£2m redevelopment
Item 58 of 85Late 1960sAbattoir  GlasgowScotland 
Item 59 of 85Late 1960sMethodist HallsMaryhill GlasgowScotlandInternal reconstruction
Item 60 of 85Late 1960sMulti-storey housingAlbion GlasgowScotland 
Item 61 of 85Late 1960sParish ChurchInchinnan RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 62 of 85Late 1960sPrimary SchoolRenfrew RenfrewshreScotland 
Item 63 of 85Late 1960sSpecial SchoolPaisley RefrewshireScotland 
Item 64 of 85Late 1960sSt Roch's RC Secondary School  Glasgow Extension
Item 65 of 85Late 1960sWorkshop for W & T AveryDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 66 of 851974Office block, West George Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 67 of 851979Haymarket Station  EdinburghScotlandRedevelopment with Michael Laird
Item 68 of 851980sAbattoir  MisurataLibyaConsultants for abattoir design
Item 69 of 85Before 1981Abattoir and refrigeration complex  GlasgowScotland 
Item 70 of 85Before 1981Comprehensive SchoolNewton Mearns RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 71 of 85Before 1981Cook and freeze school meals unit   Scotland 
Item 72 of 85Before 1981Housing rehabilitation studies for Glasgow District Council  GlasgowScotland 
Item 73 of 85Before 1981Laboratory for the Scottish Milk Marketing Board  GlasgowScotland 
Item 74 of 85Before 1981Office and shopping development for Score Property Ltd, Glasgow  GlasgowScotland 
Item 75 of 85Before 1981Old People's Club  GlasgowScotland 
Item 76 of 85Before 1981Paisley College of TechnologyPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandExtension
Item 77 of 85Before 1981Physics Department, lecture theatre and laboratories  GlasgowScotland 
Item 78 of 85Before 1981Residential school for deprived children  ArgyllScotland 
Item 79 of 85Before 1981Sheltered housing for the elderlyEastwood, Giffnock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 80 of 85Before 1981Shopping developmentFort William Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 81 of 85Before 1981Telephone exchangeErskine RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 82 of 85Before 1981Telephone exchangeStranraer WigtownshireScotland 
Item 83 of 85Before 1981Workshop for W & T AveryStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 84 of 85Before 1981Workshop for W & T AveryIrvine RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 85 of 85Before 1981Workshop for W & T AveryMotherwell LanarkshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architectural practice:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 2 of 2Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p101

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architectural practice:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 10British Builder31 March 1950  p438
Item 2 of 10Builder5 November 1948  p544
Item 3 of 10Builder20 May 1949  p637
Item 4 of 10Builder14 September 1951  p367
Item 5 of 10Builder22 August 1952  p281
Item 6 of 10Builder3 July 1953  p40
Item 7 of 10Builder10 March 1961  p482
Item 8 of 10Builder20 March 1964  p635
Item 9 of 10Builder24 July 1964  p201
Item 10 of 10RIBA Journal24 March 1928 London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp347 Obituary of Black