Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Alexander McWilliam
Designation:  
Born: 14 May 1880
Died:  
Bio Notes: John Alexander McWilliam (incorrectly listed in the British Architectural Library/RIBA 'Directory of British Architects 1834-1914' as John William McWilliam) was born in Edinburgh on 14 May 1880 and articled to Robert Macfarlane Cameron from May 1896 until 1901, studying at the Edinburgh School of Applied Art and Heriot-Watt College during this period and for three years beyond. He then became an assistant with Thomas Purves Marwick at 43 York Place, Edinburgh and it was from there that he sought admission as LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association, of which McWilliam had been a member since 1905. He commenced independent practice at 115 Hanover Street shortly thereafter. His travels prior to that date had been limited to England and Scotland, and had included the English cathedrals, Northamptonshire and Cheshire.

In Post Office directories McWilliam is listed as MI Struct E and presumably practised as both architect and engineer.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 429, Eyre Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1911 *  
Item 2 of 4115, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 19111939 or after 1940 
Item 3 of 433, Kirkhill Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)c. 1920c. 1926 
Item 4 of 445, Kirkhill Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)c. 1934  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 2Robert Macfarlane CameronMay 18961901Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2Thomas Purves Marwick1901After 1911Assistant 

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 3Edwin TurnbullOctober 1923October 1927Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3James William Hills19271929Draughtsman 
Item 3 of 3Edwin TurnbullNovember 1927November 1929Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1James Bow Dunn20 July 1911for Licentiateship - as president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association

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 171901City of Glasgow Bank  EdinburghScotlandBuilt southern half of the building for the Merchant Company with the British Linen Bank as tenants - as assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 2 of 171901Livingstone Institute and Medical Missionary Society's premises  EdinburghScotlandExtension, including Magdalen Chapel - as assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 3 of 171901National Bank of Scotland, Trongate  GlasgowScotlandProbably involved, as assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 4 of 17After 1901Factory for J Colton & Son Ltd  Edinburgh?ScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 5 of 17After 1901Factory for J Thyne & Son  Edinburgh?ScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 6 of 17After 1901Factory for James Dunbar & Son  Edinburgh?ScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 7 of 17After 1901Factory for McVitie & Price Ltd  Edinburgh?ScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 8 of 171904Edinburgh and East of Scotland College of Agriculture  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick - enlargement of original premises
Item 9 of 171904National Bank of Scotland, Portobello BranchPortobello EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 10 of 171904National Bank of Scotland, Sauchiehall Street Branch  GlasgowScotlandAlterations - probably involved, as assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 11 of 17c. 1905Ardrossan EU Congregational ChurchArdrossan AyrshireScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 12 of 171907Tenement, 47-77 Bread Street  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 13 of 171908Gresham Life Assurance and Merchant Company offices  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Thomas Purves Marwick
Item 14 of 17191410-16 GrassmarketOld Town EdinburghScotlandresponsible for numbers 10-14
Item 15 of 171931Holyrood Brewery  EdinburghScotlandAddition
Item 16 of 171933Building for Brewers' Food Supply  EdinburghScotland 
Item 17 of 171934Royal Scots Memorial Gateway, Glencorse BarracksGlencorse MidlothianScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Post Office Directories     

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v19 no1444