Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Johnstone Shannon
Designation:  
Born: 18 November 1908
Died: 23 August 1973
Bio Notes: James Johnstone Shannon was born on 18 November 1908, the son of Robert Shannon, master blacksmith, and his wife Jane Storm Johnstone. He was articled to David Williamson Campbell of Breckonhill, Lockerbie in mid-1924, obtaining tuition in design, construction and reinforced concrete by private correspondence. He completed his apprenticeship in December 1929 and in 1930 joined Latto Alexander Morrison of Biggar as first assistant, remaining with him thereafter. He attended evening classes at Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt College from 1932 and made a study tour of Scotland from December 1933 to the end of March 1934, sketching and measuring ecclesiastical buildings. At other points also he spent his spare time sketching 'many works old and modern in [the] British Isles'. He passed the qualifying exam in Edinburgh in April 1934 but for reasons that remain unclear did not seek admittance as ARIBA until 1937 when he was elected on 6 December 1937, his proposers being Alexander Lorne Campbell, James Davidson Cairns and Thomas Forbes Maclennan. In his supporting statement, Campbell wrote that he had known Shannon since 1935 and commented: 'I am aware that he is keenly interested in his profession and has been at pains to qualify himself in every respect - further that his present employer also holds the highest opinion of his ability - and finds his services of the greatest value to him.' This high opinion resulted in Shannon being taken into partnership by Morrison shortly thereafter.

Shannon was also an Associate of the Glasgow Institute of Architects. He continued to practise until the 1970s. He died on 23 August 1973 at Law Hospital, Carluke. He was survived by his wife Mary McTurk Clark and at least one son.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Biggar, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 5Redsyke, Biggar, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1937After 1939 
Item 3 of 545, High Street, Biggar, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness19501954Builder (1953, 15 May, p776) lists address as 43 High Street
Item 4 of 538, High Street, Biggar, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness(?)1952 * per Builder, 26 Sept 1952, p452
Item 5 of 5Firholm , Boghall Avenue, Biggar, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19641973 

* 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 4David Williamson CampbellMid 1924December 1929Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Latto Alexander Morrison19301934Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Latto Alexander Morrison1937 * Chief Assistant(?) 
Item 4 of 4Morrison & ShannonAfter 1937 Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3James Davidson Cairns6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 2 of 3Alexander Lorne Campbell6 December 1937for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Thomas Forbes Maclennan6 December 1937for Associateship

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 121948Ice Cream FactoryBiggar LanarkshireScotland 
Item 2 of 121950Housing, lanark  LanarkScotland 
Item 3 of 121950Scheme, CarnwathCarnwath LanarkshireScotlandFor alterations and additions to scheme
Item 4 of 121951Works and Offices, RingsideDouglas LanarkshireScotland 
Item 5 of 1226 September 1952Council Halls, Lanarkshire  LanarkshireScotlandTo prepare plans for extensions and additions
Item 6 of 125 December 1952Housing Scheme, BiggarBiggar LanarkshireScotlandNew houses
Item 7 of 121953Gillespie Moat Park Church, BiggarBiggar LanarkshireScotlandPlans in hand for new church halls
Item 8 of 1228 August 1953Church of Scotland, BiggarBiggar LanarkshireScotlandPlans to be prepared for alterations and additions
Item 9 of 1225 September 1953Biggar LaundryBiggar LanarkshireScotlandPlans in hand for alterations and additions
Item 10 of 1218 December 1953Masonic Lodge, Main StreetBiggar LanarkshireScotlandTo prepare plans for conversion of Public School to Masonic Lodge
Item 11 of 121954Commercial Garage, Workshops, and Offices, James StreetCarluke LanarkshireScotland 
Item 12 of 121957Biggar Parish SchoolBiggar LanarkshireScotlandAddition to east of building

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 8Builder22 September 1950  p346
Item 2 of 8Builder24 August 1951  p277
Item 3 of 8Builder5 December 1952  p852
Item 4 of 8Builder15 May 1953  p776
Item 5 of 8Builder28 August 1953  p333
Item 6 of 8Builder25 September 1953  p485
Item 7 of 8Builder18 December 1953  p982
Item 8 of 8Builder18 June 1954  p1091

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no6568 (combined box 146)