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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | | | | | Redsyke, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1937 | After 1939 | | | 45, High Street, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 1950 | 1954 | Builder (1953, 15 May, p776) lists address as 43 High Street | | 38, High Street, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business(?) | 1952 * | | per Builder, 26 Sept 1952, p452 | | Firholm , Boghall Avenue, Biggar, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1964 | 1973 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers* earliest date known from documented sources.
RIBARIBA Proposers
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 | | 1948 | Ice Cream Factory | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1950 | Housing, lanark | | | Lanark | Scotland | | | 1950 | Scheme, Carnwath | Carnwath | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | For alterations and additions to scheme | | 1951 | Works and Offices, Ringside | Douglas | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 26 September 1952 | Council Halls, Lanarkshire | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | To prepare plans for extensions and additions | | 5 December 1952 | Housing Scheme, Biggar | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | New houses | | 1953 | Gillespie Moat Park Church, Biggar | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans in hand for new church halls | | 28 August 1953 | Church of Scotland, Biggar | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans to be prepared for alterations and additions | | 25 September 1953 | Biggar Laundry | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans in hand for alterations and additions | | 18 December 1953 | Masonic Lodge, Main Street | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | To prepare plans for conversion of Public School to Masonic Lodge | | 1954 | Commercial Garage, Workshops, and Offices, James Street | Carluke | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1957 | Biggar Parish School | Biggar | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Addition to east of building |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Municipal Annual | 1964 | Scottish Municipal Annual | 1964-1965 | | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 22 September 1950 | | | p346 | | Builder | 24 August 1951 | | | p277 | | Builder | 5 December 1952 | | | p852 | | Builder | 15 May 1953 | | | p776 | | Builder | 28 August 1953 | | | p333 | | Builder | 25 September 1953 | | | p485 | | Builder | 18 December 1953 | | | p982 | | Builder | 18 June 1954 | | | p1091 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no6568 (combined box 146) |
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