Basic Biographical Details

Name: Noad & Wallace
Designation:  
Born: 1933
Died: 1978
Bio Notes: Richard Mervyn Noad (generally known simply as Mervyn Noad) was born on 8 September 1906 at 'Alma', Muirton Road, Perth, the son of Frederick Herbert Noad, tea merchant and his wife Jessie Mary Roberts who came from Helensburgh. He studied at Glasgow School of Architecture under Thomas Harold Hughes, concurrently serving his apprenticeship with Keppie & Henderson, from 1924 until 1929. He first ventured abroad in summer 1927 and by 1933 had visited France, Switzerland, Germany, Holland and Scandinavia. He won the A Leslie Hamilton studentship medal in 1928-29 and on the strength of his RIAS Quarterly essay on 'The influence of France on the Architecture of Scotland during the 16th century' he was offered a two-year fellowship at Clare College, Cambridge on how Scotland's vernacular could form the basis of a modern Scottish idiom, but decided against taking it up. Nevertheless he became an outlying member of the Mansfield Forbes circle and a particular friend of Ian Gordon Lindsay who thought highly of him.

Noad remained with Keppie & Henderson as a draughtsman after completing his apprenticeship, leaving in June 1930 to commence practice on his own account in Glasgow, with one full-time and one part-time draughtsman and a part-time job as evening studio instructor at Glasgow School of Art. He was admitted ARIBA later that year, his proposers being John Keppie, John Watson and Hughes

In 1933 Noad became editor of the RIAS Quarterly. In the same year he took Alastair Frew Wallace (who appears to have subsequently changed his first name to Alexander) into partnership. Wallace was born on 21 March 1908 and, like Noad, had served his apprenticeship with Keppie & Henderson and studied at the Glasgow School of Architecture, commencing in 1928. He had travelled in France and Italy in autumn 1932 and had been admitted ARIBA the following year, his proposers being John Keppie, Andrew Graham Henderson and William James Smith.

In 1934 Wallace made a further trip abroad, this time to America, whilst Noad - who, like Lindsay, had a particular interest in Scandinavia - toured the modern architecture of Norway, Sweden, Finland, Russia, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Germany in 1934. A further tour of Italy was made about 1938-39 where Noad was arrested but fortunately released before the outbreak of war. In 1935 Noad was editor of the RIBA conference.

Both Noad and Wallace were elected FRIBA on 10 October 1950 with the same proposers - Andrew Graham Henderson, Edward Grigg Wylie and George Arthur Boswell. At that time their office was at 278 St Vincent Street.

The practice closed in 1978.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3261, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1935 *  
Item 2 of 3220, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1936After 1939 
Item 3 of 3278, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1950 *After 1953 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 4Richard Mervyn Noad (or simply Mervyn Noad)1933After 1950Partner 
Item 2 of 4Alastair Frew Wallace (or Alexander Frew Wallace)1933After 1950Partner 
Item 3 of 4John ('Jack') Charles Holmes1940s Apprentice 
Item 4 of 4David Millar19461948Senior Assistant 

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 571933BroadmeadowsSymington AyrshireScotlandHouse, garages, stables, lodge and formal gardens
Item 2 of 571933Prestwick Municipal Buildings, pavilion and officesPrestwick AyrshireScotlandWon competition but design never executed
Item 3 of 571934Govan Old Parish ChurchGovan GlasgowScotlandWar memorial garden scheme
Item 4 of 571934Renfrew Aerodrome Club HouseRenfrew RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 5 of 571935Falkirk Municipal BuildingsFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandUnsuccessful competition entry for new building adjacent to old town hall
Item 6 of 571935ThorndeanHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandServants' wing
Item 7 of 571936BroadwoodGifford East LothianScotland 
Item 8 of 571936GlenkinHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAddition of library
Item 9 of 571937'Recent domestic buildings'   Scotland 
Item 10 of 571937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Episcopal ChurchBellahouston GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 571937House at ShandonShandon DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 12 of 571937House at TroonTroon AyrshireScotland 
Item 13 of 571937Royal Northern Yacht ClubRhu/Row DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 14 of 571938Factory, MacLellan Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 15 of 571938Falkirk Royal Infirmary Nurses' HomeFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 16 of 571938Glasgow Empire Exhibition, prototype working class flatsBellahouston GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 571938Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Scottish Oils and Shellmex PavilionBellahouston GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 571938Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Scottish PavilionBellahouston GlasgowScotlandInterior work
Item 19 of 571938HousePaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations
Item 20 of 571938House  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 21 of 571938House at TroonTroon AyrshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 22 of 571938Newark ChurchPort Glasgow RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 23 of 571939Church of Scotland new buildingsGiffnock GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 571939Episopal Church of the Good ShepherdHillington GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 571939FactoryAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 26 of 571939HouseGartocharn GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 27 of 571939House at StrathblaneStrathblane StirlingshireScotland 
Item 28 of 571939Queen's HallDunoon ArgyllScotlandCompetition drawings
Item 29 of 57c. 1939St Aidan's ChurchClarkston GlasgowScotland 
Item 30 of 571940FactoryLesmahagow LanarkshireScotland 
Item 31 of 571940House at BlanefieldBlanefield StirlingshireScotland 
Item 32 of 571945Martnaham Lodge  AyrshireScotlandInterior alterations
Item 33 of 571947Premises, Crow Road  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and Additions
Item 34 of 571948Kingsburgh Gardens  EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 571948The Overseas League, Claremont Terrace  GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 571948UF Church at CroftfootCroftfoot LanarkshireScotland 
Item 37 of 571950Public shelters and lavatoriesHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 38 of 571952Plate shop, John Howden & Co Ltd, Shields RoadPollokshields GlasgowScotlandNew plate shop
Item 39 of 571952Watson & Phillips Ltd, Arlington Street  GlasgowScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 40 of 571953Premises, Dundonald RoadKelvinside GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 41 of 5713 February 1953Church of Scotland Halls, Ryehill Road  GlasgowScotlandPlans prepared for new halls
Item 42 of 576 March 1953Premises of Robert Brown Ltd, Kilbrennan StreetPossilpark GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 43 of 571954Premises of Adam C Brown & Co Ltd, Washington Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 44 of 571955Premises of Adam G Brown & Co Ltd, Washington Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 45 of 571956Clydebank Faifley Parish ChurchDuntocher DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 46 of 571956St Mark's Episcopal ChurchEast Kilbride, Lanarkshire  Scotland 
Item 47 of 57c. 1957Kingencleugh HouseMauchline AyrshireScotland 
Item 48 of 571958FallsideLochwinnoch Renfewshire  
Item 49 of 571958Housing development, Ferniegair EstateHelensburgh Dunbartonshire/ArgyllScotland 
Item 50 of 57Late 1950sSt Columba's Church, FoxbarPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 51 of 571960sOffices for Clyde CraneMossend LanarkshireScotland 
Item 52 of 571960s(?)Offices for Scottish Mutual  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 53 of 571960s(?)Primary School, Bilsland Dive  GlasgowScotland 
Item 54 of 571962Rothiemay HouseMilltown of Rothiemay MorayshireScotland 
Item 55 of 571962Skelmorlie CastleSkelmorlie AyrshireScotlandRestoration
Item 56 of 571968Claremont Parish ChurchEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 57 of 571973Troon Municipal BuildingsTroon AyrshireScotlandLarge addition to S

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p74

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 8Builder1 April 1949  p412
Item 2 of 8Builder16 May 1952  p756
Item 3 of 8Builder22 August 1952  p281
Item 4 of 8Builder13 February 1953  p292
Item 5 of 8Builder6 March 1953  p400
Item 6 of 8Builder28 August 1953  p333
Item 7 of 8Builder9 July 1954  p78
Item 8 of 8Builder28 January 1955  p196

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from reply to questionnaire 1985; information on birth and parentage from research by Iain Paterson