Basic Biographical Details

Name: Gavin Paterson & Son
Designation:  
Born: 1930
Died: 1979
Bio Notes: Gavin Paterson was born at Hamilton on 19 September 1866, the son of Provost Gavin Paterson of Hamilton and his wife Janet Harvie. He was articled to Clarke & Bell for six years, c.1880-1885 and during that period he studied at Glasgow School of Art and 'The Glasgow College of Science and Arts'. He commenced independent practice at 19 Cadzow Street Hamilton in 1890 and in 1896 married Isabella Simpson Brown. The practice moved to The Cross c.1901 and later back to Cadzow Street, this time to number 6. Paterson's earlier work was in a free Renaissance manner developed from that of the second George Bell of Clarke & Bell. He had a large practice which extended beyond the Hamilton area to Glasgow, but it was not quite as high profile as that of the other leading Hamilton practitioners Alexander Cullen and his partner James Lochhead. It consisted mainly of schools, large buildings for the Hamilton Co-operative Society, and sizeable villas, some of which were in a Scots idiom. He was a specialist in the design of abbatoirs of which he is said to have built a considerable number, but details of these are not yet available. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects.

In his lifetime Paterson was equally well-known as a volunteer and as an architect. He joined the 2nd Volunteer Brigade, Scottish Rifles in 1888 and attained the rank of Lt Colonel commanding the 6th (Lanarkshire) Battalion the Cameronians from 1909 until his retirement in 1912: during that period he was awarded the Territorial Decoration. In 1914 the War Office asked him to raise another battalion, which he did, commanding it until 1917 when he was posted to the War Office where he remained until 1919. He was the first in Scottish Command to receive the Territorial Decoration after Haldane's reconstitution of the Volunteers and the Yeomanry as the Territorial Force in 1907-08 and was authorised to retain his rank after his retirement. His elder son, William Gavin Paterson, served with the Cameronians as a lieutenant in France during the First World War. Paterson was also a JP from at least 1904.

Most of Paterson's post-war work consisted of housing schemes and miners' welfare institutes. In 1929 he employed his youngest son, Lennox Dundas Paterson (born 1902), as an assistant, taking him into partnership the following year as Gavin Paterson & Son. The elder Paterson died at Hamilton on 2 August 1934, his residence being Lochside House which he had inherited in 1907, and was buried in Bent Cemetery. He left moveable estate of £1,206, which is unlikely to have been an indicator of his real wealth and he may have had considerable heritable property. The practice was continued by Lennox Paterson, who died c.1987. The records of the practice are preserved in Hamilton Public Library.

The practice was continued by his son, who was admitted FRIBA on 6 February 1939, his proposers being Alexander Cullen, Thomas Harold Hughes and William James Smith. By that date the practice had achieved a national reputation as cinema architects. Alastair Anderson Taylor was taken into partnership before 1970 but he moved to Monro & Partners in 1972. Some sources indicate that the practice closed in 1979 but it is still listed in the RIBA directory of 198 with Major L D Paterson as sole partner.

Lennox Dundas Paterson died c.1987. The records of the practice are preserved in Hamilton Public Library.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 36, Cadzow Street, Hamilton, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness1930After 1981 
Item 2 of 3147, West Regent Street, Blythswood, Glasgow, Scotland 1952 *1955 
Item 3 of 326, Blythswood Square, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1970After 1975Branch office

* 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 5William Porter MitchellFebruary 19291931Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Gavin Paterson19301934Partner 
Item 3 of 5Lennox Dundas Paterson1930After 1975Partner 
Item 4 of 5Robert AitchisonSeptember 1938January 1939Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Alastair Anderson Taylor (or Alistair Anderson Taylor)1970 * Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 68 Burnbank Co-operative Society, Branch no 2Burnbank LanarkshireScotlandMay have been involved depending on date
Item 2 of 68 Cadzow BuildingsHamilton LanarkshireScotlandNo date - proposed alterations - may be inolved depending on date
Item 3 of 68 Camnethan Street SchoolStonehouse LanarkshireScotlandNew buildings and alterations to old buildings - may be involved if after 1930
Item 4 of 68 Colvilles Ltd, apprentice training centreMossend LanarkshireScotlandDate not certain so may or may not be involved
Item 5 of 68 Factories for the Scottish Industrial Estates CorporationShotts LanarkshireScotland 
Item 6 of 68 Plaza CinemaBurnbank LanarkshireScotlandProposed new balcony and technical enclosure - no date - perhaps involved if after 1930
Item 7 of 68 Premises of Archibald FisherHamilton LanarkshireScotlandNo date - proposed alterations for storage and workshop
Item 8 of 68 Premises, 10 Cadzow StreetHamilton LanarkshireScotlandProposed alterations to back premises - may be involved depending on date
Item 9 of 68 Works of John TainshHamilton LanarkshireScotlandProposed alterations on works - no date
Item 10 of 681930sHigh Blantyre CemeteryBlantyre LanarkshireScotlandExtension
Item 11 of 681930200 houses for Burgh of HamiltonHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 12 of 681930Bacon factoryHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 13 of 681930Country houseEaglesham RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 14 of 681930Grandstand and Ground Scheme, Motherwell Football ClubMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 15 of 681931Public houseHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 16 of 68c. 1931Tenements with WCs, West Stewart StreetBurnbank LanarkshireScotlandMay be the addition of WCs rather than new tenements
Item 17 of 681932Block of flats for Burgh of HamiltonHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 18 of 681933Anderson & Blair's premises, Campbell StreetHamilton LanarkshireScotlandProposed alterations
Item 19 of 681933Premises for T J & W A Dykes, Cadzow BridgeHamilton LanarkshireScotlandAlterations for offices and stores
Item 20 of 681933Property at 26 Baillies CausewayAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 21 of 681935Regal CinemaLanark LanarkshireScotland 
Item 22 of 68After 1935British Bitumen Emulsions officesHamilton LanarkshireScotlandAlterations
Item 23 of 68193663-93 Beckford StreetHamilton LanarkshireScotlandProposed reconstruction
Item 24 of 681936Bent Cottage, shopHamilton LanarkshireScotlandProposed alterations to shop
Item 25 of 681936Country houseBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 681936La Scala CinemaClydebank DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 27 of 6819371100 houses for Burgh of HamiltonHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 28 of 681937Office premises  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 68c. 1937Property at corner of Glasgow Road and Whitehill RoadBurnbank LanarkshireScotland 
Item 30 of 681938Cottage and attached shop, Fairhill and BentHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 31 of 681938Housing Estate, FairhillHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 32 of 681938Public AbattoirHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 33 of 681938The George CinemaBellshill LanarkshireScotlandDesign. Built after war.
Item 34 of 681939Consulting Rooms at St Katharine'sHamilton LanarkshireScotlandProposed reconditioning
Item 35 of 681939Regal CinemaShotts LanarkshireScotlandMay have acted as executant architect
Item 36 of 68Mid 1930sHousing development and amenities, FerniegairHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 37 of 681942Air-raid shelterHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 38 of 681944Haspielaw Farm  LanarkshireScotlandProposed additional buildings
Item 39 of 681946House for William TallisHigh Blantyre LanarkshireScotland 
Item 40 of 681947Golders Building, Kirk StreetStonehouse  ScotlandExtension
Item 41 of 681948Weaving Mill, Shottskirk RoadShotts LanarkshireScotland 
Item 42 of 681949House, RosebankBy Carluke LanarkshireScotland 
Item 43 of 681950George Picture House  GlasgowScotlandFor additions and alterations
Item 44 of 681950Premises for Messers Kirby Food Preperation, BlatyreBlantyre LanarkshireScotland 
Item 45 of 681951Canteen, Old Mill RoadUddingston LanarkshireScotland 
Item 46 of 681951Glasgow Photo Playhouse, Ltd, Sauchiehall Street  GlasgowScotlandAs Lennox & Paterson. For new buildings, alterations and additions
Item 47 of 681951Office Buildings for Messrs John MacLean, East KilbrideEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 48 of 681952Fire Station and Offices, Lanarkshire  LanarkshireScotlandPlans in hand for new fire station and offices
Item 49 of 681952George Cinema, UddingstonUddingston LanarkshireScotlandTo prepare plans for extensions
Item 50 of 681952Imperial Chemical Industries Ltd Premises, West Regent StreetBlythswood Square GlasgowScotlandLennox Dundas Paterson, architect
Item 51 of 681952New halls, LarkhallLarkhall LanarkshireScotlandTo prepare plans for new halls
Item 52 of 681952School, BankheadBankhead LanarkshireScotlandNew school
Item 53 of 681953Factory of J C Watt (Meat) Ltd, Avondale WorksShettleston GlasgowScotlandExtensions
Item 54 of 681953Primary School, Sandwood Road  GlasgowScotlandPlans in hand for new school
Item 55 of 6823 January 1953White Rock Co Works, BargeddieBargeddie LanarkshireScotlandPlans in hand for additions and other works
Item 56 of 6817 April 1953Avonbank Works, Lanarkshire  LanarkshireScotlandNew buildings
Item 57 of 6825 September 1953Garage and shops, Buchan Street  LanarkshireScotlandTo prepare plans for new garage and shops
Item 58 of 6818 December 1953Premises of Maukinfauld Garages Ltd, Maukinfauld Road  GlasgowScotlandNew buildings
Item 59 of 681954Premises at Camnethan StreetStonehouse LanarkshireScotland 
Item 60 of 6829 January 1954Houses for John Kirby, BlantyreBlantrye LanarkshireScotlandTo prepare plans for new houses
Item 61 of 6829 January 1954Premises of Maukinfield Garage Company, Edinburgh Road  GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for new garage and transformer house
Item 62 of 681955White Elephant CinemaShawlands GlasgowScotland 
Item 63 of 68195646 Millheugh BraeLarkhall LanarkshireScotlandProposed alteration
Item 64 of 6817 October 1958Fire Station, East KilbrideEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotlandaccepting tenders per Builder p675
CHECK role
Item 65 of 688 May 1959Fire Station and Offices, Lanarkshire  LanarkshireScotlandaccepting applications for contractors by May 8 per Builder p871
Item 66 of 681963Alhambra Theatre  GlasgowScotlandInternal reconstuction including Starlight Room.
Item 67 of 681971Cumming & Smith's warehouse  GlasgowScotlandIt was redeveloped behind the façade by Gavin Paterson and Sons from 1971 to circa 1979 as the Savoy Centre.
Item 68 of 681972Burns HouseAyr AyrshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1975RIBA Directory of practices   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 20Builder24 March 1950  p406
Item 2 of 20Builder18 August 1950  p232
Item 3 of 20Builder9 March 1951  p367
Item 4 of 20Builder29 June 1951  p939
Item 5 of 20Builder24 August 1951  p277
Item 6 of 20Builder22 February 1952  p313
Item 7 of 20Builder18 April 1952  p605
Item 8 of 20Builder25 April 1952  p641
Item 9 of 20Builder2 May 1952  p684
Item 10 of 20Builder9 May 1952  p720
Item 11 of 20Builder25 July 1952  p148
Item 12 of 20Builder23 January 1953  p177
Item 13 of 20Builder17 April 1953  p616
Item 14 of 20Builder11 September 1953  p413
Item 15 of 20Builder25 September 1953  p485
Item 16 of 20Builder18 December 1953  p982
Item 17 of 20Builder15 January 1954  p161
Item 18 of 20Builder29 January 1954  p240
Item 19 of 20Builder14 January 1955  p116
Item 20 of 20RIBA Journal13 October 1934v41London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp1070 - obituary of Gavin Paterson

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Email to DSA websiteInformation courtesy of Linda Van Nunen Sent June 2006 and September 2007