Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Albert Rennison | Designation: | | Born: | 1841 | Died: | 7 January 1915 | Bio Notes: | John Albert Rennison was born in 1841 the son of the Rev Alexander Rennison, Minister of St George's Church, Paisley and his wife Eliza Henderson. The Rennison family originated in Berwick on Tweed where the minister's father had been a bookseller. The Rev Alexander died in 1867 at which date his architect son was in London, perhaps with the obscure W J Rennison but as his mother had been left unprovided for he returned to Paisley to live with his mother and his brother Edward of Lilla & Edwards, wholesale warehousemen, and commenced practice sometime before 1873 in partnership with another minister's son, John Laurie Fogo as Fogo & Rennison. Fogo was in charge of the Glasgow office at 133 West George Street whil Rennison was in charge of the Paisley one. About 1873 Fogo's health failed, the Glasgow office was closed and the partnership dissolved, Rennison thereafter practising from Paisley only.
About 1874 Rennison entered into partnership with Andrew Robb Scott. Scott was born in Edinburgh in 1851, the son of dairyman James Scott and Elizabeth Robb of Peebles. He was educated at the Royal High School and articled to David Bryce. In 1874 John Albert Rennison of Paisley took him into partnership, and in the following year they won the competition for the George A Clark Town Hall in Paisley but in the event the Clarks increased the cost limit and gave the commission to William Henry Lynn of Belfast. The partnership was dissolved in 1884, apparently from want of business during the recession following the final call from the City of Glasgow Bank liquidators in 1881, but drink may have been a factor, together with Scott's inability to produce drawings when inspiration was lacking. Their office was at 15 Gilmour Street, Paisley. Scott took a job as a leading draughtsman with John Burnet & Son.
In 1892 it is clear that not all was well with him as he was being pursued for a debt by a flesher in Dunoon in October that year.
Rennison thereafter practised alone from 15 Gilmour Street, his home being at Fereneze View, Mary Street. He died suddenly on 7 January 1915. He was unmarried. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Fereneze View, Mary Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Private | | | | | Westmarch House, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Private | 1872 * | | | | 15, Gilmour Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Business | 1881 | After 1911 | | | 1, Janefield Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Private | 1892 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | W J Rennison | After 1856 | 1867 | Assistant | Uncertain whether J A Rennison was employed by W J Rennison | | J L Fogo & Rennison | c. 1870 | Before 1878 | Partner | | | Rennison & Scott | c. 1874 | 1881 | Partner | |
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 | | 1869 | Baptist Church | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1873 | Old Low Church | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | External alterations and internal refurnishing | | 1874 | St George's Church | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Internal remodelling and addition of apse for organ chamber | | 1875 | George A Clark Town Hall | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Won competition but job went to Lynn | | 1876 | High Church | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Internal remodelling | | 1877 | Wellpark West Church | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | c. 1880 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design entered under the pseudonym Apropos | | 1881 | Cartside House | Renfrew | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1881 | Church of Scotland | Berwick-upon-Tweed | | Northumberland | England | Interior - design exhibited | | 1881 | Ferguslie School | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1881 | Good Templar Halls | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1884 | Dunselma | Strone | | Argyll | Scotland | | | c. 1886 | Dunselma, boathouse | Strone | | Argyll | Scotland | | | c. 1886 | Dunselma, Lodge | Strone | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1890 | Greenhill Oil Works | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Counting house | | 1895 | Double villa and tenement, Colinslee | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans dated | | 1896 | Double villa | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1896 | Saucel Distillery | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Addition | | 1896 | Snowdoun Soap Works, New Sneddon Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1896 | Stow Street RC School | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Porch added | | 1896 | Tenement, Broomlands | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1897 | 15 Gilmour Street (HB 38951) | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | WC and urinal | | 1897 | 2 Mary Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alteration and addition | | 1897 | School, George Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1897 | Stable, Great Hamilton Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Entrance - plans passed | | 1898 | Laundry, Barterholm Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans dated | | 1900 | Cottage, Cross Road | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1900 | Shop, 5-6 New Smithhills | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1901 | Saucel Distillery | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Addition to duty free warehouse | | 1902 | 67 High Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1902 | Snowdoun Soap Works, New Sneddon Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Shed | | 1902 | Tenement, Carriagehill | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1903 | Caledonia and Baltic Sawmills | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Woodshed and counting house | | 1903 | Carskiey House, Southend | Mull of Kintyre | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1903 | Shops and tenements, Causeyside | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans dated | | 1903 | Shortroods Sawmill, water tower | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans dated | | 1904 | Holm Laundry | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans dated | | 1904 | Shed and smithy, 77 New Sneddon Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans dated | | 1904 | Tenements, 24 & 25 Carriagehill | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Plans dated | | 1905 | Thrushcraig Villa | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Motor-car shed | | 1906 | Tenements, Calside | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Measurers\' Companion | 1911 | The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion | | | | | Robertson, Una A | | Carskey: a house and its people | | | | | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p18 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Edinburgh Gazette | 11 October 1892 | | | pp1133-1134 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Courtesy of Rob Close | Information via 'Contact Us' on website | | Sent January 2012 |
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