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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4Fereneze View, Mary Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate   
Item 2 of 4Westmarch House, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1872 *  
Item 3 of 415, Gilmour Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusiness1881After 1911 
Item 4 of 41, Janefield Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1892  

* 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 3W J RennisonAfter 18561867AssistantUncertain whether J A Rennison was employed by W J Rennison
Item 2 of 3J L Fogo & Rennisonc. 1870Before 1878Partner 
Item 3 of 3Rennison & Scottc. 18741881Partner 

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 411869Baptist ChurchKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 2 of 411873Old Low ChurchPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandExternal alterations and internal refurnishing
Item 3 of 411874St George's ChurchPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandInternal remodelling and addition of apse for organ chamber
Item 4 of 411875George A Clark Town HallPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandWon competition but job went to Lynn
Item 5 of 411876High ChurchPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandInternal remodelling
Item 6 of 411877Wellpark West ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 7 of 41c. 1880Glasgow Municipal Buildings  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design entered under the pseudonym Apropos
Item 8 of 411881Cartside HouseRenfrew RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 9 of 411881Church of ScotlandBerwick-upon-Tweed NorthumberlandEnglandInterior - design exhibited
Item 10 of 411881Ferguslie SchoolPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 11 of 411881Good Templar HallsPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 12 of 411884DunselmaStrone ArgyllScotland 
Item 13 of 41c. 1886Dunselma, boathouseStrone ArgyllScotland 
Item 14 of 41c. 1886Dunselma, LodgeStrone ArgyllScotland 
Item 15 of 411890Greenhill Oil WorksPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandCounting house
Item 16 of 411895Double villa and tenement, ColinsleePaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPlans dated
Item 17 of 411896Double villaPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 18 of 411896Saucel DistilleryPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAddition
Item 19 of 411896Snowdoun Soap Works, New Sneddon StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions
Item 20 of 411896Stow Street RC SchoolPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPorch added
Item 21 of 411896Tenement, BroomlandsPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 22 of 41189715 Gilmour Street (HB 38951)Paisley RenfrewshireScotlandWC and urinal
Item 23 of 4118972 Mary StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAlteration and addition
Item 24 of 411897School, George StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 25 of 411897Stable, Great Hamilton StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandEntrance - plans passed
Item 26 of 411898Laundry, Barterholm StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPlans dated
Item 27 of 411900Cottage, Cross RoadPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions
Item 28 of 411900Shop, 5-6 New SmithhillsPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations
Item 29 of 411901Saucel DistilleryPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAddition to duty free warehouse
Item 30 of 41190267 High StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations
Item 31 of 411902Snowdoun Soap Works, New Sneddon StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandShed
Item 32 of 411902Tenement, CarriagehillPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 33 of 411903Caledonia and Baltic SawmillsPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandWoodshed and counting house
Item 34 of 411903Carskiey House, SouthendMull of Kintyre ArgyllScotland 
Item 35 of 411903Shops and tenements, CauseysidePaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPlans dated
Item 36 of 411903Shortroods Sawmill, water towerPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPlans dated
Item 37 of 411904Holm LaundryPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPlans dated
Item 38 of 411904Shed and smithy, 77 New Sneddon StreetPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPlans dated
Item 39 of 411904Tenements, 24 & 25 CarriagehillPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandPlans dated
Item 40 of 411905Thrushcraig VillaPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandMotor-car shed
Item 41 of 411906Tenements, CalsidePaisley RenfrewshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   
Item 2 of 3Robertson, Una A Carskey: a house and its people   
Item 3 of 3Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p18

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Edinburgh Gazette11 October 1892  pp1133-1134

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of Rob CloseInformation via 'Contact Us' on website Sent January 2012