Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Nairne Tait (or William Nairn Tait) | Designation: | | Born: | 1831 or 1832 | Died: | 9 September 1904 | Bio Notes: | William Nairne (or Nairn - sources vary) Tait was born at Collace, Perthshire in 1831 or 1832, the son of Alexander Tait, innkeeper and Grace McFarlane. He was articled to Andrew Heiton Senior and Junior in Perth in 1847.
In the mid-1850s Tait moved from Perth to Glasgow. By that date he had married Annie Rae from Perth, their elder son Alexander being born in Glasgow c. 1857. They had two other known children: John McFarlane (born c. 1862), who became a law clerk, and Ann E (born c. 1864).
Tait commenced independent practice in Glasgow c. 1859. He was remembered more as a capable teacher of articled pupils than as an architect, with Malcolm Stark and Bruce James Talbert to his credit. His son Alexander was probably articled to him, and practised independently in the early 1880s at 148 West Regent Street before being taken into partnership by his father c. 1889, their office being at 223 Hope Street. Alexander had either left or died by 1895.
Latterly William N Tait was in partnership with _____ Mitchell. He died of inflammation of the brain at 1134 Dumbarton Road, Whiteinch on 9 September 1904. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 48, Gordon Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1860 | After 1865 | | | 21, Scotia Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1862 | | | | 152, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1868 | 1870 or 1871 | | | 223, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1870 or 1871 | 1875 | | | 48, Gordon Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1877 * | | | | 154, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before December 1877 | May 1879 | | | 196, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | June 1879 | After 1885 | | | 223, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before June 1883 | After 1895 | | | 14, Willowbank Crescent, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1888 | 1891 | | | 22, Clarnedon Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1894 | After 1900 | | | 1134, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private(?) | 9 September 1904 * | | Place of death |
* 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 | | A & A Heiton | 1847 | Mid 1850s | Apprentice | | | Tait & Mitchell | After 1895 | Before 1904 | Partner | |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Bruce James Talbert | 1857 | | Assistant | | | William Young | 1859 | 1865 | Assistant | | | Malcolm Stark | c. 1870 | c. 1875 | Apprentice | | | Alexander Tait | After 1871(?) | Before 1880(?) | Apprentice | Alexander Tait was probably apprentice and assistant to his father before becoming partner, but this is uncertain | | Alexander Tait | c. 1889 | Before 1895 | 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 | | | Dunnard | | | Wemyss Bay | Scotland | Date unknown | | 1877 | Tenement for Thaw & Campbell, East King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Hall for Good Templars, West Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Milk house and byre for Richard Kidston, Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Tenement for John Cramb, Victoria Road | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Tenement for Thaw & Campbell, Grant Street and East King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Tenement with shops for Richard Kidston, Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1878 | Tenement, 14-28 West Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1879 | Prince Albert Terrace | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1879 | Tenement for John Cramb, East Argyle Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1879 | Tenement for John Cramb, Grant Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1880 | Stables and coachhouses for Hugh Snodgrass, East King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | c. 1881 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design entered under the name Sum Cuique | | 1883 | Stables and coachhouses for Hugh Snodgrass, Sinclair Street and King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1885 | Public House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1885 | Shops, offices and house, 61 East Sinclair Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 12 November 1885 | Tenements, Parliamentary Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion of ground floor of tenements into shops | | 1886 | Store and shed | Parkhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1887 | Tenements, Gardner Street | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1888 | Shop, Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1888 | Tenements, Kelvinhaugh Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion of ground floor into shops | | 1889 | Design for an educational institution | | | | | | | 1889 | Engine Waste Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions to warehouse | | 1890 | Workroom and studio | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | | 1890 | Wright's workshop | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1891 | Five blocks of tenements, Blythswood Drive and West Princes Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1891 | Tenement, Maitland Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition | | 1892 | Tenements, Dock Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of WCs | | 1892 | Tenements, Greenhill Street and West Bothwell Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of WCs | | 1892 | Tenements, Kelvinhaugh Street and Teviot Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of WCs | | 1893 | Store and shed | Parkhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1893 | Tenement, 18 James Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1897 | Temporary sheds, Palm Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Late 1800s | Tenement, 19-25 Colquhoun Square and 46-60 Princes Street West | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | 'Possibly' (HS) |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 15 October 1904 | | | p 394 - obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Research by Iain Paterson |
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