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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1148, Gordon Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1860After 1865 
Item 2 of 1121, Scotia Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1862  
Item 3 of 11152, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 18681870 or 1871 
Item 4 of 11223, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1870 or 18711875 
Item 5 of 1148, Gordon Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1877 *  
Item 6 of 11154, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore December 1877May 1879 
Item 7 of 11196, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessJune 1879After 1885 
Item 8 of 11223, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore June 1883After 1895 
Item 9 of 1114, Willowbank Crescent, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate18881891 
Item 10 of 1122, Clarnedon Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1894After 1900 
Item 11 of 111134, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate(?)9 September 1904 * Place of death

* 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 2A & A Heiton1847Mid 1850sApprentice 
Item 2 of 2Tait & MitchellAfter 1895Before 1904Partner 

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 5Bruce James Talbert1857 Assistant 
Item 2 of 5William Young18591865Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Malcolm Starkc. 1870c. 1875Apprentice 
Item 4 of 5Alexander TaitAfter 1871(?)Before 1880(?)ApprenticeAlexander Tait was probably apprentice and assistant to his father before becoming partner, but this is uncertain
Item 5 of 5Alexander Taitc. 1889Before 1895Partner 

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 34 Dunnard  Wemyss BayScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 341877Tenement for Thaw & Campbell, East King StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 3 of 341878Hall for Good Templars, West Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 4 of 341878Milk house and byre for Richard Kidston, Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 5 of 341878Tenement for John Cramb, Victoria RoadHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 6 of 341878Tenement for Thaw & Campbell, Grant Street and East King StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 7 of 341878Tenement with shops for Richard Kidston, Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 8 of 341878Tenement, 14-28 West Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 9 of 341879Prince Albert TerraceHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 10 of 341879Tenement for John Cramb, East Argyle StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 11 of 341879Tenement for John Cramb, Grant StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 12 of 341880Stables and coachhouses for Hugh Snodgrass, East King StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 13 of 34c. 1881Glasgow Municipal Buildings  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design entered under the name Sum Cuique
Item 14 of 341883Stables and coachhouses for Hugh Snodgrass, Sinclair Street and King StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 15 of 341885Public House  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 16 of 341885Shops, offices and house, 61 East Sinclair StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 17 of 3412 November 1885Tenements, Parliamentary Road  GlasgowScotlandConversion of ground floor of tenements into shops
Item 18 of 341886Store and shedParkhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 341887Tenements, Gardner StreetPartick GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 341888Shop, Sauchiehall Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 21 of 341888Tenements, Kelvinhaugh Street  GlasgowScotlandConversion of ground floor into shops
Item 22 of 341889Design for an educational institution     
Item 23 of 341889Engine Waste Factory  GlasgowScotlandAdditions to warehouse
Item 24 of 341890Workroom and studio  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 25 of 341890Wright's workshop  GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 341891Five blocks of tenements, Blythswood Drive and West Princes Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 27 of 341891Tenement, Maitland Street  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 28 of 341892Tenements, Dock Street  GlasgowScotlandAddition of WCs
Item 29 of 341892Tenements, Greenhill Street and West Bothwell Street  GlasgowScotlandAddition of WCs
Item 30 of 341892Tenements, Kelvinhaugh Street and Teviot Street  GlasgowScotlandAddition of WCs
Item 31 of 341893Store and shedParkhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 32 of 341893Tenement, 18 James StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 33 of 341897Temporary sheds, Palm Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 34Late 1800sTenement, 19-25 Colquhoun Square and 46-60 Princes Street WestHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland'Possibly' (HS)

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder15 October 1904  p 394 - obituary

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 Research by Iain Paterson