Basic Biographical Details Name: | David Valentine Wyllie | Designation: | | Born: | 10 February 1857 | Died: | 2 May 1930 | Bio Notes: | David Valentine Wyllie was born at 93 North Hanover Street, Glasgow on 10 February 1857, the son of David Ross Wyllie, surgeon, and Eliza Greenshields. He was articled to Salmon Son & Ritchie in 1871 and was assistant to Alexander Skirving for three months in 1875 prior to becoming an assistant to McKissack & Rowan for three years and to John Carrick, Glasgow City Architect, for nine.
Wyllie was twice married. His first wife was Marion McConnell, born 23 August 1857 at 209 North Woodside Road, Glasgow, the sixth child and second daughter of Robert McConnell and Marion Rodgers. Wyllie married her in 1880 and with her he had three children: Eliza H (born c.1882), Robert M (born c.1886) and David Valentine junior (born late November or early December 1887), the latter of whom would follow him into the profession. Marion died of chronic bronchitis, dropsy and parturition at 331 New City Road, Glasgow on 13 December 1887, just two weeks after David Valentine junior's birth. Wyllie subsequently married Mary Rae McInroy of Montrose.
The elder David Valentine Wyllie commenced independent practice in a very downmarket way from his home address at 711 Gallowgate in 1887, but traded up to 138 Renfrew Street in 1891 and 102 Bath Street in 1911 by which date he had a separate house at 19 Westminster Terrace. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July of that year, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects, which Wyllie had joined in 1907.
His practice was predominantly industrial with a preference for polychromatic effects. The Botanic Gardens Garage suggests he was not without ability. Like so many others he seems to have been progressively affected by the Finance Act of 1909 and by 1914 Westminster Terrace was both house and office. After the First World War he moved house and office to 6 India Street where he died of premature senility and enlarged prostate on 2 May 1930, his death being reported by his married daughter Chrissie Rae Gonnella. At the time of his death he was described as property agent rather than as architect. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Rowmore Cottage, Rhu/Row, Dunbartonshire, Scotland | Private | 1881 * | | | | 711, Gallowgate, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | 1881 | 1891 | This was his home address until at least 1887 when it seems to have become both business and private. | | 331, New City Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1886 * | 1888 | | | 95, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1887 | After 1895 | | | 138, Renfrew Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | 1891 | Before 1911 | | | 102, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1899 | 1914 | | | 1557, Great Western Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1903 * | | | | 21, Grafton Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1904 | After 1907 | | | 19, Westminster Terrace, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1911 | After 1914 | Initially home only; also office after 1914 | | 6, India Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1919 | 1930 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | James Money | September 1892 | 1897 | Apprentice | | | James Money | 1897 | 1897 or 1898 | Draughtsman | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Bennie Wilson | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | Scotland Census 1881 | 1881 | | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | GROS 1930/644.11/340 | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information on family and addresses from research by Iain Paterson; and from Anne Burgess (email 27 October 2006) | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v21 no1694 |
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