Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Wemyss
Designation:  
Born: 5 March 1865
Died: 30 July 1955
Bio Notes: Robert Wemyss was born on 5 March 1865, the son of John Wemyss, Inland Revenue Officer and Phyllis Pate. He served his articles with Duncan McNaughtan. After completing his apprenticeship he worked as assistant for McNaughtan, for Burnet Son & Campbell where he was principally employed on railway work, for William Leiper, and for other unidentified firms before. He spent his holidays travelling and sketching in England, Scotland and Ireland. He commenced independent practice in Glasgow in January 1896, and was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects, which he had joined in 1907. At the time of his admittance to the RIBA he was working in offices at 103 Bath Street, Glasgow, and living at 7 Glenan Gardens, Helensburgh. In addition to his known works, his nomination papers state that he had designed domestic and commercial buildings in Glasgow, but none of these has yet been identified.

Wemyss later moved his practice to 58 West Princes Street, Helensburgh. He married Helen Macaslan or MacLaren. He died on 30 July 1955 in the Royal Infirmary, Glasgow.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 8128, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1896 *  
Item 2 of 8160, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1896After 1899 
Item 3 of 8103, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1899c. 1912 
Item 4 of 858, West Princes Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandBusinessAfter 1912  
Item 5 of 87, Glenan Gardens, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1912After 1925 
Item 6 of 8203, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1914 *  
Item 7 of 8Dunvegan/35, Campbell Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1929After 1939 
Item 8 of 8Dunvegan/35, West Campbell Street, Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1950 *After 1955(?) 

* 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 4Duncan McNaughtanc. 1881c. 1886Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Burnet Son & CampbellAfter 1886(?)Before 1895Assistant 
Item 3 of 4William LeiperAfter 1886(?)Before 1895Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Duncan McNaughtanAfter 1886(?)Before 1895Assistant 

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 1Alexander Alban Hamilton Scott (or Archibald Alban Hamilton Scott, or Augustine Alban Hamilton Scott)c. January 1896c. September 1896Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Bennie Wilson24 June 1912for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects

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 821890Parish Council Chambers, West King StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandBefore Wemyss was in independent practice
Item 2 of 821894Ardlui Railway Station Buildings and station master's houseArrochar DunbartonshireScotlandMay be responsible for station master's house and perhaps station too
Item 3 of 821894Arrochar and Tarbet station and station houseTarbet ArgyllScotlandDesign has been ascribed to James Miller but perhaps by Wemyss then in the office of Burnet, Son & Campbell.
Item 4 of 821894Bridge of Orchy StationBridge of Orchy ArgyllScotlandAttributed to James Miller but perhaps by Wemyss who was then in the office of John Burnet, Son & Campbell who shared the work on stations with Miller.
Item 5 of 821894Stationmaster's houseGarelochhead DunbartonshireScotlandThen in the office of John Burnet, Son & Campbell
Item 6 of 82c. 1894Station HouseBrae Lochaber Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 7 of 82c. 1894Station Master's cottageSpean Bridge Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 8 of 821895Stationmaster's houseCraigendoran DunbartonshireScotlandThen in the office of John Burnet, Son & Campbell
Item 9 of 821896Station buildings  LanarkshireScotland 
Item 10 of 821896Station buildings  DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 11 of 821896Tenement, 17 John StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 12 of 821896Tenement, 27 John StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 13 of 821896Tenement, 62-66 Princes Street WestHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 14 of 821896Tenement, James Street and West Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 15 of 821896Villa, 32 Glasgow Street (at West Argyle Street?)Helensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations
Item 16 of 82After 1896Row Parish Council ChambersRhu/Row DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 17 of 82After 1896Summertown UF ChurchGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 82After 1896Tenements and business premises  GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 821897BraeheadHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 20 of 82189840-42 West Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandRow of shops and alterations to house
Item 21 of 821898Cottage for the West Highland RailwayGarelochhead DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 22 of 821898Hayfield CottageHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 23 of 821898Helensburgh Pier and EsplanadeHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations to waiting room
Item 24 of 821898House for Miss Angus, Glasgow Road and West Montrose StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 25 of 821898Pierhead archwayHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 26 of 821898RokneyHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 27 of 821898RosemountHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandMansard roof
Item 28 of 821898Villa, 25 Glasgow StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 29 of 821898Villa, West Montrose StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 30 of 82189940-42 West Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandSaloon and bakehouse extension
Item 31 of 821899StrathmoyneHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandHouse
Item 32 of 821900TrynlawHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAdditions
Item 33 of 821900Washhouse, West King StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 34 of 82c. 1900Maryhill Central StationMaryhill GlasgowScotlandIn association with Forman & McColl as executors
Item 35 of 821901Imperial HotelHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAddition of pantry
Item 36 of 821901Lorne HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandConservatory and store
Item 37 of 821901MiddledriftHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 38 of 821902DunardHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAddition of angle tower, billiard room and bedrooms
Item 39 of 821902Kentallen StationNorth Appin ArgyllScotlandMay be by James Miller
Item 40 of 821903Faslane Cemetery CottageGarelochhead ArgyllScotland 
Item 41 of 821903StationBallachulish ArgyllScotlandOr perhaps by James Miller
Item 42 of 821903TrynlawHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandNursery
Item 43 of 82c. 1903Duror StationNorth Appin ArgyllScotlandPerhaps by James Miller?
Item 44 of 821904Cawdor Lodge and Tower HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAdditions, including oriels
Item 45 of 821904StrathmoyneHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandTimber garden house
Item 46 of 821904TynlachanHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 47 of 821905CarisbrookeHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations and additions to provide cloakroom and pantry
Item 48 of 821906BennochyHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations and enlargement
Item 49 of 821906DunardenHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandConversion of attics
Item 50 of 821906Flats over shops, West High StreetKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 51 of 821907RosemountHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandBay-windowed extension providing dressing room and bathroom
Item 52 of 821908BraeriachHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension of Burnside Cottage to form new detached house, including conservatory
Item 53 of 821908ChapelfieldHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandMotor house
Item 54 of 821908FindhornHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension providing bathroom and dressing room
Item 55 of 821908HeathfieldHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandDrawing room and bedroom address
Item 56 of 821908Shop, 32 West Clyde StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 57 of 821909BurnshillHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandBedroom addition
Item 58 of 821909Four villas, John Street and Queen StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 59 of 821909StrathculmHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 60 of 821909Two detached villas, Burnbrae, 58-60 Campbell StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 61 of 821910MoorlandsHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandGardeners' cottage
Item 62 of 821910StrathmoyneHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandBilliard room added
Item 63 of 821910Two villas, Millig Street and John StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 64 of 821912Established ChurchHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations to choir
Item 65 of 821913Tomato houses, Havelock StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 66 of 821915RadernieHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 67 of 821919Established ChurchHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations to choir
Item 68 of 821919TynlachanHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 69 of 821920InverallanHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandRear addition
Item 70 of 821920LarkhillHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension and alterations
Item 71 of 821922BraeheadHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandDrawing room addition
Item 72 of 821922Cawdor Lodge and Tower HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandBilliard room
Item 73 of 821923Established ChurchHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandSession clerk and minister's room addition, and porch added to clock tower
Item 74 of 821924Helensburgh Free ChurchHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandRestoration after fire
Item 75 of 821924LarchmountHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandKitchen addition
Item 76 of 821926Thornton LodgeHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandServants' wing
Item 77 of 82192731 West Clyde StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension of shop, and gallery within shop
Item 78 of 821928StruanHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAttic conversion
Item 79 of 821928The Hill HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandExtension of gardener's house
Item 80 of 821928Villa, 1 Rowallan StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAddition of bedroom over porch
Item 81 of 821929Open-air swimming poolHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 82 of 821937HelensleeHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations and additions

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 4RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 4RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA JournalApril 1956 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p258

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information on parentage, marriage and death from research by Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v26 no2144