'> Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Watson | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 1872 | Died: | 24 August 1936 | Bio Notes: | John Watson was born in Glasgow in 1872, the son of Joseph Watson, licensed grocer, and Hannah Peacock. He was articled to John Hamilton in Glasgow from 1887 to 1893, studying at Glasgow School of Art (1888 to 1894) and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. Having won a Royal Academy 'bone' (an inscribed ivory plaque) which provided free admission to the Royal Academy Schools, he moved to London as assistant to Niven & Wigglesworth where he remained until 1897. After a study tour of Italy he commenced practice at 231 St Vincent Street in Glasgow in 1898.
In the following year Watson took into partnership a younger colleague at Niven & Wigglesworth's, David Salmond (born 1876). Both were admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects, which they had joined in 1907. Watson soon sought elevation to Fellow, and was elected on 2 December 1912, his lead proposer being Henry Edward Clifford with whom they shared an office and assistants, the others being James Miller and William Gardner Rowan.
In 1914 Watson & Salmond took into partnership another employee of Niven & Wigglesworth, James Henry Gray (born 1885), the practice having won the competition for the extension of Glasgow City Chambers. It was for this accomplished French Renaissance design that in 1927 the firm was awarded the first RIBA Scottish Architecture medal for the best city building completed within the preceding five years. Much of the work of the practice was in Glasgow but further afield they won commissions for factories and other works in the Midlands and the south west of Scotland. In 1925 Henry Edward Clifford retired and his practice was merged with that of Watson Salmond & Gray, making them architects to the Victoria Infirmary.
Watson was active in professional circles: he served on the RIBA Council and as an external examiner, was elected ARSA in 1929, and was President of the Royal Glasgow Institute of Fine Arts (1915-18) and of Glasgow Art Club (1931-32 and 1932-33), Deacon of the Incorporation of Wrights and Governor of Glasgow School of Art. He retired c. 1932, partly due to ill-health and partly to give more time to RIAS business: he was President when he died of a cerebral haemorrhage in the Victoria Infirmary on 24 August 1936. His address at that date was 12 Northland Drive, Scotstoun. He had been twice married: first to Elizabeth Cumming, by whom he had a son, John, who followed in his father's footsteps as an architect, and after her death, to Margaret Pollock Spence by whom he also had a son, James Spence Watson, who was also to become an architect, landscape architect and town planner.
Salmond, who was fairly well off, had retired early in 1933 to concentrate on his musical interests. His place as partner was taken in 1934 by Watson's son, John Watson, Junior. Born in 1903, from 1920 he had been articled to Burnet Son & Dick where he worked on the Zoology Building at the University of Glasgow, and where Sir John Burnet, a friend of his father, had taken a personal interest in his development. While at Burnet's Watson Junior studied at the Glasgow School of Architecture, Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Technical College. There he won several medals and bursaries, including a minor scholarship which enabled him to spend four weeks in France in 1924-25, and the John Keppie Travelling Scholarship which funded a year's study in Italy, France and Spain in 1925-26. In 1926 he settled in London as a senior draughtsman to Niven & Wigglesworth, but because of the dissolution of that partnership he moved in the following year to the office of Sir John William Simpson, and in 1929 to that of Emanuel Vincent Harris. Whilst with Harris, he travelled again to Italy, and to Sicily and the south of France, for seven weeks in 1930; and served as editor of the RIAS Quarterly in 1931 and 1932. He enjoyed his London years and it was with some regret that he returned to Glasgow with a view to taking up the partnership vacated by Salmond's departure. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 29, West Scotland Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1888 * | | |  | 86, Ardgowan Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1888 | 1894 | |  | 231, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1898 | 1902 or 1903 | |  | 225, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1902 or 1903 | 1913 | |  | Dalcairnie/7, Church Road, Giffnock, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1911 | After 1913 | |  | 242, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1913 | c. 1934 | |  | 12, Northland Drive, Scotstoun, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1936 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | Henry Edward Clifford | 2 December 1912 | for Fellowship |  | James Miller | 2 December 1912 | for Fellowship |  | William Gardner Rowan | 2 December 1912 | for Fellowship |  | John Bennie Wilson | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | 1898 | Double villa | Giffnock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | After 1898 | House | Whistlefield | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Probably 1911 |  | 1899 | Cottage for W Lang Edgar | | | | | |  | 1899 | Cottages for D S Salmond | Giffnock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1899 | Semi-detached cottages | Brookfield | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1899 | Springburn & Cowlairs District Halls | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - placed third |  | After 1899 | Capelrig House | | | | Scotland | |  | 1900 | Board Schools | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Won competition |  | 1901 | Busby School | Busby | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job |  | 1901 | Netherton Farmhouse | | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1901 | Steading for Andrew Clement | Netherton | | | Scotland | |  | 1901 | Tollcross Park UF Church Hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1901 | Westdene | | | Dundee | Scotland | |  | 1902 | Girvan Methodist Church | Girvan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1902 | House for A Cunningham | Stewarton | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1902 | House for J Reid Bennie | Bridge of Weir | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1902 | Pollokshields Congregational Church | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - not successful |  | 1903 | Tarbet Hotel | Tarbet | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1903(?) | Tulliallan Castle, gardens and lodge | Kincardine-on-Forth | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations to castle, and new gateway and lodge built. Also further additions 1913. |  | 1903 | Unspecified Glasgow Free Library | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - not successful |  | 1904 | House for Mrs M Steen | Skelmorlie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1904 | Montrose Public Library | Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Competition design - not successful |  | 1904 | Partick Methodist Church | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations, removal of spire and curved parapet |  | 1904 | St Vincent Street UP Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Organ case |  | 1904 | UF Church | Lochgilphead | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1904 | Wesleyan Methodist Central Halls | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | October 1904 | Blairvadach Row, engineer's cottage | Shandon | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1906 | Overtoun Park, lodge (superintentent's house), gates and layout of park | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1906 | Tenements, Dunn Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1906 | Tenements, off Carriagehill Drive | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1906 | The Tudor House | Skelmorlie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Buildings of Scotland gives 1904-05 |  | 1907 | Paisley Mission Halls | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1907 | Perth Town Hall | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Unsucessful competition design |  | 1908 | Two pairs of semi-detached cottages | Houston | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1909 | Dalriada | Portincaple | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1910 | Craigton School | Craigton | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1910 | Stable, Mart Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Barcapel House | | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Butler's Cottage | Kilcreggan | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | January 1911 | Design for a small house | Newtonmore | | Invernesshire | Scotland | |  | 1913 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Won competition to secure job for extension. Begun but never completed |  | 1914 | Barcaple House | Ringford, Castle Douglas? | | Kirkcudbrightshire? | Scotland | |  | 1914 | Tom-na-Monachan | Pitlochry | | Perthshire | Scotland | Interior work |  | Before 1914(?) | Cottage | Burnmouth | | Berwickshire | Scotland | |  | c. 1914 | House | Burnside | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1919 | Davidson Memorial Cottage Hospital | Girvan | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | 1920 | 202 Bath Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations |  | June 1920 | House for Herr Oswald | Milngavie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Chauffeur's cottage |  | c. 1920 | Methodist Halls | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | HS attribution |  | 1921 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Scheme for enlargement of council chamber with giant Corinthian portico on George Square, to match Banqueting Hall on George Street and to complement Burnet's war memorial; canvas mock-up proposed by council which Watson declined to agree to; unexecuted |  | 1922 | Castle Levan | Gourock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Survey and alterations |  | 1922 | Cathkin House | Carmunnock | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations including entrance door |  | 1922 | Pollokshields Free Church | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1922 | Waverley Cinema | Shawlands Cross | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1923 | Eastern District Hospital, Nurses' Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension |  | 1923 | Gracefield | Prestwick | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |  | October 1923 | Bungalow for Charles Gray | Bridge of Weir | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1925 | Cathcart Established Church and manse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Completion to Clifford's design |  | 1925 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital | Thorntonhall | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1925 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Completion of new ward pavilion designed by H E Clifford |  | 1927 | 101-103 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New shop front |  | 1927 | Glenfeulan, chauffeur's cottage | Shandon | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1927 | House for Mrs Gray | Tayvallich | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1928 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital, nurses' home | Thorntonhall | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1929 | Glasgow Academy | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Science block |  | 1929 | House at Whitecraigs | Whitecraigs | | Glasgow | Scotland | 'Builder' suggests he was mainly responsible |  | 1929 | Unspecified bank and offices | | | | Scotland | Competition design (presumably) |  | 1930 | Victoria Infirmary | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Paying patients' annexe |  | 1930 | Victoria Infirmary, private annexe | Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Philipshill Auxiliary Hospital, John Innes Memorial Chapel | Thorntonhall | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Murray, Ian (parts written by John Watson Junior) | | The Victoria Infirmary of Glasgow 1890-1938 | | | p87 |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 4 September 1936 | | | Obituary - CHECK for further info |  | Glasgow Herald | 24 August 1936 | | | Obituary |  | RIBA Journal | 20 March 1937 | v44 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p 516 - obituary |  | Scotsman | 25 August 1936 | | | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information on parentage and marriages from research by Iain Paterson. Information from Watson's second son, James Spence Watson, via email. |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v21 no1660; F v21 no1487 (microfilm reel 13) |
Images '> © All rights reserved. The Builders' Journal & Architectural Engineer [London], Vol. 30, 31 December 1909, page 618.
© All rights reserved. Building Industries 16 April 1914 (Who's who series) (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) © All rights reserved. Šand courtesy of RIAS |