Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Houston Thomson
Designation:  
Born: 1 May 1882
Died:  
Bio Notes: Alexander Houston Thomson was the grandson of James Thomson of Airdrie and the son of John Thomson and younger brother of James Thomson Junior. He was born on 1 May 1882 and was articled to the family firm of James Thomson & Sons on 1 October 1897. He attended classes at the Glasgow School of Art and remained in the family firm until he was taken into partnership along with his brother on 1 January 1906, by which time his father was senior partner, his grandfather having died in 1898. He was admitted LRIBA a year after his brother on 24 June 1912, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects, which he had joined the previous year. His father had died two months previously and he and his brother continued the practice thereafter. When James Thomson Junior died on 19 March 1921, Alexander Houston Thomson continued the practice alone. He retired to Arran in the early 1960s; the practice records were destroyed soon afterwards.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Roberton, Drumgelloch Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate1912 *  
Item 2 of 37, Victoria Place, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness1912 *After 1950(?) 
Item 3 of 3Arran, Bute, ScotlandPrivateEarly 1960s  

* 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 3James Thomson & Sons1 October 1897c. 1902Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3James Thomson & Sonsc. 19021 January 1906Assistant(?) 
Item 3 of 3James Thomson & Sons1 January 1906After 1960Partner 

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 31After 1897Cottages, farm steading etc, Cairnhill estateAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandAs assistant to James Taylor & Sons
Item 2 of 31After 1897Cottages, farm steading etc, Carnbroe estateAirdrie (near) LanarkshireScotlandAs assistant to James Taylor & Sons
Item 3 of 31After 1897Cottages, farm steading etc, Milnwood estateAirdrie (near) LanarkshireScotlandAs assistant to James Thomson & Sons
Item 4 of 31After 1897Cottages, farm steading etc, Wester Moffat estateAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandAs assistant to James Thomson & Sons
Item 5 of 31After 1897Cottages, farm steading etc, Woodhall estateAirdrie (near) LanarkshireScotlandAs assistant to James Taylor & Sons
Item 6 of 31After 1897Ebeneezer Congregational ChurchAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandAlterations and decorations
Item 7 of 31After 1897Masonic HallBellshill LanarkshireScotlandAs assistant to James Thomson & Sons
Item 8 of 31After 1897Villa for Colin BrownAirdrie? Lanarkshire?ScotlandAs assistant to James Thomson & Sons
Item 9 of 31After 1897Villa for John MotherwellAirdrie? Lanarkshire?ScotlandAs assistant to James Thomson & Sons
Item 10 of 31After 1897Villa for William McAllisterAirdrie? Lanarkshire?ScotlandAs assistant to James Thomson & Sons
Item 11 of 31After 1906Airdrie AcademyAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandAdditions
Item 12 of 31After 1906Airdrie County BuildingsAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandAlterations
Item 13 of 31After 1906Chapelside Public SchoolAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 14 of 31After 1906Masonic HallNew Stevenston Lanarkshire/Ayrshire?ScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 15 of 31After 1906Post officeBathgate West LothianScotlandDesigns - approved but possibly unexecuted
Item 16 of 31After 1906Victoria SchoolAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandAdditions
Item 17 of 31After 1906Villa for A Frame EsqBearsden GlasgowScotlandProbably involved
Item 18 of 311910Sir John Wilson Town HallAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 19 of 311911St Margaret's SchoolAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandManual instruction rooms
Item 20 of 31c. 1911Cairnhill HouseAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandRestoration
Item 21 of 31After 1918Terrace of houses, Forrest Street and Katherine StreetAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 22 of 311920Offices for the North West Rivet Bolt & Nut FactoryAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 23 of 31c. 1920Cairnhill Housing SchemeAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 24 of 311923Shop for Messrs W Spence & Cuthbert, chemistsAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 25 of 31Before 192320 Council HousesGreengair LanarkshireScotland 
Item 26 of 31Before 192350 Council HousesChapelhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 27 of 31Before 192380 Council HousesNew Stevenston LanarkshireScotland 
Item 28 of 311934Campbeltown Town HouseCampbeltown ArgyllScotlandInternal alterations
Item 29 of 311936Dalintober Housing SchemeCampbeltown ArgyllScotland 
Item 30 of 311949St James ChurchAyr AyrshireScotlandGates - WW2 memorial
Item 31 of 311959Village HallBrodickArranButeScotlandW addition

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v26 no2116