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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Roberton, Drumgelloch Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | 1912 * | | | | 7, Victoria Place, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 1912 * | After 1950(?) | | | Arran, Bute, Scotland | Private | Early 1960s | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Bennie Wilson | 24 June 1912 | for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects |
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 | | After 1897 | Cottages, farm steading etc, Cairnhill estate | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | As assistant to James Taylor & Sons | | After 1897 | Cottages, farm steading etc, Carnbroe estate | Airdrie (near) | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | As assistant to James Taylor & Sons | | After 1897 | Cottages, farm steading etc, Milnwood estate | Airdrie (near) | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | As assistant to James Thomson & Sons | | After 1897 | Cottages, farm steading etc, Wester Moffat estate | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | As assistant to James Thomson & Sons | | After 1897 | Cottages, farm steading etc, Woodhall estate | Airdrie (near) | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | As assistant to James Taylor & Sons | | After 1897 | Ebeneezer Congregational Church | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations and decorations | | After 1897 | Masonic Hall | Bellshill | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | As assistant to James Thomson & Sons | | After 1897 | Villa for Colin Brown | Airdrie? | | Lanarkshire? | Scotland | As assistant to James Thomson & Sons | | After 1897 | Villa for John Motherwell | Airdrie? | | Lanarkshire? | Scotland | As assistant to James Thomson & Sons | | After 1897 | Villa for William McAllister | Airdrie? | | Lanarkshire? | Scotland | As assistant to James Thomson & Sons | | After 1906 | Airdrie Academy | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Additions | | After 1906 | Airdrie County Buildings | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Alterations | | After 1906 | Chapelside Public School | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | After 1906 | Masonic Hall | New Stevenston | | Lanarkshire/Ayrshire? | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | After 1906 | Post office | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | Designs - approved but possibly unexecuted | | After 1906 | Victoria School | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Additions | | After 1906 | Villa for A Frame Esq | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably involved | | 1910 | Sir John Wilson Town Hall | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1911 | St Margaret's School | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Manual instruction rooms | | c. 1911 | Cairnhill House | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Restoration | | After 1918 | Terrace of houses, Forrest Street and Katherine Street | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1920 | Offices for the North West Rivet Bolt & Nut Factory | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | c. 1920 | Cairnhill Housing Scheme | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1923 | Shop for Messrs W Spence & Cuthbert, chemists | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | 20 Council Houses | Greengair | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | 50 Council Houses | Chapelhall | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | 80 Council Houses | New Stevenston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Campbeltown Town House | Campbeltown | | Argyll | Scotland | Internal alterations | | 1936 | Dalintober Housing Scheme | Campbeltown | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1949 | St James Church | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Gates - WW2 memorial | | 1959 | Village Hall | Brodick | Arran | Bute | Scotland | W addition |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v26 no2116 |
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