Basic Biographical Details

Name: Henry ('Harry') Wilson
Designation:  
Born: 27 March 1880
Died: 11 January 1961
Bio Notes: Henry ('Harry') Wilson was born on 27 March 1880, the son of Henry Wilson, joiner journeyman, and his wife Ann Davidson. He was articled to George Deas Page of Falkirk in July 1895, attending classes at the Falkirk School of Art and Science. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1900 he moved first to Lerwick as assistant to John Morgan Aitken and then a year later to Glasgow as assistant to R MacLelland (probably a civil engineer), also spending some time in MacLelland's office in Johnstone, Renfrewshire. This move enabled Wilson to study at Glasgow School of Art under Alexander McGibbon.

In 1903 Wilson commenced independent practice in partnership with a slightly older apprentice at Page's, David Alexander Tait (born 1879), the firm being named Wilson & Tait and based in Grangemouth. Both architects were admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, Wilson's house being then at Carnach, Polmont and Tait's at Sunnylea, Ronaldshay Crescent, Grangemouth.

Wilson & Tait appear to have briefly had an office in Edinburgh at 122 George Street from about 1913-15. Presumably this was to to enable them to undertake a particular job in the city but this has not yet been traced. They also had a branch office in Jedburgh in the mid-1930s, presumably to oversee projects there.

Tait retired in 1937. In the same year Henry Wilson merged his practice with that of Strang & Wilson, James Strang also having retired in that year, the combined practice of Wilson & Wilson being now based in Strang's office at 39 Vicar Street, Falkirk. The surviving partner of Strang & Wilson, Robert Wilson, was not related to Henry Wilson and had been articled to an as yet unidentified practice in Falkirk before the First World War. At the end of it he had been admitted ARIBA under the war exemption scheme and had entered into partnership with Strang who was his uncle.

In 1940, by which time both Wilsons were Fellows of the Stirling Society of Architects, the partnership re-opened an office in Grangemouth, but it was closed again in 1943. Henry Wilson was elected FRIBA on 15 June of that year, his proposers being Alexander Nisbet Malcolm, Alastair Marshall McMichael and Eric Sinclair Bell; it must have been in preparation for this that he had been re-elected LRIBA on 17 November the previous year with the same proposers, presumably having allowed his membership to lapse. At this time he was President of the Stirling Society of Architects and was also a member of council of the RIAS. In 1955 Henry Wilson's son Rory was taken into partnership, Henry not retiring until 1960 at the age of 80. Robert Wilson died in October 1965; Henry had died on 11 January 1961 at 11 Park Terrace, Stirling. His wife Janet Ritchie had predeceased him but he was survived by his son.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 76, Cranshaw Drive, Redding, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate 1961 
Item 2 of 7Carnach, Polmont, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate1911 *  
Item 3 of 7Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate1911 *  
Item 4 of 7122, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1913c. 1915 
Item 5 of 739, Vicar Street, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1938After 1942 
Item 6 of 72, Charing Cross, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1940After 1943 
Item 7 of 7Sandy Loan, Laurieston, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1942After 1950 

* 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 5George Deas Page18951900Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5John Morgan Aitken19001901Assistant 
Item 3 of 5R MacLelland19011903Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Wilson & Tait19031937Partner 
Item 5 of 5Wilson & Wilson19371960Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6(Captain) Eric Sinclair Bell17 November 1942for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 6(Captain) Eric Sinclair Bell15 June 1943for Fellowship
Item 3 of 6Alexander Nisbet Malcolm17 November 1942for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 6Alexander Nisbet Malcolm15 June 1943for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Alastair Marshall McMichael17 November 1942for Licentiateship
Item 6 of 6Alastair Marshall McMichael15 June 1943for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2Robert Mather Godfrey2 February 1954for Associateship
Item 2 of 2Alexander Abercrombie Wilkie9 July 1946For Associateship

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 51After 1903Business premises for A G TaylorPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 2 of 51After 1903Business premises for P M UriePolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 3 of 51After 1903Licensed premises and billiard rooms for A G TaylorPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 4 of 51After 1903Royal Bank of ScotlandPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 5 of 51After 1903Villa for J P MacKenziePolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 6 of 511904Co-operative bakery, stables, byre, van shed etcGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 7 of 511906Redding and Westquarter ChurchRedding StirlingshireScotland 
Item 8 of 511908Grangemouth High SchoolGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 9 of 511910Grangemouth Parish ChurchGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 10 of 51c. 1910Grange House, stables and stables cottageLinlithgow West LothianScotland 
Item 11 of 51191961 High StreetDunbar East LothianScotland 
Item 12 of 51After 1919Housing scheme(s) for West Lothian County Council  West LothianScotland 
Item 13 of 511923Larbert East Church HallLarbert StirlingshireScotland 
Item 14 of 511925Two blocks of Flatted Dwellings, The NurseriesFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 15 of 511929Kerse Parish Church HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 16 of 511930sHousing scheme for Stirling County CouncilGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 17 of 511932St Helen's Church of ScotlandHigh Bonnybridge StirlingshireScotland 
Item 18 of 511933Silk FactorySelkirk SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 19 of 51193525 Callendar RiggsFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 20 of 511935The KnoweAncrum RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 21 of 511936Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction and additions
Item 22 of 51c. 1936CairnmountJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 23 of 511937Forthill housing schemeJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 24 of 511937Grangemouth Public LibraryGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandAddition to W
Item 25 of 511937Roadhouse and tearooms, Stirling RoadGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 26 of 511938Falkirk Ice RinkFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 27 of 511939Church hallWestquarter StirlingshireScotland 
Item 28 of 511939Four blocks of housingHaggs StirlingshireScotland 
Item 29 of 511942Large Prisoner-of-War Camp  Stirlingshire?Scotland 
Item 30 of 51After 1956(?)Bowhouse Church of ScotlandGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 31 of 51After 1956(?)Denny & Dunipace Town Centre redevelopmentDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 32 of 51After 1956(?)Denny Old Parish ChurchDenny StirlingshireScotlandRepairs - may have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 33 of 51After 1956(?)Falkirk Royal InfirmaryFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandNew kitchen, pharmacy and stores block, and alterations to boiler house, mortuary and post-mortem accommodation - may have been done after Wilson had left practice
Item 34 of 51After 1956(?)Five advance factories for Burgh of Denny & DunipaceDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 35 of 51After 1956(?)Foundry buildings and officesFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left practice
Item 36 of 51After 1956(?)Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandFurther extensions; may have been after Wilson left firm
Item 37 of 51After 1956(?)House for J Wotherspoon   ScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 38 of 51After 1956(?)House for R Campbell   ScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 39 of 51After 1956(?)Housing schemes for Burgh of Denny & DunipaceDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 40 of 51After 1956(?)Housing schemes for West Lothian County Council  West LothianScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 41 of 51After 1956(?)Housing works for Bridge of AllanBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 42 of 51After 1956(?)Larbert Old ChurchLarbert StirlingshireScotlandRepairs - may have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 43 of 51After 1956(?)St Michael's Parish ChurchLinlithgow West LothianScotlandRestoration, repair, redecoration and lighting - may have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 44 of 51After 1956(?)Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallDenny StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 45 of 51After 1956(?)Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 46 of 51After 1956(?)Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 47 of 51After 1956(?)Territorial Army centre, Bog RoadFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 48 of 51After 1956(?)Territorial Army centre, ForthsideStirling StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 49 of 511958Country house for J M Lindsay   Scotland 
Item 50 of 511959Airfield 3 housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 51 of 511961Kirk of the Holy RudeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

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

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v21 no1681; L no5236 (combined box 65); F no3955 (box 30)