Basic Biographical Details

Name: Wilson & Wilson
Designation:  
Born: 1937
Died:  
Bio Notes: Henry (Harry) Wilson was born on 27 March 1880 and 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.

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 but was a nephew of Strang and had been articled to him in July 1907 and remained there until November 1915. During this period he had taken classes in architecture at Falkirk School of Art & Science and then at Glasgow School of Architecture and the Royal Technical College where he had won the Whitelaw Medallion for Junior Design in 1913 and been placed second in Senior Design in 1915. In the period 1910-14 he had sketched and made measured drawings in various places in the central belt of Scotland. He had then moved to become assistant to Charles Menart, thereafter to the office of Peter Macgregor Chalmers and to that of James Miller. At the end of the war he had been admitted ARIBA under the war exemption scheme and after becoming chief assistant to his uncle in 1919, had been taken into partnership.

In 1940, by which time both Wilsons were Fellows of the Stirling Society of Architects and Robert was serving on its Council, 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. A further partner, Robert Mather Godfrey, was taken on in April 1956.

Robert Wilson died in October 1965; Henry had died some years earlier.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6169, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, Scotland   From 1940-1943 branch office at Grangemouth.
Item 2 of 639, Vicar Street, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness1938After 1950(?)Builder (3 Oct 1952, 488) lists address here in 1952
Item 3 of 62, Charing Cross, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness1940After 1943 
Item 4 of 6Station House, Denny, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness1970 Branch office
Item 5 of 6Station Road, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness1970 *  
Item 6 of 6Arnot Grange, Maggie Woods Loan, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1979(?)  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

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 22Alexander Abercrombie Wilkie19321940Assistant 
Item 2 of 22Alexander Jamieson Smith1937 Assistant 
Item 3 of 22Alexander John Macaskill Currell19371938Apprentice 
Item 4 of 22Henry ('Harry') Wilson19371960Partner 
Item 5 of 22Robert Wilson19371965(?)Partner 
Item 6 of 22John George MacGruerFebruary 1939October 1939Chief Assistant 
Item 7 of 22Robert Mather Godfrey19411943Apprentice 
Item 8 of 22Cecil Harry Friston NimmoApril 1942January 1943Chief Assistant 
Item 9 of 22Robert Mather Godfrey19461949Assistant 
Item 10 of 22Thomas Ronald Wilson19541955Assistant 
Item 11 of 22Robert Mather Godfrey1954April 1956Assistant 
Item 12 of 22Rory Wilson1955 Partner 
Item 13 of 22Thomas Ronald Wilson19551956Junior Partner 
Item 14 of 22Thomas Ronald Wilson1956After 1975Senior Partner 
Item 15 of 22Robert Mather GodfreyApril 1956After 1975Partner 
Item 16 of 22John ('Jack') Stevenson Berwick1961 Assistant 
Item 17 of 22Alexander ('Sandy') Wright McGill1961 Assistant 
Item 18 of 22William Stewart Donald19661968Architect 
Item 19 of 22Archibald Whitehead Christie1979 * Architect 
Item 20 of 22Robert MillerBefore 1979 Architect 
Item 21 of 22John ('Jack') Stevenson Berwick1980After 1994Partner 
Item 22 of 22Alexander ('Sandy') Wright McGill1986 Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 52 Commercial garageFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 2 of 521937Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction and additions
Item 3 of 521938Falkirk Ice RinkFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 4 of 52Before 1938(?)Housing scheme(s) for West Lothian County Council  West LothianScotlandHenry Wilson responsible, either under Wilson & Tait (if pre-1938) or Wilson & Wilson (if post-1938)
Item 5 of 521939Church hallWestquarter StirlingshireScotland 
Item 6 of 521939Four blocks of housingHaggs StirlingshireScotland 
Item 7 of 521942Large Prisoner-of-War Camp  Stirlingshire?Scotland 
Item 8 of 521951Garage, Workshops and Offices, Cochrane and High StreetsFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 9 of 523 October 1952Shopping Centre, BeancrossGrangemouth  ScotlandNew shopping centre
Item 10 of 5210 October 1952Premises of James Garshores & Sons, Maxwell PlaceFalkirk  ScotlandTo prepare plans for restoration and additions - also acting as quantity surveyors
Item 11 of 521955Housing Estate, AirfieldGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 12 of 52After 1956Bowhouse Church of ScotlandGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 13 of 52After 1956Denny & Dunipace Town Centre redevelopmentDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotland 
Item 14 of 52After 1956Denny Old Parish ChurchDenny StirlingshireScotlandRepair works
Item 15 of 52After 1956Falkirk Royal InfirmaryFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandNew kitchen, pharmacy and stores block, and alterations to boiler house, mortuary and post-mortem accommodation
Item 16 of 52After 1956Five advance factories for Burgh of Denny & DunipaceDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotland 
Item 17 of 52After 1956Foundry buildings and officesFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 18 of 52After 1956Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandFurther extensions
Item 19 of 52After 1956House for J Wotherspoon   Scotland 
Item 20 of 52After 1956House for R Campbell   Scotland 
Item 21 of 52After 1956Housing schemes for Burgh of Denny & DunipaceDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotland 
Item 22 of 52After 1956Housing schemes for West Lothian County Council  West LothianScotland 
Item 23 of 52After 1956Housing works for Bridge of AllanBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotland 
Item 24 of 52After 1956Larbert Old ChurchLarbert StirlingshireScotlandRepairs
Item 25 of 52After 1956St Michael's Parish ChurchLinlithgow West LothianScotlandRestoration, repair, redecoration and lighting
Item 26 of 52After 1956Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallDenny StirlingshireScotland 
Item 27 of 52After 1956Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 28 of 52After 1956Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 29 of 52After 1956Territorial Army centre, Bog RoadFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 30 of 52After 1956Territorial Army centre, ForthsideStirling StirlingshireScotland 
Item 31 of 521958Country house for J M Lindsay   Scotland 
Item 32 of 521959Airfield 3 housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 33 of 521961Kirk of the Holy RudeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 34 of 521962Airfield 6 housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 35 of 521963Airfield 9 housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 36 of 521963Bowhouse 1st housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 37 of 521963Cafeteria and tennis changing roomsGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 38 of 521964Bowhouse 3rd housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 39 of 521964Bowhouse 4th housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 40 of 521964Bowhouse Community CentreGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 41 of 521964Sports stadium grandstand, Kersiebank AvenueGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 42 of 521965Grangemouth StadiumGrangemouth West LothianScotland 
Item 43 of 521965Nine advance factoriesGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 44 of 521966Bowhouse 6th housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 45 of 521966Development of flats over shopsDenny StirlingshireScotland 
Item 46 of 521966Factory for Whitegates Knitwear, South Lumley StreetGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 47 of 521966Small shopping centre of 6 shops and 12 housesGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 48 of 521967Factories for G B Plastics Ltd  StirlingshireScotland 
Item 49 of 521967Grangemouth Swimming Pool and Sports complexGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 50 of 521967Wholesale warehouse for Renton's of FalkirkFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 51 of 52Before 1968Falkirk Royal InfirmaryFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandAccident and Emergency Block, Outpatient Block and X-ray & Records Department
Item 52 of 521975Christ the King RC ChurchGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp117
Item 2 of 3RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 3 of 3RIBA1981Directory of Practices 1981   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder2 February 1951  p186
Item 2 of 4Builder3 October 1952  p488
Item 3 of 4Builder10 October 1952  p528-529
Item 4 of 4Builder28 January 1955  p196