Basic Biographical Details

Name: William John Brockie Wright
Designation:  
Born: 4 May 1883
Died: 24 June 1976
Bio Notes: William John Brockie Wright was born on 4 May 1883. He was articled to William Gardner Rowan from 1900 to 1905 and studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1900 to 1909, winning three prizes between 1901 and 1905. In 1906 he became an assistant to Alexander Nisbet Paterson, then still working under the firm name of Campbell Douglas & Paterson despite Campbell Douglas's retirement; and in 1908 Wright moved to James Miller's office as an assistant. In the latter year he spent six weeks studying in Europe, his earlier travels having been limited to the cathedral cities of England. He was admitted associate of the Glasgow Institute of Architects in 1911 and admitted LRIBA on 22 April 1912, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects; he was clearly eager to progress his career as he gave his year of birth as 1881 in order to avoid waiting until the prescribed age of 30 for admittance. At that time he was still with Miller but he left shortly after to become chief assistant with Burnet & Boston: his presence in that office probably accounts for the high quality of their work at this time. He served as a Captain in the Royal Engineers during the First World War, after which, in 1921, he commenced practice on his own account in Glasgow.

Wright became a Fellow of the RIAS in 1929 and was elected FRIBA on 18 April 1944, his proposers being Andrew Graham Henderson, Joseph Weekes and James Taylor. By that time his office was at 26 Blythswood Square, and he was living at 'Moorgate', 23 Whitehall Avenue, Prestwick. From c.1946 he was in partnership with James Smith Kirkwood as Wright & Kirkwood. The practice appears to have had an additional office in Greenock by 1953. Their one major building, 249 West George Street (1958) is of impressive design.

Wright died on 24 June 1976. Kirkwood continued the practice under the same title thereafter.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 142, Berkeley Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19001902 
Item 2 of 14Deuchollow, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate19021904 
Item 3 of 14Laurel Hill (or Laurelhill), Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate19041907 or 1908 
Item 4 of 14Gamel Hill, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1908 *  
Item 5 of 145 Charing Cross Mansions, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1912After 1914 
Item 6 of 14180, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1914 *  
Item 7 of 1441, Kelvinside Gardens North, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1919After 1924 
Item 8 of 14170, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1921 *  
Item 9 of 144, Jane Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1924 *  
Item 10 of 141, Blythswood Square, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1929After 1935 
Item 11 of 1427, Blythswood Square, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1939 *  
Item 12 of 1426, Blythswood Square, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1939After 1950 
Item 13 of 14Moorgate/23, Whitehall Avenue, Prestwick, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1943 *  
Item 14 of 149, Woodside Place, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1955 *1957 

* 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 6William Gardner Rowan19001905Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6Campbell Douglas & Paterson19061908Assistant 
Item 3 of 6James Miller19081912Assistant 
Item 4 of 6Frank Burnet & Bostonc. 1912c. 1914Assistant 
Item 5 of 6Wright & Kirkwoodc. 194624 June 1976Partner 
Item 6 of 6Wright Kirkwood & Partners1970 * Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 2James Miller WhalleyApril 1926c. 1928Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2James Miller Whalleyc. 1928After 1932Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4Andrew Graham Henderson18 April 1944for Fellowship
Item 2 of 4James Taylor18 April 1944for Fellowship
Item 3 of 4Joseph Weekes18 April 1944for Fellowship
Item 4 of 4John Bennie Wilson22 April 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 731900sWester Cleddens Primary SchoolBishopbriggs Dunbartonshire/LanarkshireScotland 
Item 2 of 731906National Bank of Scotland, St Enoch Square  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 3 of 731907Liberal Club  GlasgowScotlandNew clubhouse - as assistant to Alexander Nisbet Paterson
Item 4 of 731908Glasgow Royal Infirmary  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to James Miller
Item 5 of 731911Perth New InfirmaryPerth PerthshireScotlandAs assistant to James Miller - Taymount Terrace and Western Avenue
Item 6 of 731921Glasgow High School War Memorial  GlasgowScotlandIst prize
Item 7 of 731922Garage for Scottish Cars  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 731922Wallace & Weir warehouse, garage and house  GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 731924HousesWhitecraigs GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 731924HousesBurnside GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 731924HousesThorntonhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 12 of 731925City Bakeries  GlasgowScotlandPresumably in collaboration with John M Biggar
Item 13 of 731925Morrisons Gowns factory, showrooms and shops  GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 731925Morrisons Gowns shop(s)  DundeeScotland 
Item 15 of 731925Morrisons Gowns shop(s)Leeds YorkshireEngland 
Item 16 of 731925Morrisons Gowns shop(s)Carlisle CumberlandEngland 
Item 17 of 731925Morrisons Gowns shop(s)  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 731925Sports fields and pavilion  GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 731926St Ninian's Episcopal Church HallsPollokshields GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 731927H J Heinz & Co warehouse and offices  GlasgowScotland 
Item 21 of 731927Macfarlane, Shearer & Co offices, stores and factoryGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 22 of 731928City Bakeries  GlasgowScotlandRestaurants and shops - dates given in FRIBA papers
Item 23 of 731928Service flats  GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 731928Synagogue  GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 731929Smart Bros warehouse and shop  GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 731929Springfield Advanced School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 27 of 731930Berkeley Restaurant  GlasgowScotland 
Item 28 of 731930Cook & Co warehouse and shop  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 731930ManseKilmacolm/Kilmalcolm RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 30 of 731930Pollok GaragePollok GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 731930Ross's Dairies, Restaurants and Shops  Glasgow?Scotland 
Item 32 of 731932Imperial HotelSt Andrews FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 33 of 731933Dominion Restaurant  GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 731934Bridge of Weir Golf ClubhouseBridge of Weir RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 35 of 731934Buchanan Castle Golf ClubhouseDrymen DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 36 of 731934Erskine Golf ClubhouseErskine RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 37 of 731934Greenock Golf ClubhouseGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 38 of 731934Western Gailes Golf ClubhouseGailes AyrshireScotlandSubstantially expended to right (Buildings of Scotland)
Item 39 of 731935Premises for Darling Ltd  GkasgowScotland 
Item 40 of 731935Tearooms for City Bakeries  GlasgowScotland 
Item 41 of 731936City Bakeries  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction and extension
Item 42 of 731936HallsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 43 of 731937Hotel ArranButeScotland 
Item 44 of 731938Department Store (House of Fraser rebuild of Arnott Simpson's Department Store)  GlasgowScotlandOriginal building
Item 45 of 731938Greenock InfirmaryGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions including nurses home
Item 46 of 731938Tea room, restaurant and shopsDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 47 of 731940Greenock Royal Infirmary Convalescent HomeGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions?
Item 48 of 731940Kerr & Co Engineering WorksGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 49 of 731941Barr & Co Engineering WorksGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 50 of 731941Lochore & Ferguson Sugar RefineryGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 51 of 731942Bardykes Colliery, pit canteenBardykes LanarkshireScotland 
Item 52 of 731942Canteen for Slipway & CoAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 53 of 731942Canteen for T Boag & CoAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 54 of 731942Messrs Hastie's Engineering WorksGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions, including canteen
Item 55 of 731942Pit canteenBlantyre Ferme LanarkshireScotland 
Item 56 of 731942Pit canteenDrongan AyrshireScotland 
Item 57 of 731942Pit canteenBothwell Castle LanarkshireScotland 
Item 58 of 731942Pit canteenNewton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 59 of 731942Pit canteenDalkeith MidlothianScotland 
Item 60 of 731942Pit canteenBenhar West LothianScotland 
Item 61 of 731942West Machan Colliery, pit canteenLarkhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 62 of 731943Caddlehill LaundryGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 63 of 731943Stables and garages, HolmesGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 64 of 731948Housing, Campbell StreetGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 65 of 731948Lowther TerraceKelvinside GlasgowScotlandLinking blocks to form Old People's Home
Item 66 of 731948Muirhead & Company, 200 Sauchiehall Street  GlasgowScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 67 of 731948New BuildingsGreenock  ScotlandNew buildings in front of Greenock Academy
Item 68 of 731951Public School, South-West AreaGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 69 of 731951Warehouses for House of Fraser, Argyll and Jamaica Streets  GlasgowScotland 
Item 70 of 731955Premises of Associated Metal Works (Glasgow) Ltd, St Andrew's Square  GlasgowScotland 
Item 71 of 73Early 1950sSt Margaret's ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 72 of 73Late 1950sOffice Block for Royal Scottish Automobile Club, West Campbell St & West Regent St  GlasgowScotlandMay have drawn up designs for this
Item 73 of 731975Dumbarton Parish Church HallsDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandHalls to S

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder18 February 1955  p316

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBARIBA Biographical Files  
Item 2 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings Collection Acc No 1999/217 (or manuscript material?)
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v23 no1832; F no4025 (box 31)