Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Barclay
Designation:  
Born: 17 March 1897
Died: 26 July 1966
Bio Notes: Thomas Barclay was born in Glasgow on 18 March 1897, the son of Thomas Barclay, meat inspector, and his wife Agnes Lindsay. He served his apprenticeship with the Office of Public Works there from 5 August 1912 until 1917, studying at Glasgow School of Architecture and Royal Technical College and receiving the Halden Bursary in 1916. He served in the army in 1917 and 1918, and the following year was appointed assistant architect in the Glasgow Corporation Housing Department, continuing his studies at the Royal Technical College for a further two years. He remained in the Housing Department thereafter, acting as resident architect for the Mosspark and Knightswood housing schemes from 1923 to 1931, and in 1937 was appointed principal assistant architect in the Department.

He was admitted LRIBA on 13 August 1940, his proposers being Thomas Gilchrist Gilmour, John Fairweather and Andrew Graham Henderson. His nomination papers state that he had carried out a study of Moorish architecture in southern Spain in 1933.

During the Second World War Barclay was seconded to the Architectural Section of the City Engineer's Department of Glasgow Corporation. He was involved in civil defence work which included: the protection of the Police Divisional Headquarters, the design and erection of decontamination stations, alterations to police buildings and the design and erection of police wireless control and workshops.

On 30 May 1945 he was appointed Deputy Chief Architect of the Housing Department in Glasgow and was promoted to Chief Architect on 14 July 1952. On 1 April 1953 he became Principal Architect (Housing), in the Architecture and Planning Department of Glasgow Corporation. He was admitted FRIBA in early 1959, his proposers being A G Jury, Ronald Bradbury and W A P Jack.

Barclay was married to Nan Bell. He retired to Kirkcudbrightshire and died there of a cerebral haemorrage on 26 July 1966, survived by his wife.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Nether Achie Cottage, Kells, Kirkcudbrightshire, ScotlandPrivate 1966 
Item 2 of 520, Jordanhill Drive, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1940 *  
Item 3 of 58, Lynedoch Cresecent, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  
Item 4 of 59, Claremont Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1959 *  
Item 5 of 5Architectural & Planning Department/20, Trongate, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1959 *  

* 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 5Glasgow Office of Public Works Architectural Department (later Glasgow Corporation City Engineer's Department)5 August 19121917Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5Glasgow Corporation Housing Department (later Architectural & Planning Department, Glasgow Corporation)19191937Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Glasgow Corporation Housing Department (later Architectural & Planning Department, Glasgow Corporation)19371945Principal Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Glasgow Corporation Housing Department (later Architectural & Planning Department, Glasgow Corporation)19451952ArchitectDepute Chief Architect
Item 5 of 5Glasgow Corporation Housing Department (later Architectural & Planning Department, Glasgow Corporation)1952After 1953Chief Architect 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Ronald BradburyEarly 1959for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6John Fairweather13 August 1940for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 6Thomas Gilchrist Gilmour13 August 1940for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 6Andrew Graham Henderson13 August 1940for Licentiateship
Item 5 of 6William Archibald Park JackEarly 1959for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Archibald George JuryEarly 1959for Fellowship

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 91923Glasgow Housing competition, Mosspark housing estateMosspark GlasgowScotlandResident Architect
Item 2 of 91923Knightswood Housing Scheme  GlasgowScotlandResident Architect
Item 3 of 9After 1939Boilerhouse for Markets' Department, Glasgow Corporation  GlasgowScotlandAs architect with City Engineer's Department during WW2
Item 4 of 9After 1939Brenachoil Lodge, Loch Katrine Water WorksLoch Katrine StirlingshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 5 of 9After 1939Royal Cottage, Loch Katrine Water WorksLoch Katrine, Aberfoyle StirlingshireScotlandAlterations and additions?- as architect with City Engineer's Department, Glasgow Corporation
Item 6 of 9After 1939Stronachlachar House, Loch Katrine Water WorksLoch Katrine StirlingshireScotlandSurvey and planning of alterations and addtions to administration block
Item 7 of 9After 1939Workshop buildings over railway tunnel  GlasgowScotlandUnderpinning required due to subsidence
Item 8 of 91942Corporation clinic, Brown Street and Broomielaw corner  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant with City Engineer's Department
Item 9 of 91952Housing, Merrylee  GlasgowScotlandCHECK - Builder (25 April 1952) refers to plans by 'Director of Housing'... Thomas Barclay?

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1950The 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 no4903 (combined box 43); F no5377 (combined box 75)