Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Alexander Browning
Designation:  
Born: 20 April 1909
Died: 8 December 1978
Bio Notes: John Alexander Browning was born on 20 April 1909, the son of George Bell Browning, trade union organiser, and his wife Mary Catherine Shields. He was articled to Wylie, Wright & Wylie from 1927 to 1932, attending classes at Glasgow School of Architecture. He received a minor travelling scholarship in 1931, enabling him to tour Northern Ireland, and in the same year received a measuring prize for his work on Glasgow Cathedral. He obtained his diploma in June 1933, passed the Professional Practice exam in December that year, and was admitted ARIBA on 5 March 1934, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes, William James Smith and George Arthur Boswell. By that time he appears to have been practising on his own account as his nomination papers give a business address of 13 East Kilbride Road, Burnside, Glasgow and a home address of 95 Great Western Road.

Browning took a post with East Kilbride Development Corporation about 1952. He remained in this post until 1965 when Chief Architect Francis Clunie Scott decided to leave to form his own practice with eight other architects because the proposed target of a population of 70,000 was about the be reached and this might mean the demise of the Corporation. In fact the town continued to expand and the Corporation continued for a further 30 years. However Scott was retained as ‘Design Consultant’ and his firm continued to work on various projects including the Civic Centre and Whitemoss Sports centre and well as large areas of housing.

Browning continued to live in Glasgow although working in East Kilbride. The practice Scott, Fraser & Browning had offices in East Kilbride and Irvine.

Browning died on 8 December 1978, at Hairmyres Hospital, East Kilbride, leaving a widow, Winifried Agnes Quigley, living at 'Pueblo', 13 Waterside Gardens, Carmunnock, Glasgow. The practice had two surviving partners at that time: L A M Fraser and G Brander.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 895, Great Western Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1934 *  
Item 2 of 813, East Kilbride Road, Burnside, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1934 *  
Item 3 of 87, Burnbank Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1939 *  
Item 4 of 8Clonmany/50, Hillend Road, Lambhill, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1948 *After 1950 
Item 5 of 8Whitemoss Flats, Stuart Street, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)Before 1952After 1957 
Item 6 of 8Pueblo/13, Waterside Gardens, Carmunnock, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivatec. 19531978(?) 
Item 7 of 8Strathmore House, Cornwall Street, East Kilbride, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness1978 *  
Item 8 of 835, Bank Street, Irvine, Ayrshire, ScotlandBusiness1978 *  

* 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 3Wylie, Wright & Wylie19271932Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3East Kilbride Development Corporationc. 1952December 1965Architect 
Item 3 of 3Scott Fraser & BrowningJanuary 1966 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3George Arthur Boswell5 March 1934for Associateship
Item 2 of 3Thomas Harold Hughes5 March 1934for Associateship
Item 3 of 3(Professor) William James Smith5 March 1934for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Francis Clunie Scott16 July 1969For 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 111967Our Lady of Consolation RC ChurchGovanhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 111974St Bernard's Parish ChurchCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 3 of 111974St Joseph's RC ChurchShettleston/Tollcross GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 111977Timber HousesForth LanarkshireScotlandModernisation of 44 houses
Item 5 of 111978Day Care Centre and Day HospitalEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotlandInvolved if before 1978.
Item 6 of 111978Housing for SSHACadder LanarkshireScotlandInvolved if before 1978. Modernisation of houses.
Item 7 of 11Before 1978Indoor Sports CentreEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotlandPerhaps involved if before 1978.
Item 8 of 11Before 1978Old People's Home for Strathclyde Regional CouncilEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotlandInvolved if before 1978.
Item 9 of 11Before 1981Housing developmentMilngavie DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 10 of 11Before 1981Housing for SSHARosshall GlasgowScotlandModernisation of houses.
Item 11 of 11Before 1981SSHA housesKilmarnock AyrshireScotlandModernisation

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Additional information from Iain Paterson
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no5341 (combined box 72)