Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Geoffrey Jarvis
Designation:  
Born: 9 January 1928
Died: 10 February 2009
Bio Notes: William Geoffrey Jarvis (always known as Geoffrey) was born on in London on 9 January 1928, the son of ___, minister of the Wellington Church, Glasgow. He was educated initially in Kelvinside and later at Glasgow Academy where he was School Captain. His National Service was spent with the Royal Artillery, serving as an officer in the Middle East during the time of the British mandate in Palestine. On his return to Glasgow he enrolled at the School of Architecture, Glasgow College of Art and the Royal Technical College, passing the diploma exam in June 1953 and the professional practice exam in December of that year. In 1951 he had won the (RIAS) Incorporation Prize. During his student years he gained office experience with Thomson McCrea & Sanders. About this time he made study tours to France, England, Denmark and Italy. He was elected ARIBA on 2 February 1954, his proposers being William McCrea, Andrew Graham Henderson and James Taylor. From July 1953 he was employed in the office of Keppie Hendersion & Gleave. He was elected ARIAS in 1959.

After qualifying he went to the United States where he worked briefly for Harbeson Hough Livingston & Larson as an architectural assistant, then later in 1954 with Steinhardt & Thomson in New York and in 1955 in the office of Marcel Breuer. He returned to Scotland later that year to a post with John Laird & Son in Glasgow. He transferred in 1957 to the office of William Reid where he met Stuart Lothian Barclay. He joined Barclay in partnership in 1959, after Barclay had taken over Reid's practice. The practice then became Lothian Barclay Jarvis. When John Boys joined the practice in 1961, the title became Lothian Barclay Jarvis & Boys. The practice tackled both new build, the first being the Chivas Brothers headquarters in Paisley and restoration projects, the latter gaining Jarvis a widespread reputation.

Lothian Barclay Jarvis & Boys was operated on the principle that the partner who introduced a job assumed responsibility for it. Initially the partner would produce sketch designs, after obtaining a brief from the client. Detailed drawings would then be made by the partner and by an assistant under his supervision. Jarvis was elected FRIBA on 4 February 1970, proposed by Jack Coia, Jack Holmes and John Robertson Notman.

Jarvis' s mother had founded the Glasgow Tree Lovers' Society and he used this as a basis for developing proposals to renovate the south bank of the Clyde and improve the north bank with a concert hall overlooking the river. Jarvis's committment to conservation included setting up the New Glasgow Society which campaigned for the restoration and re-use of buildings in the city. At its first meeting the Society drew a crowd of more than 1,700 which was followed by an organised walk from George Square up to Greek Thomson' church at the top of St Vincent Street. The society was influential in its early days in the revaluation of Glasgow's buildings which gradually led to a political acceptance of the policy of restoration of Glasgow buildings. This led Jarvis and others to set up the Glasgow Urban Design Panel which was to advise the Council on controversial planning applications.

In the 1990s Jarvis was active in the drive to repatriate the sailing vessel Glenlee and founding the Society Clydebuilt. He campaigned for transforming the site of the Glasgow Garden Festival into a public park and visitor attraction. He was also involved with the formation of the Clyde Maritime Trust and the Clyde Heritage Trust of which he was chairman and in this role he was involved with the effort to bring the Britannia to the Clyde. He and others agreed that the derelict dry docks at Govan would be a fitting place for a Clyde martime museum with the Britannia as focus. Though this failed he continued to lobby on matters relating to the Clyde and was involved with producing a CD on the history and development of Glasgow.

Jarvis retired in 1998. Toward the end of his life he and his wife Rosalind Bailey, whom he had married in 1971, supported a number of environmental campaigns. He died on 10 February 2009, survived by his wife, their four children and two grandchildren.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 229, Lilybank Gardens, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1954After 1959 
Item 2 of 219, Woodside Place, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1970 *  

* 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 10Thomson, McCrea & Sanders19481953AssistantOffice experience during degree
Item 2 of 10Keppie Henderson & J L GleaveJuly 1953Late 1953Assistant 
Item 3 of 10Harbeson, Hough, Livingston & Larson1954 Architect 
Item 4 of 10Marcel Breuer1955 Assistant 
Item 5 of 10John Laird & Son19551957Assistant 
Item 6 of 10James Reid19571959Assistant 
Item 7 of 10Lothian Barclay Jarvis19591961Partner 
Item 8 of 10Lothian Barclay Jarvis & Boys19611987Partner 
Item 9 of 10The Boys Jarvis Partnershipc. 1970 Partner 
Item 10 of 10William Nimmo & Partners1987 AssociateAfter the dissolution of Boys Jarvis

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Jack Antonio Coia4 February 1970For Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Andrew Graham Henderson2 February 1954For Associateship
Item 3 of 6John ('Jack') Charles Holmes4 February 1970For Fellwoship
Item 4 of 6William McCrea2 February 1954For Associateship
Item 5 of 6John Robertson Notman4 February 1970For Fellowship
Item 6 of 6James Taylor2 February 1954For Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1Stuart Lothian Barclay4 February 1970For 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 62 Edinburgh Castle  EdinburghScotlandRestoration work? New buildings?
Item 2 of 62 Refuse Incineration PlantLinwood RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 3 of 621959Chivas Regal Building with warehousing, bottling and officesPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 4 of 621960sHouse for Mr & Mrs Charles HamiltonMilton Hill, Bowling DunbartonshireScotlandMainly responsible
Item 5 of 621960sHouse for Mr James McKelvieGourock RenfrewshireScotlandMainly responsible
Item 6 of 621960sInver Cottage RestaurantStrathlachlan, Strathur ArgyllScotlandMainly responsible
Item 7 of 621960sKilns and storage buildings for J & A Stewart, timber merchants  GlasgowScotlandMainly responsible
Item 8 of 621960sMelvin Motors Ltd, Kingston Street  GlasgowScotlandParts depot added - mainly responsible
Item 9 of 621961Street Improvements, Carlton Place  GlasgowScotlandMainly responsible
Item 10 of 621962Chivas Regal Building with warehousing, bottling and officesPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandOffices - mainly responsibility
Item 11 of 621963Isle of Jura Distillery Isle of JuraArgyllScotland 
Item 12 of 621963Sacred Heart SchoolBridgeton GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 621965Holy Family SchoolKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 14 of 621966Blending & Bottling Plant for for Clan Munro Whisky LtdCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 15 of 621966Glenallachie DistilleryAberlour BanffshireScotland 
Item 16 of 621966Head office for Hugh Leggat LtdBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 17 of 621966SSEB officesWindyhill, Bearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 621966University of Glasgow, veterinary field stationClydebank DunbartonshireScotlandMainly responsible
Item 19 of 621967Lenzie Moss SchoolKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 20 of 621968Abronhill Primary School (No 2)Cumbernauld LanarkshireScotlandin progress 1970
Item 21 of 621968Albert Primary SchoolSpringburn GlasgowScotlandin progress 1970
Item 22 of 621968Dawsholm Refuse Disposal PlantMaryhill GlasgowScotlandin progress 1970
Item 23 of 621968Middleton Municipal incineratorMiddleton ManchesterEngland 
Item 24 of 621968ShambalaGourock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 25 of 621969Duck Bay Hotel , Restaurant and MarinaLoch Lomond DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 26 of 621970New Kilpatrick Parish ChurchBearsden DunbartonshireScotlandMainly responsible
Item 27 of 621972Culzean Estate, home farmCulzean AyrshireScotlandRestoration and conversion to visitor centre. Partner in charge.
Item 28 of 621972New Kilpatrick Church, New HallBearsden GlasgowScotlandMainly responsible
Item 29 of 621973St Ronan's Primary SchoolBonhill DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 30 of 621975Glenallachie DistilleryAberlour BanffshireScotlandAdditions
Item 31 of 62Before 1975Crossroads Youth & Community CentreGorbals GlasgowScotland 
Item 32 of 62Before 1975Culzean Castle  AyrshireScotlandStone restoration
Item 33 of 62Before 1975Garage Amenities BlockBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 34 of 62Before 1975Hotel & MarinaLoch Lomond DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 35 of 62Before 1975HousingStrachur ArgyllScotland 
Item 36 of 62Before 1975HousingRhu DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 37 of 62Before 1975Kilns and storage buildings for J & A Stewart, timber merchants  GlasgowScotlandFurther work - described in source as 'industrial complexes'
Item 38 of 62Before 1975Offices for Motherwell Bridge and Engineering CompanyLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 39 of 62Before 1975Offices for OffshoreLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 40 of 621976Aiket CastleDunlop AyrshireScotlandRestoration - assisted owners Katrina and Robert Clow.
Item 41 of 621977Little CarbethKillearn StirlingshireScotland 
Item 42 of 62Before 1978Wilson HouseKillearn StirlingshireScotland 
Item 43 of 621979Armadale CastleArdvasarSkyeInverness-shireScotlandAdditions on conversion to restaurant.
Item 44 of 621979ChatelheraultHamilton High Parks LanarkshireScotlandRestoration - as partner in charge
Item 45 of 62Before 1981Industrial complexes for Mallinson Denny Scotland Ltd   Scotland 
Item 46 of 62Before 1981Inver restaurant  ArgyllScotland 
Item 47 of 62Before 1981Offices, 57-61 St Vincent Street  GlasgowScotlandModernisation
Item 48 of 62Before 1981Pharmacy for the Greater Glasgow Health Board  GlasgowScotland 
Item 49 of 62Before 1981Private housingUdny AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 50 of 62Before 1981Sheltered housingKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 51 of 62Before 1981St Andrews-by-the-Green  GlasgowScotlandRestoration for the Scottish Episcopal Church and the SDA
Item 52 of 621982Clan Donald Centre, Armadale CastleArmadale Inverness-shireScotlandRestoration of stable as visitor centre. Partner in charge.
Item 53 of 621982The Hill HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandRestoration and repair - partner in charge.
Item 54 of 621986Offices, West Campbell Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 55 of 621987Culzean Castle Estate, Fountain Court, walls, orangery and shelter  AyrshireScotlandRestoration of orangery
Item 56 of 621987Fountain Quay sheltered housingKirn ArgyllScotland 
Item 57 of 62After 1987135-136 Leadenhall Street  LondonEnglandNew Portland stone facade
Item 58 of 62Late 1980sEdinburgh Castle, Visitor Centre  EdinburghScotlandScheme drawn up
Item 59 of 62Mid 1980sEmerson Chambers  Newcastle-upon-TyneEnglandProject architect - as consultant for William Nimmo & Partners
Item 60 of 62Mid 1980sFitzroy Place, Sauchiehall Street  GlasgowScotlandRemodelling of ground floor of no 7 as offices for WNP - project architect - as consultant with William Nimmo & partners
Item 61 of 62Mid 1980sLeewood HouseLanark LanarkshireScotlandExtensions - project architect, as consultant for WNP
Item 62 of 62Early 1990sClyde Maritime Scheme  GlasgowScotlandAs consultant with WNP - regeneration of dock area and return of the Glenlee, a Clyde-built sailing vessel. Vessel returned but other proposals not executed.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp142
Item 2 of 4RIBA1954RIBA Kalendar 1953-54   
Item 3 of 4RIBA1979Directory of members   
Item 4 of 4Willis, Peter1977New architecture in Scotland  p15, p17 Refuse Incineration Plant, Linwood

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Glasgow Herald9 March 2009  Obituary
Item 2 of 3RIAS NewsletterAugust 1980v9, no6  
Item 3 of 3Scotsman17 March 2009  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of David Nimmo (WNP)Information sent to DSA website Sent March 2009