Basic Biographical Details Name: | Walter Neil Wilson Ramsay | Designation: | | Born: | 1 November 1910 | Died: | 15 March 1999 | Bio Notes: | Walter Neil Wilson Ramsay was born on 1 November 1910, the son of Archibald Ramsay, railway office manager, and his wife Euphemia Craigie Mackenzie. In 1925 he began the diploma course at the School of Architecture, Glasgow College of Art where he spent three years as a day student and four years as a part-time student. He was employed by James Taylor Thomson & McCrea for four years during this period. He was awarded his Diploma in Architecture in 1933 and the Alexander Thomson Travelling scholarship in 1935, enabling him to carry out research in the British Schools in Rome and Athens for short periods of time the following two years. From 1936 to 1940 he was an assistant architect with Glasgow Corporation.
During World War II Ramsay saw active service, latterly in Syria. He spent three of the war years as garrison engineer. After demobilisation Ramsay returned to his post with Glasgow Corporation. He was admitted ARIBA on 6 May 1947, his proposers being William McCrea, William James Smith and Joseph Weekes and FRIAS in 1954. His obituary in the RIAS Newsletter indicates that he was also employed by Keppie & Henderson but his Nomination Papers make no mention of this. His address in 1950 was given as 42 Randolph Road, Jordanhill. It seems that he joined C J McNair & Elder briefly as partner (the name changing to C H McNair Elder & Ramsay)before setting up business on his own account.
One of Ramsay's first competition successes was the design submitted in conjunction with Gordon Biggar, then President of the Stirling Chapter of the RIAS for the Nigerian Government buildings. Their design was placed second.
In the 1950s Ramsay became a full-time lecturer at Glasgow School of Art. He subsequently had success in the competitions for the University of Edinburgh Medical Buildings and Glasgow Faculty of Arts Buildings. Ramsay then formed his own practice. He was elected FRIBA on 2 October 1968, proposed by William McCrea, William A P Jack and William John Fairweather.
Rmsay's work for the University of Glasgow was extensive and by 1975 he had designed buildings work £750,000; similarly for the University of Edinburgh his work totalled £6m.
In 'recent years' he gifted old GIA minute books which he had rescued after the closure of the Institute Rooms at the Art School to the RIAS archive.
Ramsay was married to fellow-architect Elizabeth Bell McLaren. He died on 15 March 1999 at Gartnavel General Hospital. He was survived by his wife and his son, Neil. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 20, Wood Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | 1947 * | | | | 42, Randolph Road, Jordanhill, Glasgow, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1950 * | 1999 | | | 529, Sauchiehall Street, Charing Cross, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1951 | | | | 11, Park Circus, WC3 | | 25 January 1957 | After 1981 | Builder p209 etc | | 6 (or 5?), Magdala Mews, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1970 | After 1981 | Edinburgh branch office. | | 28, Walker Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1981 | | Branch office. HQ in Glasgow |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | Thomas Gibson | 7 October 1970 | For Fellowship |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1939 | Supreme Court | | | Lagos | Nigeria | Working in conjunction with Gordon Biggar Buchanan. | | 1951 | University of Edinburgh, Medical Buildings (Pharmacology Department and Hugh Robson Building) | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Won competition | | 1953 | Glasgow University, Faculty of Arts Block | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Wins competition for design of new Faculty of Arts building. Construction completed about 1959. | | 1953 | University of Edinburgh, Medical School and McEwan Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won competition and Phases 1-4 carried out. | | 1955 | Killermont Parish Church | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Church | | 1956 | Castlemilk East Church | Castlemilk | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1957 | St Modan's RC Primary School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 25 January 1957 | Parish Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Builder p209 | | 1958 | University of Edinburgh, Medical School and McEwan Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | S extension. Perhaps at this time also added the central medical library. | | 1959 | University of Glasgow, Garscube Site, Veterinary Hospital & School | Garscube, Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | Wellcome Laboratories. | | 1960s | Housing for J Turner & Co. | Dalgety Bay | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1960s(?) | University of Glasgow, hostels | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1960s(?) | University of Glasgow, lecture theatres | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1962 | Queen Margaret Hall | Kirklee | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1962 | Royal Faculty of Physicians and Surgeons | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Lecture theatre and library, including remodelling of the landing. | | 1963 | Lochwood Church of Scotland and halls | Easterhouse | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1963 | Western Highway Motel | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1964 | Maclay Hall of Residence | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conservation and reconstruction | | 1964 | Private Housing for Miltonhill Estates Ltd | Milton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1965 | Cleveden Secondary School | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | | With Wright Construction. | | 1965 | Dalrymple Hall of residence | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction of 5 houses to form hall of residence | | 1966 | Ladyland Estate 'village' development | Beith | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1966 | Restaurant, Esquire House | Anniesland | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1966 | University of Glasgow, principal's lodging and reception suite | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1967 | Mearnstower Church of Scotland | Mearns | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1967 | Northern CDO | | | | Scotland | | | 1967 | Telephone Exchange | Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1967 | Telephone Exchange | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1967 | Telephone exchange | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1967 | Telephone Exchange | Uddingston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1968 | University of Edinburgh, Medical Buildings (Pharmacology Department and Hugh Robson Building) | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Pharmacology Department | | c. 1970 | Burrell Collection | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design- has elements of F L Wright's Guggenheim Museum in NY. | | 1974 | Lister Hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | House for Mrs Campbell | Blairgowrie | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | Housing layout | Campbeltown | | Argyle | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | Mearns Castle | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Restoration | | Before 1975 | Men's hostel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | Rosslyn Inn | Roslin | | Midlothian | Scotland | Restoration | | Before 1975 | Telephone exchange | Renfrew | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | University of Edinburgh, animal houses | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | University of Edinburgh, biochemistry department | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1975 | University of Edinburgh, central boiler house | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1978 | University of Edinburgh, Medical Buildings (Pharmacology Department and Hugh Robson Building) | | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | Hugh Robson Building | | 1979 | Provands Lordship | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Restoration |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p4 University of Edinburgh Medical School p16 Plan for redevelopment of the north side of George Square | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1981 | Directory of Practices 1981 | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 26 January 1951 | | | p155 | | Builder | 9 February 1951 | | | p196-9 | | Builder | 9 January 1953 | | | p107 | | Builder | 30 January 1953 | | | p188-191, 200 | | Builder | 25 January 1957 | | | p209 | | RIAS Newsletter | April 1999 | v10, no3 | | Death note | | RIAS Newsletter | June 1999 | v10, no5 | | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | RIAS, Rutland Square | Records of membership | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F no6398 (Combined Box 137) |
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