Basic Biographical Details

Name: Walter Underwood & Partners
Designation:  
Born: 1960
Died: 31 May 1991
Bio Notes: Walter Underwood was born in Shettleston on 19 November 1906, the son of Matthew Underwood, Inspector of Buildings and Annie Eliz [sic] Tait. He had married Mary Campbell Gunn, daughter of David Flett Gunn, wine and spirit merchant, at All Saints Episcopal Church, Jordanhill on 31 January 1933, and had been Chief Architect to the Scottish Co-Operative Wholesale Society from at least 1932 until 1945. The firm name was not changed to Wylie, Shanks & Underwood until some years after Underwood joined the practice, well into the 1950s.

In May 1960 Underwood broke away and set up under the style of Walter Underwood & Partners. He took Michael Beale and T George Low with him from the Wylie Shanks practice. They operated from 2 La Belle Place. David J Leslie, James M Paton and William McLean who had been assistants with the Wylie practice left to join Underwood and became partners in 1964. In the late 1970s and early 1980s the practice undertook a rnage of planning consultancy work including Strathclyde university, World of Property Housing Trust, St Enoch Station, Glasgow, for British Rail, Cowcaddens CDA for Glasgow Dictrict Council.

Although Underwood's architecture was very modern, he was very much an old-school Glasgow professional gentleman. One of his last undertakings, carried out after he had officially retired, was the conservation of the village of Luss in which he took a close personal interest. He died of prostate cancer at 1 Belmont Road, Glasgow on 13 April 1988. His death was reported by his daughter J M Staples, then of 8 Gamekeeper's Road, Edinburgh.

The pratice was wound up in 1991 by Leslie, Paton and McLean, when Paton and McLean retired. David J Leslie set up in practice under the style The David Leslie Partnership, taking Roderick McCallum into partnership.

David Leslie writes [2008]: 'Walter Underwood was a very astute business man and well respected architect, having been President of the Glasgow Insititute of Architects in the late sixties. I was never conscious of him on the drawing board but he did set the scene within which assistant architects designed the various buildings for which patronage Walter was responsible - certainly during the first ten years of the practice'.


Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 12, La Belle Place, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19601990 

Employment and Training

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 13Roderick McCallum 1991Senior Architect 
Item 2 of 13William Edward Morris Condie1960s Assistant 
Item 3 of 13David James Leslie1960 Architect 
Item 4 of 13Michael Beale1960After 1975Partner 
Item 5 of 13Thomas George Low1960 *After 1975Partner 
Item 6 of 13Walter Underwood1960After 1975Partner 
Item 7 of 13William McLeanc. 1960 Architect 
Item 8 of 13Gillean ('Sam') Petrie Small19631965Architect 
Item 9 of 13James MacFarlane Paton1964 *After 1975Partner 
Item 10 of 13David James Leslie1964After 1975Partner 
Item 11 of 13William McLean1964After 1975Partner 
Item 12 of 13David James Leslie19641991Partner 
Item 13 of 13Ian Robertson19891991Assistant ArchitectStarted as a year-out student

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 74 Scottish Legal (or Scottish Equitable?) branches   Scotland 
Item 2 of 74 Scottish Widows branches   Scotland 
Item 3 of 74Before 1918Health ClinicAnderston GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 4 of 741960sClydesdale BankAnniesland GlasgowScotlandWith Leslie as project architect
Item 5 of 741960sClydesdale BankStevenston AyrshireScotland 
Item 6 of 741960sClydesdale Bank Irvine AyrshireScotlandWith David Leslie as project architect
Item 7 of 741960sClydesdale BankGiffnock RenfrewshireScotlandWith David Leslie as project architect
Item 8 of 741960sClydesdale BankHaymarket EdinburghScotlandWith David Leslie as project architect
Item 9 of 741960sClydesdale BankCardonald GlasgowScotlandWith David J Leslie as project architect
Item 10 of 741960sClydesdale Bank branch for the Forward Trust  GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as project architect
Item 11 of 741960sClydesdale Bank branch, Woodside Place  GlasgowScotlandWith David J Leslie as project architect
Item 12 of 741960sClydesdale Bank, Scotland Street  GlasgowScotlandWith David J Leslie as project architect
Item 13 of 741960sRolls Royce FactoryEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotlandCanteen
Item 14 of 741960Royal College of Science and Technology, Chemistry and Chemical Technology Department  GlasgowScotlandarchitects for engineering extension, chemistry and chemical technology blocks per Builder 13 January 1961 p82
Item 15 of 741960Royal College of Science and Technology, James Weir Engineering Building  GlasgowScotlandAdditional 6-storey slab facing Cathedral Street - architects for engineering extension, chemistry and chemical technology blocks per Builder 13 January 1961 p82
Item 16 of 741960(?)The Buchanan RetreatBoclair, Bearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 74After 1960Partick, Hillhead and Maryhill Joint Hospital for Infectious Diseases  GlasgowScotlandWith Peter Williams as partner in charge?
Item 18 of 741962University of Dundee, Fulton Building  DundeeScotland 
Item 19 of 741963Royal Stuart Hotel  GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 741964Edinburgh and Glasgow Station  GlasgowScotlandSpeculative commercial development of station - unexecuted
Item 21 of 741964The Thistle CentreStirling  ScotlandEarly project management - with Beale as partner in charge
Item 22 of 741 May 1964Office Block, George Square Area  GlasgowScotlandActing as consultant architects for proposals
Item 23 of 741966Works for Diamond Power Specialities Ltd., Glasgow RoadDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations and additions - with Michael Beale as parrner in charge
Item 24 of 741967Clydesdale Bank Headquarters, St Vincent Place  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and refurbishment of Head office departments including remodelling and refurbishment of the General manager's suite - with David J Leslie as partner in charge
Item 25 of 741968Bruce HotelEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 26 of 741968Cowcaddens CDA housingCowcaddens GlasgowScotland 
Item 27 of 741968Royal College of Science and Technology, Centre for Industrial Innovation  GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 28 of 741968Torrance Hotel in Town Centre, East KilbrideEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 29 of 741968University of Glasgow, Women Students' Union  GlasgowScotlandWith David J Leslie as partner in charge
Item 30 of 741968Western Club  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and refurbishment with Michael Beale as partner in charge
Item 31 of 74Early 1960sBritish Motor Corporation Car FactoryBathgate West LothianScotlandWith Beale as project architect
Item 32 of 74Early 1960sCar Plant at Linwood for The Rootes Motor Group LtdLinwood, near Paisley RenfrewshireScotlandIt is unclear what role Beale and the practice played - did they take the job over from Weedon?
Item 33 of 74Early 1960sChrysler car factoryLinwood RenfrewshireScotlandExtensions - with Michael Beale as project architect
Item 34 of 74Early 1960sDie-casting works (or pressed steel factory) for The Rootes Motor Group LtdLinwood RenfrewshireScotlandWith Michael Beale as project architect
Item 35 of 74Early 1960sSafeway StoreBearsden GlasgowScotlandWith Beale as partner in charge and Williams as designer
Item 36 of 74Mid 1960sCooper & Co Warehouse, Howard Street and Jamaica Street  GlasgowScotlandRebuilding - with Michael Beale as project architect
Item 37 of 741970sBank of England Branch Treasury   GlasgowEnglandWith plnning by David Leslie and elevations by Peter Williams
Item 38 of 741970sRhuadsgeirPollokshields GlasgowScotlandAlterations and extensions - with William McLean as project architect
Item 39 of 741970sScottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance and Junior Conservative Club  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and extensions at Head Office
Item 40 of 741970University of Glasgow, College Club  GlasgowScotlandWith David J Leslie as partner in charge
Item 41 of 741972Royal College of Science and Technology, Stenhouse Building  GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 42 of 741974Clydebank High SchoolClydebank DunbartonshireScotlandExtension built and old school modernised
Item 43 of 741975Martyrs Church of ScotlandTownhead GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 44 of 741976Royal College of Science and Technology Students Union  GlasgowScotlandN extension
Item 45 of 741980s(?)Bearsden Town HallBearsden GlasgowScotlandAlterations and refurbishment
Item 46 of 741980s(?)Luss villageLuss DunbartonshireScotlandRegeneration
Item 47 of 741980s(?)TenementsClydebank DunbartonshireScotlandRehabilitation
Item 48 of 741980TenementsDalmuir DunbartonshireScotlandRehabilitation - with David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 49 of 741981Clydesdale BankCharing Cross branch GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 741981Dale House, West George Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 51 of 741981Fountain House, Woodside Crescent  GlasgowScotland 
Item 52 of 74Before 1981Bradford & Bingley Building Society branch officeAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 53 of 74Before 1981Bradford & Bingley Building Society branch officeElgin MorayshireScotland 
Item 54 of 74Before 1981Bradford & Bingley Building Society branch officeKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 55 of 74Before 1981Bradford & Bingley Building Society branch office  GlasgowScotland 
Item 56 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketStirling StilringshireScotland 
Item 57 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketAviemore Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 58 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketPrestwick AyrshireScotland 
Item 59 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketStranraer WigtownshireScotland 
Item 60 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketDennistoun GlasgowScotland 
Item 61 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketBearsden DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 62 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketBarrhead RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 63 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare SupermarketMotherwell LanarkshireScotland 
Item 64 of 74Before 1981Fine Fare Supermarket, Byres Road  GlasgowScotland 
Item 65 of 74Before 1981University of Strathclyde, Food Science Building  GlasgowScotland 
Item 66 of 74Before 1981University of Strathclyde, swimming Pool  GlasgowScotland 
Item 67 of 741983Herriot Hill Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandRemodelling warehouse as Engineering Applications Centre (National Centre for Orthotics and Prosthetics) and Scottish Hotel School. Also various University departments accommodated. Adaptation of former Collins building.
Item 68 of 741983Tenement, Onslow Drive  GlasgowScotlandRehabilitation - partner with Walter Underwood & partners
Item 69 of 741985Glasgow University Library and Hunterian Art Gallery  GlasgowScotlandExtension to library - with David Leslie as project architect
Item 70 of 741985University of Glasgow, Stair Building, Faculty of Law   GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 71 of 741985University of Glasgow, Student Residences  GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 72 of 741985University of Glasgow, various departments, including classics department  GlasgowScotlandWith David Leslie as partner in charge
Item 73 of 74c. 1985Possil New SchoolPossil GlasgowScotlandConversion to flats
Item 74 of 741988Glasgow Garden Festival  GlasgowScotlandDesign of High Street

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecture  p603
Item 2 of 2RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Builder27 March 1964  p684
Item 2 of 3Builder8 May 1964  p955
Item 3 of 3Building27 January 1967  p142

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of David J LeslieInformation sent to Dictionary Sent March 2008