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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
Robert Ewan
Designation :
Architect - Engineer
Date of Birth:
Circa (Year)
Exact DOB:
15/06/1926
Year of Birth :
Circa Year of Birth :
1828
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Exact Date
Exact DOD:
13/02/1917
Year of Death:
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
Robert Ewan was born about 1828, the son of Charles Ewan, wood merchant, and his wife Jean Smith. From 1862 he was an assistant of J Russell Mackenzie in Aberdeen. Whilst still an assistant he was commissioned to design the Strathearn Hydropathic at Crieff which was promoted in 1866 by an Aberdeen company. He was later to become a director. He appears in the Aberdeen directories between 1865 and 1870 but sometime thereafter he commenced practice in Glasgow initially from his house at 7 Albert Drive, Crosshill. His connection with Crieff remained strong; he designed St Columba's Episcopal Church in 1877 and supervised the erection of John James Stevenson's Free Church there in 1882. In 1885 he was commissioned to build the giant Singer sewing machine works at Kilbowie, his practice remaining predominantly industrial thereafter. His Glasgow Herald obituary does not tell us much beyond the fact that he was well known in the district and was prominent in local affairs having been a member of the Cathcart Landward Committee, the District Committee for Renfrewshire and the Parish Council.
Ewan had a son of the same name, born in 1870 when he was still in Aberdeen: Robert Junior was articled to him in 1889, studying at Glasgow School of Art, and was taken into partnership in 1902. A second son, Charles, born in 1872, followed the same career path two years later, studying at the Glasgow Technical College.
The elder Robert Ewan died on 13 February 1917 at Marylee, 10 Manse Road, Old Cathcart, aged 89, his wife Annie Smith having died the previous year. The business was continued by his sons Robert Junior and Charles.
'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Private Addresses
Private Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From Char
Date From Type
Date To Char
Date To Type
Notes
32 Whitehouse Street Aberdeen Scotland
Private
Kilmailing/10 Manse Brae Marylea, Old Cathcart Renfrewshire/Glasgow Scotland
Private
7 Hampden Terrace Glasgow Scotland
Private
Date unknown
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Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
75 Bath Street Glasgow Scotland
Business
Before 1875
After 1894
101 St Vincent Street Glasgow Scotland
Business
Before 1900
After 1914
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Employment and Training
The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):
Employers2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
John Russell Mackenzie
200196
In year 1862
Assistant
Robert Ewan & Sons
200605
In year 1902
In year 1917
Senior Partner
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
Employees or Pupils
The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):
Employees or Pupils2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
Robert Ewan (junior)
200604
In year 1889
c. 1894
Apprentice
Charles Ewan
200606
In year 1891
c. 1896
Apprentice
Robert Ewan (junior)
200604
c. 1894
In year 1902
Assistant
Charles Ewan
200606
c. 1896
In year 1904
Assistant
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Buildings and Designs
This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
Buildings and Designs2 classic
Building Name
Date Started
Town, District or Village
Island
City or County
Country
Notes
Croftweit
In year 1862
Crieff
Perthshire
Scotland
Crieff Hydropathic
In year 1866
Crieff
Perthshire
Scotland
Original building, alterations and additions
Learney House
In year 1868
Aberdeenshire
Scotland
Additions - Ewan working in Mackenzie's office
Aberuchill Castle
In year 1869
Perthshire
Scotland
Service wings
Aberuchill Castle
In year 1869
Perthshire
Scotland
Service wings
St Columba's Episcopal Church and rectory
In year 1877
Crieff
Perthshire
Scotland
Free Church
In year 1881
Crieff
Perthshire
Scotland
Supervised the construction for John James Stevenson
Singer Manufacturing Company Works
In year 1885
Kilbowie
Dunbartonshire
Scotland
Exhibited design for Singer's new factory
Allan Line Offices
In year 1888
Glasgow
Scotland
City Line Offices
After 1889
Glasgow
Scotland
Pilot House for Clyde Pilot Board
After 1889
Greenock
Renfrewshire
Scotland
Shieldhill
After 1889
Biggar
Lanarkshire
Scotland
Homes for Indigent Men and Women
After 1889
Whiteinch
Glasgow
Scotland
Savings Bank
In year 1893
Springburn
Glasgow
Scotland
Corner, Wellington and Holm Streets for P Hutchison
In year 1894
Crieff
Perthshire
Scotland
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References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
British Architectural Library, RIBA
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914
2001
Post Office Directories
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Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this person:
Period ref classic
Periodical Name
Publisher
Date Circ
Edition
Notes
Builder
1917/03/09
*
p162 - obituary
row(s) 1 - 1 of 1
Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this person:
Arc ref classic
Archive Name
Source
Source Cat No
Building Id
Item Name
Notes
NMRS Architects Index
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS
100013
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