Basic Biographical Details Name: | Frank Burnet & Boston | Designation: | | Born: | 1889 | Died: | After 1951 | Bio Notes: | Frank Burnet was born in 1846 in Melrose in Roxburghshire, the son of a builder, Francis Burnet, and his wife Janet Learmonth. He was educated at Melrose Parish School and Glasgow School of Art. He learned the business of building with his father, but in 1871 he joined the office of John Carrick, the City Master of Works in Glasgow, dealing with Dean of Guild and the New Buildings Department there and gaining experience of tenement design for the City Improvement Trust and forming contacts which were to be useful later. In or about 1877 he spent a year abroad travelling as far as Egypt and the Holy Land. In 1878 he commenced practice on his own account, his main business being tenements of which the firm built 540 between 1884 and 1906 in Dalmarnock, Parkhead, Alexandra Place, Queen's Park, Battlefield and Woodside, many of them were for himself and other members of the Burnet family. Others were for private clients, often in the licensed trade together with a number of schemes erected under the Artisans Dwelling Act. Their output was exceeded only by J C McKellar who built 640 between 1890 and 1910. Burnet also did considerable work as a valuator and witness in railway and property compensation cases and also as an arbiter and oversman in arbitration cases.
In August 1889 Burnet took into partnership his assistant, William James Boston, born in Tradeston on 9 June 1861 the son of Thomas Boston, artist seal-engraver, but the character of the practice did not significantly change except for a marked growth in industrial clients in the engineering, baking and printing trades. The firm moved rapidly into the premier league in 1897-98, largely as a result of distilling and licensed trade connections, but the actual design work was by then mainly in the hands of James Carruthers who designed in a manner influenced by John James Burnet - to whom Frank was not related - and Burnet's partner John A Campbell; Carruthers had entered the firm as an apprentice in 1886, studied at Glasgow School of Art and subsequently travelled in France, Itlay, Canada and the USA. He was briefly a partner from 1901 until 1908 when a sudden decline in the volume of business seems to have brought about his leaving to set up practice on his own account at 147 Bath Street. The practice then reverted to being Frank Burnet & Boston.
Frank Burnet married Mary Russell McGregor, and their son Frank Russell Burnet was born on 26 June 1891 in Kilmacolm. He was educated at Fettes College from 1906 to 1909 and subsequently at Glasgow School of Architecture, and served his articles in his father's firm. He served as a Major in France with the Royal Garrison Artillery from 1916 to 1918, and commenced practice as a partner in his father's firm in 1919. He married Margaret Roxburgh Taylor, daughter of the former architect, later politician, Sir Andrew Thomas Taylor, in 1920.
Neither Burnet nor Boston ever sought membership of the RIBA; Carruthers sought election as a Licentiate in 1911 after he left the practice. Frank Burnet died on 6 February 1923 at Earlston, Kilmacolm. Boston, who had married Elizabeth Frith Watson in 1910, died of influenza, bronchitis and vascular problems at Glenlee, Clarkston, Glasgow on 1 February 1937. The practice was continued thereafter by Frank Russell Burnet who then took James Bell into partnership, although the practice title remained unchanged as Frank Burnet & Boston until 1961 when it became Frank Burnet, Bell & Partners. Bell had been born on 14 September 1910 and had been articled to James Miller of Glasgow from 1927 to 1932, concurrently studying at Glasgow University where he was awarded a second-class honours BSc in 1931 and at the Royal Technical College where he received his diploma in 1932. He had been admitted ARIBA in the latter year, his proposers being Miller, Thomas Harold Hughes and George Arthur Boswell. He had remained with Miller until 1934, when he had joined Frank Burnet & Boston as an assistant.
During the Second World War Bell commanded 554 Field Company the Royal Engineers and was awarded the DSO and mentioned in dispatches. While he was on war service Burnet opened an office in Greenock in 1943. In the post-war years he and Bell had a very large practice in which they were assisted by Hamish Hill and James Rennie. From 1975 William Douglas joined as partner. Bell and Burnet were both elected FRIBA on 10 February 1948, both proposed by Alexander Nisbet Malcolm, William McCrea and James Steel Maitland.
Burnet was active in public life, serving in 1934-35 as Deacon of Masons. This post was also held by Bell, who was active in both public and professional life, being a member of the RIBA Council, vice-chairman of the Governors of Glasgow School of Art, member of convocation of the University of Strathclyde, chairman of the Governors of Kelvinside Academy and Controller of Civil Defence for Bute.
Bell died at the early age of fifty-six on 19 April 1967. Burnet died in June 1980 at Port Glasgow, his normal residence being Enterkin at Kilmacolm.
(NB: See Burnet, Boston and Carruthers for works executed between 1901 and 1907.) | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | ![Item 1 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | 69, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1888 | 1891 | | ![Item 2 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | 180, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1897 | After 1948 | | ![Item 3 of 3](images/table_item.gif) | 2, Wallace Place, Greenock, Renfrewshire, Scotland | Business | 1953 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
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 | ![Item 1 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1889 | Whitehall Restaurant | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 2 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1890 | Victoria Bolt & Rivet Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 3 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1891 | Campbellfield Twisting Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extensions | ![Item 4 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1891 | Miller's Bakery | Springburn | | Glasgow | Scotland | With W B Whitie | ![Item 5 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1893 | Kelvindale Mills | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Store | ![Item 6 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1895 | Terraced houses, Glencairn Drive and Shields Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 7 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1896 | 176-178 Hope Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 8 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1896 | Business premises and tenements, Wellington Street and Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 9 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1896 | Warehouse, Brunswick Lane | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 10 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | 188-190 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 11 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Bonded Store, Ballater Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 12 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Robert Sinclair's Warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 13 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | 96-100 St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations or additions, perhaps not executed | ![Item 14 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | Carlton Buildings | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 15 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | Castle Chambers and Palace Restaurant | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 16 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1898 | Clyde Rivet Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 17 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1898(?) | F & J Smith Tobacco Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably involved, but may be by James Ritchie | ![Item 18 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1898(?) | Paxtons Hotel | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably involved, but may be by James Ritchie | ![Item 19 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | Herriot Hill Printing Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions, mansard attic. | ![Item 20 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | Oil works for Rowley & Dick | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 21 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1899 | Public house and shop with flats over for George Honeyman Farmer | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Original scheme | ![Item 22 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Battlefield Gardens Tenements | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 23 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Battlefield Road Tenements | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 24 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Campbellfield Twisting Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | ![Item 25 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | City Flint Glass Works and Hecla Foundry | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 26 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Royal Bank of Scotland branch office and business premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 27 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Sinclair Drive Tenements | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 28 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | St George's Mansions | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 29 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Tenements for Glasgow City Improvement Trust, High Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 30 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1900 | Tenements, Govan Road and Shaw Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 31 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1900 | Royal Avenue Mansions | Campbeltown | | Argyll | Scotland | | ![Item 32 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1901 | Seven tenements | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 33 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Business Premises, corner of West Nile Street and Drury Street (South cornner) | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 34 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1907 | Herbertshire Castle | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 35 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Acme Machine Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Mansard addition | ![Item 36 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Garnethill Established Church | Garnethill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 37 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | City Manure Office, Parliamentary Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations to stables. | ![Item 38 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Offices, Port Dundas Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 39 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Bonded Warehouses, Borron Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 40 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Box Factory, William Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 41 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Fa'side House | Mearns | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Addition | ![Item 42 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Premises, New Sneddon Street and Wallace Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | ![Item 43 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Royal Exchange Assurance Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 44 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | St George's Horse Bazaar | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Roofing and courtyard | ![Item 45 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Auchinbrae, Newark Drive | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Summerhouse and garage added | ![Item 46 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Green's Picturedrome | Possil | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 47 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Hydepark Bakery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Stables | ![Item 48 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Tenements, Gallowgate and Graham Square | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 49 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Warehouse, Mitchell Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 50 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | Castle Mearns | | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | ![Item 51 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1913 | Port Dundas Distillery | Port Dundas | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rebuilding | ![Item 52 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Commercial Bank | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | ![Item 53 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Stables, Dobbie's Loan | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Roofing of courtyard | ![Item 54 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Tobacco factory, Tobago Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 55 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Tramcar shelter, Battlefield Rest | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 56 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Tramway Offices, Bath Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Large extensions | ![Item 57 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Warehouse, Sussex Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | With Bruce & Hay | ![Item 58 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1919 | Commercial Union Assurance Building, Stockwell Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 59 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1919 | Union Bank | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 60 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1919 | Union Bank of Scotland, Hope Street branch | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 61 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1923 | Premises, Trongate, Stockwell Street and Osborne Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 62 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1929 | Commercial Union Assurance Building, St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 63 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1930s | Greenock Ice Rink | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | ![Item 64 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1931 | Ferguson Ltd's premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 65 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1931 | Mill Church, suite of halls | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | ![Item 66 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1933 | Bank of Scotland, Maryhill | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 67 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1934 | Buildings in New Lanark for Gourock Ropework Company | New Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | ![Item 68 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1934 | Premises in Braxfield Road | New Lanark | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | ![Item 69 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1935 | Bank of Scotland, Possilpark | Possilpark | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 70 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1935 | Building for the Distillers Company | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction and extension | ![Item 71 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1935 | Factory for Kennedy Robertson & Co., Renfrew Court | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 72 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1935 | Workshop for W & J Martin | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New buildings | ![Item 73 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1936 | RC School | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Extension | ![Item 74 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1936 | St Columba's School | Kilmacolm/Kilmalcolm | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | ![Item 75 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1936 | Union Bank | Battlefield, Langside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 76 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1936 | Cardonald Cemetery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Gates etc | ![Item 77 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1937 | J R W Laing Showrooms | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 78 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1937 | Royal Bank Of Scotland | Springtown | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 79 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1937 | Smiths (Wools) Ltd | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New extension 1937, Alterations and additions 1948 | ![Item 80 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1937 | Clerical Medical & General Offices | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 81 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1937 | Housing scheme | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 82 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1937 | Paisley Ice Rink | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | ![Item 83 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1937 | R Wylie Hill's warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions and alterations | ![Item 84 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1937 | Royal Bank of Scotland branches | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Unspecified work | ![Item 85 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1938 | Hotel | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 86 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Engineering Centre | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 87 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Glasgow Royal Asylum for Lunatics | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 88 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Housing estate | Port Glasgow | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | ![Item 89 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Industrial Estate | Port Glasgow | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Unspecified works | ![Item 90 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Industrial Estate | Uddingston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Unspecified work | ![Item 91 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Industrial Estate | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Unspecified work | ![Item 92 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Royal Bank of Scotland | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | ![Item 93 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | After 1939 | Royal Hospital for Sick Children | Yorkhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions | ![Item 94 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1940 | Hillhead Picture House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 95 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1947 | Killin Ltd Nitsdale Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 96 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | Finlayson (Confectioners) Limited Premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | alterations and additions | ![Item 97 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | Housing Uddingston | Uddington | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | ![Item 98 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | Old Men’s and Women’s Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 99 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | Premises Astoria Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and Additions | ![Item 100 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1948 | Works Canteen Ashtree Road | | | Glasgow | | | ![Item 101 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | Belvidere Hospital | | | Glasgow | Scotland | To make plans for additions (to Belvedere Hospital) | ![Item 102 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1950 | Works for William Kemp & Co, Dundass and Cunningham Streets | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions | ![Item 103 of 103](images/table_item.gif) | 1974 | National Water Sports Training Centre | Millport | Great Cumbrae | Bute | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | Glasgow Contemporaries | 1901 | Glasgow Contemporaries at the Dawn of the Twentieth Century | | | | ![Item 2 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | Hume, John R | 1974 | Industrial Archaeology of Glasgow | | Glasgow & London: Blackie | | ![Item 3 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | Kenna and Mooney | 1983 | People's Palaces | | | | ![Item 4 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | McKean, Charles | 1987 | The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction | | Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Press | | ![Item 5 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | Post Office Directories | | | | | | ![Item 6 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | | ![Item 7 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | Who's Who in Architecture | 1926 | | | | | ![Item 8 of 8](images/table_item.gif) | Worsdall, Frank | 1979 | The Tenement | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 12 February 1937 | | | Obituary of Boston | ![Item 2 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 19 May 1950 | | | p692 | ![Item 3 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 25 August 1950 | | | p263 | ![Item 4 of 4](images/table_item.gif) | Glasgow Herald | 3 February 1937 | | | p14 Obituary of Boston |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional information from Iain Paterson |
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