Basic Biographical Details Name: | Barbour & Bowie | Designation: | | Born: | 1902 | Died: | 1946 | Bio Notes: | James Barbour was born in 1834 in the parish of Dunscore, his twin brother being named Robert, later of the drapery firm of Barbour & Sons. Their father farmed at Shangan and was one of the founders of the Reformed Presbyterian Church at Dunscore later Craig United Free Church.
The twins went to school at Glenesslin and c.1848-49 James was articled to Walter Newall, architect and civil engineer in Dumfries (Barbour's obituary refers to 'Adam' Newall, perhaps a son who predeceased him). Around 1854 Barbour sought wider experience in an unrecorded Glasgow office: his early involvement in Newtonairds suggests that he may have had some connection with the architects of that house, Peddie & Kinnear.
In 1860 Barbour set up practice as architect and civil engineer at 27 Buccleuch Street, which was house as well as office, and seems to have largely succeeded to the practice of Walter Newall who retired in or about that year and died in 1863. After some years he married the daughter of the Dumfries ironmonger James Halliday, and at some point joined the Established Church, becoming an elder at St Michael's. The practice moved to 134 High Street in or befofre 1863 and remained there until 1870. In that year he made a short-term move to 60 High Street, but in 1871 Barbour acquired 33 (from 1898 53) Buccleuch Street and then (1872) built St Christopher's, a fine Gothic villa at the corner of English Street and Hood's Loaning for his own occupation. Its design was substantially repeated at Park House (built about the same date). At the time of Barbour's commencement of practice in 1860 his brother had already been in business as a draper in High Street for some years: he prospered, in 1878-79 commissioning his brother to design a large department store for him in Buccleuch Street when the High Street shop became too small.
The Barbours had two sons and a daughter. The elder brother trained with his father as a civil engineer, mainly on the several water schemes for which he was responsible and emigrated to South Africa where he became engineer to the Corporation of Port Elizabeth. The younger son Robert, named after his uncle, was also apprenticed to his father. He became a partner in 1895 and assisted MacGibbon & Ross with their accounts of Kirkconnel Tower and Isle Castle but emigrated to New South Wales.
Following his son's departure for Australia in 1896 Barbour recruited an assistant, John McLintock Bowie (born 1871), who had been articled to Thomas Frame & Son of Alloa in 1886 and had remained with them as assistant until 1895 when he undertook a study tour in England and Scotland which extended into the following year. Three years after joining Barbour he commenced practice on his own account, although still assisting Barbour with some projects, and finally joined Barbour in partnership in 1902. Although now advanced in years Barbour remained active in the practice, particularly in respect of works of an antiquarian or ecclesiastical nature.
Barbour was one of the ablest Scottish architects in the provinces in the mid-19th century with an individual approach to Gothic best seen at the Cumberland Street Reformed Presbyterian Church in Glasgow, now unfortunately demolished. On 6 March 1866 he joined the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Scoiety and was later elected a Fellow of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. He became a distinguished archaeologist, his interests being reflected in the late Scots Gothic tracery proposed in the original 1876 scheme for Closeburn Church and repeated in his later churches. He excavated the Roman station at Birrens in the parish of Middlebie in 1895, the results being published jointly with Dr James Macdonald.
Barbour died of paralysis (probably a stroke) on 5 May 1912 while on holiday with his daughter in Harrogate, his library and collections being sold by Peter Stobie in November. His wife predeceased him on the same date nine years earlier, and his brother Robert some twenty months earlier in September 1910.
The practice was continued by Bowie who was elected FRIBA on 2 December 1907, his proposers being Neil Campbell Duff, Horatio Kelson Bromhead of Glasgow and Percivall Currey of London. He moved office from Buccleuch Street to 27 Castle Street in 1919, and in the same year took his former chief assistant David Robertson into partnership following the latter's return from war service. Robertson left in 1924, but another partner, Colin Macaulay Middleton, was taken on in 1940, the practice still retaining the style of Barbour & Bowie until 1946 when it was merged with that of Matthew Purdon Smith, originally established in Lockerbie in 1922. Smith died in 1954 and Bowie in 1957. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | 53, Buccleuch Street, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland | Business | 1902 | 1919 | | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | 27, Castle Street, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, Scotland | Business | 1919 | After 1940 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
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 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Comlongon Castle and mansion house | Comlongon | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 2 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Kirkpatrick-Irongray Parish Church | Kirkpatrick-Irongray | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Work at churchyard | ![Item 3 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Lockerbie Police Station | Lockerbie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Further work | ![Item 4 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Newlands House | Kirkmahoe | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Extensive additions | ![Item 5 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Newlands, gardener's cottage | Newlands | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 6 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Premises for Macara | Moniaive | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 7 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1902 | Rosebank House | Lockerbie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Further work - commenced prior to partnership | ![Item 8 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Brydekirk waterworks | Annan | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 9 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Colvend Church | Colvend | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Design drawn - presumably not executed | ![Item 10 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Corbieton | | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 11 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Cowhill Tower | Holywood | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 12 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Crichton Royal Institution, Low Lodge | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 13 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Crichton Royal Institution, Upper Brownhall Lodge | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 14 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 15 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Dumfries Sheriff Court | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 16 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | House for William Rae | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Further work? | ![Item 17 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Irving Street Congregational Church | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Reroofing and redecoration | ![Item 18 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Middlebie Manse | Middlebie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations to recessed wings | ![Item 19 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Middlebie Parish Church | Middlebie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 20 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Moffat Police Station | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Further work | ![Item 21 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Morton Parish Church | Thornhill | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Addition of vestry | ![Item 22 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1904 | Premises for T & W Carlyle | Dumfries? | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 23 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Anwoth Parish Church | Anwoth | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | New roof, furnishing and gallery | ![Item 24 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Bengairn | Castle Douglas (near) | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Additions | ![Item 25 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Chicken's Bakery | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 26 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Cottage at Newlands | Newlands | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 27 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Hardgate School | Haugh of Urr | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 28 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | High Townheads | Dalswinton | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 29 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Noble Hill | | | | Scotland | | ![Item 30 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Ruthwell Parish Church | Ruthwell | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Recasting of building | ![Item 31 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | St Bride's Mansion | St Bride's | | Pembrokeshire | Wales | Extensive additions, including new water pumping and drainage scheme, electric light etc. | ![Item 32 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Stables (for Rotchell House?) | Maxwelltown, Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 33 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1905 | Villa, Gillespie Road | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | ![Item 34 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Allanton Mansion House | Auldgirth (near) | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations/additions? | ![Item 35 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Dalbeattie Primary School | Dalbeattie | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 36 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Ecclefechan water supply | Ecclefechan | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 37 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Foxwood | | | | Scotland | | ![Item 38 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Gretna Parish Church | Gretna | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Designs for alterations | ![Item 39 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | High Law | Lockerbie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 40 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Industrial School | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Additions | ![Item 41 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Kinharvie | New Abbey | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 42 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Luffness House | Drem | | East Lothian | Scotland | Addition - billiard room | ![Item 43 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Overton | New Galloway | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 44 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | T Biggar & Sons Stores | Dalbeattie | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 45 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Torthorwald Manse | Torthorwald | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Additions | ![Item 46 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1906 | Wallace Hall Academy | Closeburn | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Further work | ![Item 47 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | Kinharvie | New Abbey | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Further alterations | ![Item 48 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | Mansion House | Dumfries (near) | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 49 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | RC School | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations - Bowie responsible | ![Item 50 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1907 | School for Boys | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 51 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | 5 Portland Place, Maxwelltown | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 52 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Eaglesfield water supply | Middlebie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 53 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Free Church | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 54 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1908 | Thornhill Police station | Thornhill | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 55 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Closeburn School | Closeburn | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 56 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Craig | Balmaclellan | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | ![Item 57 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Dalbeattie Public School | Dalbeattie | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | New block | ![Item 58 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Free Church | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Further work | ![Item 59 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Friars Carse House | Dunscore | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Addition | ![Item 60 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Glaisters | Corsock | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 61 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | House, Albert Road | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 62 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Kells Parish Church | New Galloway | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Remodelling | ![Item 63 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Moat House Hostel | | | | Scotland | | ![Item 64 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1909 | Wallace Hall Academy | Closeburn | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 65 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | 133 High Street | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 66 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Borgue Academy | Borgue | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Remodelling and enlargement | ![Item 67 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Buccleuch Buildings | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 68 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Clarencefield Police Station | Clarencefield | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 69 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | House at Drumstinchall | Drumstinchall | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 70 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Mabie House | Cargen Bridge (near) | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions, including probably porch and bay windows | ![Item 71 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1910 | Midsteeple | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Appears to be by Barbour alone rather than Barbour and Bowie | ![Item 72 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Corbieton Farm | Castle Douglas | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 73 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Dumfries and Galloway Royal Infirmary | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 74 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Glenae House | Amisfield (near) | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 75 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Kingholm Quay | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Unspecified work | ![Item 76 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Neptune Park | Kirkcudbright | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 77 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | New Abbey Parish Church | New Abbey | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 78 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Nurse's Cottage | Dunscore | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 79 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Premises for T & W Carlyle | Dumfries? | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Further work | ![Item 80 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1911 | Wesleyan Methodist Church | Castle Douglas | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 81 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Assembly Rooms | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 82 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Beechwood | Kirkcudbright | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 83 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Free Church house | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 84 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Hermitage Farm | Dalbeattie | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Alterations ? New building? | ![Item 85 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Institute | Maxwelltown | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 86 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Kirkmichael House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | ![Item 87 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | Rosefield Mills | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | ![Item 88 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1912 | St Andrews RC Pro-Cathedral | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations, including baptistery | ![Item 89 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | After 1912 | Brocklehirst House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Remodelling and extension | ![Item 90 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | After 1912 | Farm buildings for H Keswick Esq, including piggeries and cottages | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 91 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | After 1912 | Housing Scheme | Maxwelltown, Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 92 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | After 1912 | Shooting Lodge | Kirkcudbright | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | | ![Item 93 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1914 | Barjarg Tower | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Major remodelling | ![Item 94 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1915 | Memorial Institute | Moniaive | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Conversion from United Associate Meeting House | ![Item 95 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1915 | Rockhall | Mouswald | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | New armorial doorpiece | ![Item 96 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1919 | Dalswinton House | Dalswinton | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Major remodelling and additions | ![Item 97 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1922 | Cowhill Estate creamery | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 98 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1922 | Kinmount House | Annan | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Addition of garden gateways | ![Item 99 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1929 | Middlebie Parish Church | Middlebie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | ![Item 100 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1929 | Mouswald Parish Church | Mouswald | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Heightening and addition of chancel to church | ![Item 101 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1930 | Star Inn | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Conversion | ![Item 102 of 102](images/table_item.gif) | 1937 | Conheath House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Proposed internal alterations |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Wolffe, Antony C | 1996 | James Barbour architect, civil engineer and archaeologist | | Transactions of the Dumfriesshire and Galloway Natural History and Antiquarian Society, Vol LXX1 | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | Dumfries Standard and Advertiser | 8 May 1912 | | | Obituary of James Barbour |
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