Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Aitken Thomson | Designation: | | Born: | 21 September 1871 | Died: | 26 November 1947 | Bio Notes: | William Aitken Thomson, born on 21 September 1871, was the second son of James Thomson of the firm Baird & Thomson and his first wife Isobel Miller Aitken. Like his brother James Baird Thomson (born c.1870 ) he was educated at Albany Academy. William was articled to his father in 1888 and became an assistant in 1892 when he undertook the working drawings for the Schaw Convalescent Home at Bearsden, presumably from sketch designs by his father. Both sons were made partners in May 1899, and both were admitted FRIBA as part of a wider programme of admission of the leading practices to the RIBA on 3 December 1906, their proposers being James Milne Monro, William Leiper and John James Burnet. Their nomination papers helpfully list their work separately indicating that James Baird Thomson was responsible for the free Renaissance Cambridge buildings and the severe warehouse designs and William Aitken Thomson the German Renaissance elevator buildings. There is no indication of either brother having studied at Glasgow School of Art or having travelled, although William probably had as contemporary accounts correctly state that the details of the Council building were taken from the Ritter Inn at Heidelberg.
Some time before 1914 James Baird Thomson's health failed and he retired to Florida Mount, New Brighton, Cheshire, where he died in 1917. William Aitken Thomson continued the practice from the same office at 88 Bath Street until 1929 when he relocated it to 150 Holland Street, probably to cut costs in the recession. In 1942-43 the practice was taken over by Weddel & Thomson on William Aitken Thomson's retirement. His most important client in the inter-war years was the Clydesdale Bank, his last buildings being in a modern manner.
William Aitken Thomson died of cancer of the larynx on 26 November 1947 at 2 Queen's Gate, 125 Dowanhill Street, and was buried in the family lair in Glasgow Necropolis. He was survived by his wife Margaret Watson Christie (who died on 6 February 1952) and a son, Alexander M S Thomson. Another son, William James Thomson, had died on 25 February 1927 at the early age of seventeen. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 88, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1888 | 1928 or 1929 | | | 19, Queen's Gate, Dowanhill, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1914 * | | | | 150, Holland Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1928 or 1929 | After 1940 | | | 2 Queen's Gate/125, Dowanhill Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1947 * | | Now 125 Dowanhill Street |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | James Thomson | 1888 | 1892 | Apprentice | | | James Thomson | 1892 | 1899 | Assistant | | | Baird & Thomson | 1899 | 1942 or 1943 | Partner | |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | James Allen Frew | Late 1921 | for Associateship | | Hugh McMaster | 16 April 1940 | Associateship | | Hamilton Neil | Early 1921 | 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 | | 1891 | British Linen Bank | Whiteinch | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1891 | Schaw Convalescent Home | Bearsden | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1894 | Kinnaird House | Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Supervised the work from design by the firm | | 1895 | Woodfield Mansion House | | | Edinburgh (near) | Scotland | | | 1896 | Lancashire Insurance Company Offices, West George Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Claims specific responsibility | | 1898 | Building for William Connall & Co | | | Glasgow | Scotland | In partnership | | 1898 | Cambridge Buildings, 202-212 Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | In partnership | | 1899 | Clydesdale Bank | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | In partnership | | 1899 | Clydesdale Bank | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | James Baird Thomson mainly responsible | | 1899 | Dumbarton Municipal Buildings | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | In partnership but claims to have superintended the work | | 1899 | Liverpool London and Globe Insurance Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Claims specific responsibility | | 1900 | Bridgegate Parish Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Design made. In partnership | | 1900 | Feuing plan of Mirrlees estate | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | Scotland | In partnership | | 1900 | Great Western Hotel and Terrace | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Alterations and installation of lift (with electric motor house at rear of hotel) | | 1900 | Standard Life Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Minor alterations | | 1902 | Clydesdale Bank | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | In partnership | | 1902 | UF Church Hall | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Church hall and link to church | | 1903 | North British Hotel | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and top floor. In partnership but claims specific responsibility | | 1904 | Clydesdale Bank | Bo'ness / Borrowstouness | | West Lothian | Scotland | In partnership | | 1904 | Tobacco Warehouse, James Watt Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions - new Brown Street façade | | 1905 | Clydesdale Bank | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Alterations - in partnership | | 1905 | Clydesdale Bank | Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Addition - in partnership | | 1906 | Buildings for the McAlpin Nursing Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1908 | 36 Jamaica Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1908 | Royal Glasgow Cancer Hospital, McAlpin Nursing Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1909 | Standard Life Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Top storeys added | | 1913 | Clydesdale Bank, 10-12 James Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and enlargement | | 1914 | Wire Rope Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1915 | Clydesdale Bank | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | New premises | | 1920 | Clydesdale Bank | Kilbirnie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1924 | UF Church, Berryknowes Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1930 | George Todd Memorial Hall | Old Dailly | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1932 | Clydesdale Bank | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1933 | Clydesdale Bank | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Clydesdale Bank, 163-165 Argyle Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1934 | Clydesdale Bank, St Enoch Square | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1934 | Clydesdale Bank, Wellington Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1935 | Bank of Scotland | Crieff | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Clydesdale Bank | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1935 | Clydesdale Bank | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Clydesdale Bank | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Alterations | | 1936 | Clydesdale Bank | Troon | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1938 | Clydesdale Bank | Saltcoats | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1939 | Clydesdale Bank | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | | | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Architect and Building News | 5 December 1947 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information on family and death from research by Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v18 no 1193 p 30 (microfilm reel 12) |
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