Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robert William Horn | Designation: | | Born: | 4 September 1869 | Died: | 5 January 1932 | Bio Notes: | Robert William Horn was born on 4 September 1869, the son of Robert Horn, foreman boiler-maker, from Largo in Fife and his wife Margaret Allan from Inverkeithing. He was articled to H & D Barclay in 1884-89, reaching the position of chief assistant by the time of his leaving in 1896: he may have had some hand in the powerful neo-baroque designs of that office in the earlier 1890s. During his time with them he studied at Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, passing the qualifying exam in November 1894. He was admitted ARIBA on 11 March 1895, his proposers being Campbell Douglas, John Honeyman and William Leiper, by which time he was teaching Building Construction at the Stirling School of Science and Art. Prior to that date his sketching tours had been limited to Scotland, but shortly thereafter he ventured further afield, visiting London, Cambridge, Oxford, York, Paris and towns in Holland.
Horn left the Barclays to join the staff of Glasgow Corporation in 1906, but continued to enter competitions, notably for the London County Council Offices where, in conjunction with John Alfred Taylor Houston, he reached the final tier in 1908. He became chief architect to the Housing Department in 1919, Assistant Director of Housing in 1923 and Director of Housing in 1929-31. He was admitted FRIBA in late 1928 or early 1929, his proposers being James Lochhead, John Maurice Arthur and John Wilson. Horn was married to Mary Eliza Blakely; they had one daughter Winnifred M Horn. He died of a perforated duodenal ulcer on 5 January 1932 at 5 Park Circus Glasgow. A comprehensive list of Horn's designs is difficult to assemble as much of his best work was carried out in the name of Alexander Beith Macdonald, City Engineer 1890, and City Surveyor 1891-1915. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 48, Old Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1885 | 1887 | | | 40, Cranworth Street, Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1904 | 1925 | | | 201, Kent Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1925 | | | | 4, Alton Gardens, Hillhead, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1925 | | | | 20, Trongate, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1928 * | | | | 30, Kersland Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1928 | 1929 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 1932 | | | p172 | | RIBA Journal | 19 March 1932 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p406 Obituary by J H Ferrie |
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 | | Birth and death dates etc from Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v13 p10, microfiche 58/F2; F no2657 |
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