Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Nairne Tait (or William Nairn Tait) | Designation: | | Born: | 1831 or 1832 | Died: | 9 September 1904 | Bio Notes: | William Nairne (or Nairn - sources vary) Tait was born at Collace, Perthshire in 1831 or 1832, the son of Alexander Tait, innkeeper and Grace McFarlane. He was articled to Andrew Heiton Senior and Junior in Perth in 1847.
In the mid-1850s Tait moved from Perth to Glasgow. By that date he had married Annie Rae from Perth, their elder son Alexander being born in Glasgow c. 1857. They had two other known children: John McFarlane (born c. 1862), who became a law clerk, and Ann E (born c. 1864).
Tait commenced independent practice in Glasgow c. 1859. He was remembered more as a capable teacher of articled pupils than as an architect, with Malcolm Stark and Bruce James Talbert to his credit. His son Alexander was probably articled to him, and practised independently in the early 1880s at 148 West Regent Street before being taken into partnership by his father c. 1889, their office being at 223 Hope Street. Alexander had either left or died by 1895.
Latterly William N Tait was in partnership with _____ Mitchell. He died of inflammation of the brain at 1134 Dumbarton Road, Whiteinch on 9 September 1904. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | ![Item 1 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 48, Gordon Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1860 | After 1865 | | ![Item 2 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 21, Scotia Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1862 | | | ![Item 3 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 152, West George Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1868 | 1870 or 1871 | | ![Item 4 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 223, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1870 or 1871 | 1875 | | ![Item 5 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 48, Gordon Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1877 * | | | ![Item 6 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 154, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before December 1877 | May 1879 | | ![Item 7 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 196, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | June 1879 | After 1885 | | ![Item 8 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 223, Hope Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before June 1883 | After 1895 | | ![Item 9 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 14, Willowbank Crescent, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1888 | 1891 | | ![Item 10 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 22, Clarnedon Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1894 | After 1900 | | ![Item 11 of 11](images/table_item.gif) | 1134, Dumbarton Road, Glasgow, Scotland | Private(?) | 9 September 1904 * | | Place of death |
* 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 | ![Item 1 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | A & A Heiton | 1847 | Mid 1850s | Apprentice | | ![Item 2 of 2](images/table_item.gif) | Tait & Mitchell | After 1895 | Before 1904 | Partner | |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | ![Item 1 of 5](images/table_item.gif) | Bruce James Talbert | 1857 | | Assistant | | ![Item 2 of 5](images/table_item.gif) | William Young | 1859 | 1865 | Assistant | | ![Item 3 of 5](images/table_item.gif) | Malcolm Stark | c. 1870 | c. 1875 | Apprentice | | ![Item 4 of 5](images/table_item.gif) | Alexander Tait | After 1871(?) | Before 1880(?) | Apprentice | Alexander Tait was probably apprentice and assistant to his father before becoming partner, but this is uncertain | ![Item 5 of 5](images/table_item.gif) | Alexander Tait | c. 1889 | Before 1895 | Partner | |
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 34](images/table_item.gif) | | Dunnard | | | Wemyss Bay | Scotland | Date unknown | ![Item 2 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1877 | Tenement for Thaw & Campbell, East King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 3 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Hall for Good Templars, West Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 4 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Milk house and byre for Richard Kidston, Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 5 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Tenement for John Cramb, Victoria Road | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 6 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Tenement for Thaw & Campbell, Grant Street and East King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 7 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Tenement with shops for Richard Kidston, Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 8 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1878 | Tenement, 14-28 West Princes Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 9 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1879 | Prince Albert Terrace | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 10 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1879 | Tenement for John Cramb, East Argyle Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 11 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1879 | Tenement for John Cramb, Grant Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 12 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1880 | Stables and coachhouses for Hugh Snodgrass, East King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 13 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1881 | Glasgow Municipal Buildings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design entered under the name Sum Cuique | ![Item 14 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1883 | Stables and coachhouses for Hugh Snodgrass, Sinclair Street and King Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 15 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1885 | Public House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 16 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1885 | Shops, offices and house, 61 East Sinclair Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 17 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 12 November 1885 | Tenements, Parliamentary Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion of ground floor of tenements into shops | ![Item 18 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1886 | Store and shed | Parkhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 19 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1887 | Tenements, Gardner Street | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 20 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1888 | Shop, Sauchiehall Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 21 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1888 | Tenements, Kelvinhaugh Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Conversion of ground floor into shops | ![Item 22 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1889 | Design for an educational institution | | | | | | ![Item 23 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1889 | Engine Waste Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions to warehouse | ![Item 24 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1890 | Workroom and studio | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations | ![Item 25 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1890 | Wright's workshop | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 26 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1891 | Five blocks of tenements, Blythswood Drive and West Princes Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 27 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1891 | Tenement, Maitland Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition | ![Item 28 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1892 | Tenements, Dock Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of WCs | ![Item 29 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1892 | Tenements, Greenhill Street and West Bothwell Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of WCs | ![Item 30 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1892 | Tenements, Kelvinhaugh Street and Teviot Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition of WCs | ![Item 31 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1893 | Store and shed | Parkhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 32 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1893 | Tenement, 18 James Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | ![Item 33 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | 1897 | Temporary sheds, Palm Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | ![Item 34 of 34](images/table_item.gif) | Late 1800s | Tenement, 19-25 Colquhoun Square and 46-60 Princes Street West | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | 'Possibly' (HS) |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | ![Item 1 of 1](images/table_item.gif) | Builder | 15 October 1904 | | | p 394 - obituary |
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 | | Research by Iain Paterson |
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