Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Herbertson
Designation:  
Born: c. 1790
Died: 23 February 1854
Bio Notes: John Herbertson was born c.1790, and was presumably the son of John Herbertson who was a Glasgow merchant as he was described as John Herbertson Junior when he was admitted to the Incorporation of Wrights as an architect in 1809. Sometime prior to that date, presumably c.1804-1805 he had been articled to David Hamilton. He was sufficiently well-established by 1812 to be commissioned to reseat the Outer High Church in Glasgow Cathedral. He was architect to the Lanarkshire Prison Board by 1822 when he designed the Glasgow Bridewell in Duke Street but seems to have remained close to David Hamilton as he supervised the building of his Royal Exchange in 1827-29. John Baird II was an apprentice from 1832 and John Carrick an assistant from 1826 to 1839.

Herbertson died on 23 February 1854 by which date he may have been retired. No work is known subsequent to 1840. Newpapers show that he acted as agent for feuing plots of ground for building and for selling existing buildings from about 1845 to 1850. His Prison Board appointment ended in 1844. In 1848 the name of his senior assistant, Alexander Munro, appeared with his in the Glasgow Directory. Alexander Munro settled his affairs after his death.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business   
Item 2 of 585, St George's Place, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1839 *  
Item 3 of 5175, Buchanan Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1841  
Item 4 of 596, St George's Place, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18441853 
Item 5 of 54, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 18501854 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1David Hamiltonc. 1804c. 1805Apprentice 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John Baird the Second1832Before 1837Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3John Carrickc. 1836Before 1839Assistant 
Item 3 of 3Alexander Munroc. 1845 Apprentice 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 121811Powder Magazine  GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 121812Glasgow Cathedral  GlasgowScotlandReseating of Outer High Church
Item 3 of 121822Lanarkshire County Bridewell  GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 121824St David's Ramshorn  GlasgowScotlandDesign only - not accepted
Item 5 of 121825Bridge on site of Rivergate Shopping CentreIrvine AyrshireScotland 
Item 6 of 121827Royal Exchange  GlasgowScotlandSupervised the building of the Exchange for Hamilton.
Item 7 of 121832North west corner of Bath Street and Buchanan Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 12Before 1832Haggs Parish ChurchDenny StirlingshireScotlandSought tenders; subsequent role unclear
Item 9 of 121834Balfron Parish ChurchBalfron StirlingshireScotland 
Item 10 of 121836St David's Parish ChurchKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotlandOriginal church. Gifford indicates that Herbertson designed the whole church; Colvin states that he designed the north doorway in 1839.
Item 11 of 121838St Columba's Church  Glasgow Scotland 
Item 12 of 121839Lanarkshire County Bridewell  GlasgowScotlandAdditions

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 2 of 4Gildard, Thomas1895An Old Glasgow Architect on some Older OnesXXVIProceedings of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgowp108
Item 3 of 4Renwick (ed.)1913Extracts from the Records of the Burgh of Glasgow  Volume X, 133, 220-1 and XI, 196
Item 4 of 4Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Glasgow Sheriff Court Inventories Sc36/48/40

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Glasgow Herald17 November 1845   
Item 2 of 5Glasgow Herald2 March 1849   
Item 3 of 5Glasgow Herald4 February 1850   
Item 4 of 5Glasgow Herald6 March 1854   
Item 5 of 5Taunton Courier and Western Advertiser10 October 1849