Basic Biographical Details

Name: Joseph Cowan
Designation:  
Born:  
Died: 22 March 1900(?)
Bio Notes: Joseph Cowan began practice c.1874 at 147 West Graham Street, Glasgow, his house being at 58 Hill Street, Garnethill, close to St Aloysius College with which he was closely associated. He was architect to the archdiocese of Glasgow but received only such commissions as Peter Paul Pugin was either too busy or unwilling to undertake. By the 1890s his sons, variously given as James Cowan and J L Cowan (not to be confused with James Lymburn Cowan, who had an essentially Protestant practice in Glasgow), were in the business. Joseph Cowan died on 22 March 1900 at Shandon in Dunbartonshire. This is likely to be the father but it is possible that it was the son whose initials were J L but whose name we do not know. Around 1902 the Cowans took into partnership Walter Robert Watson, born c.1873, the son of Walter Robert Watson (sic), commission agent and his wife Sarah Jane Clark, the surviving Cowan son being J L Cowan who lived at 14 Myrtle Park, Crosshill. By that date the practice had moved to 95 Bath Street.

Despite his association with Catholic institutions, he was not himself a Catholic, being born into a Church of Scotland family and marrying as a Methodist.

Watson practised until his death on 1 October 1932 at Boquhan, Kippen, at the age of 59, his usual residence being 22 Dowanside Road, Glasgow.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 358, Hill Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate   
Item 2 of 3147, West Graham Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1874  
Item 3 of 3Laurieknowe Cottage, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1888 Was he retired by then? Working from home?
The only address given in 1888 PO Directory

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 1Cowan & SonsBefore 1890Before 1902Partner 

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 191891St Aloysius RC Church and PresbyterySpringburn GlasgowScotlandEnlargement of presbytery
Item 2 of 191892St George's Co-operative Society Stables  GlasgowScotland 
Item 3 of 191892St Mary's Recreation Rooms  GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 191894St Charles RC ChurchCambuslang LanarkshireScotland 
Item 5 of 191896St Andrews RC School  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 6 of 191896St Saviour's RC schoolsGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 7 of 1918976 Victoria CircusDowanhill GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 8 of 1918976 Victoria CircusDowanhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 191897R and J Irving's Workshops  GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 191897St Mary's RC SchoolPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandAddition
Item 11 of 191898RC Chapel-School, MillburnRenton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 12 of 191898St Peter's Girls' Primary School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 191898St Peter's SchoolDowanhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 191899St George's Co-operative Society Stables  GlasgowScotlandFurther work
Item 15 of 191899St Saviour's RC ChurchGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 19c. 1900St David's RC Presbytery, school and chapel schoolPlains LanarkshireScotland 
Item 17 of 19c. 1900St Michael's RC ChurchParkhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 191902St Bride's RC ChurchCambuslang LanarkshireScotland 
Item 19 of 191902St Mungo's Academy Hall  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Glasgow Sheriff Court Inventories SC36/48/174