Basic Biographical Details

Name: Carl Roderique Louise Menni Bonn
Designation:  
Born: 1858
Died: 19 October 1906
Bio Notes: Carl Roderique Louis Menni Bonn - the usual style of his name was Carl R Bonn - was born in 1858, the son of Dr Louis Menni Bonn, described as a professor of languages, and his wife Ernestine Cristina Dorotea Malmberg. Except that his family was based at Brighton and Taunton after it moved from Germany to Britain, nothing is yet known of his background and training. He woudl appear to have been working for Formans & MxCall in the mid-1890s. In 1897 he was taken into partnership by John Taylor Babtie, who was practising at 25 Castle Street, Dumbarton. Babtie was nine years his senior, born in Dumbarton on 18 October 1867, the son of John Babtie and Janet McLeod. He had been articled to Sir William R Copland from 1885 to 1890, thereafter becoming an assistant with Formans & McCall from 1894 to 1897 where he had met Carl R Bonn. Babtie had commenced independent practice in 1895.

In the same year that the partnership had been formed, it moved to 180 Hope Street, Glasgow. The following year Alexander Alban Hamilton Scott was appointed architect to the firm, which specialised mainly in bridge and reservoir work. The practice moved to 188 West Regent Street in 1905.

Bonn died suddenly near Mount Pleasant Farm, Kilpatrick on 19 October 1906. He was survived by his wife Florence Louise Carpenter and left moveable estate of £1,202 16s with a subsequent eke of £1,236 1s 8d, presumably represented by fees due at the time of his death. Babtie then merged his practice with the partnership of William Barbour Shaw and Hugh James Morton, the practice title becoming Babtie, Shaw & Morton.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 325, Castle Street, Dumbarton, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandBusiness18971897 
Item 2 of 3180, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18971905 
Item 3 of 3188, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19051906 

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 2Formans & McCall18951897Assistant 
Item 2 of 2Babtie & Bonn18971906Partner 

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 121895Dumbarton Central StationDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 2 of 121898Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901Kelvingrove GlasgowScotlandCompetition design - unplaced
Item 3 of 12After 1898BankLong Eaton NottinghamshireEngland 
Item 4 of 12After 1898Country House, InverlevenDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 5 of 12After 1898House and Offices of the Keith Family and widening of Cadzow BridgeHamilton LanarkshireScotland 
Item 6 of 12After 1898Parish ManseDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 7 of 12After 1898Public LibraryLong Eaton DerbyshireEngland 
Item 8 of 12After 1898Residential block for Dumbarton Heritable Property SyndicateDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 9 of 121900Helensburgh Drill HallHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 10 of 121901Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901, footbridge over the River KelvinKelvingrove GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 121902Sydney Harbour Bridges  SydneyAustraliaUnexecuted proposals
Item 12 of 121906Ayr Pavilion, Low GreenAyr AyrshireScotlandUnsuccessful competition design

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Press 
Item 2 of 2Johnston, W T Scottish Engineers and Shipbuilders   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Glasgow Herald20 October 1906  Obituary