Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Melville Lunan
Designation:  
Born: 1878
Died:  
Bio Notes: Thomas Melville Lunan was born in 1878 and commenced his architectural training at the Glasgow School of Art in 1895, studying under William James Anderson. He entered the office of James Miller as an apprentice the following year whilst continuing to attend classes. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1901 he joined Watson & Salmond as senior assistant. The firm was based at 225 St Vincent Street, Glasgow in offices adjacent to those of Henry Edward Clifford, with whom staff were shared on the basis of need. In 1893 Lunan officially became Clifford's senior assistant, and was taken into partnership by him in 1909 when the two won the competition, assessed by Burnet, for the new City Hall at Perth. Lunan was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects. By the time of his election as FRIBA in late 1920 or early 1921, his proposers being Clifford, John Watson and James Miller, the firm's offices had moved to 209 St Vincent Street.

Lunan was a good architect of the Miller school and the Clifford & Lunan partnership was initially very successful; but he returned broken and demoralised from his experiences in the Great War and was unable to make any further effective contribution to the practice. As a result Clifford bought out his partnership. Lunan then moved to Leeds 'where he married a good wife who restored his morale', enabling him to successfully recommence practice there.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 7Leeds, Yorkshire, EnglandBusiness   
Item 2 of 7ScotlandBusiness   
Item 3 of 7225, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1901Before 1920 
Item 4 of 71, Beaumont Gate, Dowanhill, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1911 *  
Item 5 of 7209, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1920 *  
Item 6 of 740, Belmont Gardens, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1920 *  
Item 7 of 7Larchfield, Kirkintilloch, Dunbartonshire, ScotlandPrivatec. 1931 *  

* 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 4James Miller18961901Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Watson & Salmond19011903Senior Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Henry Edward Clifford19031909Senior Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Clifford & Lunan19091923Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4Henry Edward CliffordLate 1920 or early 1921for Fellowship
Item 2 of 4James MillerLate 1920 or early 1921for Fellowship
Item 3 of 4John WatsonLate 1920 or early 1921for Fellowship
Item 4 of 4John Bennie Wilson20 July 1911for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects

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 271907 or 1908Perth Town HallPerth PerthshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 2 of 271908Shennanton HouseKirkcowan WigtownshireScotland 
Item 3 of 271909Hyndland Public School  GlasgowScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 4 of 271910Cairn o'Mount  GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 271910Glasgow School Board Offices  GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 271910(?)Usher Hall  EdinburghScotlandSecond premiated competition design - unclear whether by Clifford alone, or with Lunan
Item 7 of 271911Kilmaronock UF ChurchGartocharn DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 8 of 271911Villa, Mayfield Road and Esslemont Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 27c. 1911Offices, Argyle Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 271912Dewar's bonded warehousePerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 11 of 271912ManseRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 12 of 271912Masonic LodgeCampbeltown ArgyllScotland 
Item 13 of 27c. 1912GlenholmTroon AyrshireScotland 
Item 14 of 271913ArdenHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandUnspecified work
Item 15 of 271913Printing offices  GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 271914Campbeltown Cottage HospitalCampbeltown ArgyllScotlandNorth wing, operating and X-Ray room added
Item 17 of 271914Cathcart Established Church and manse  GlasgowScotlandBuilding interrupted by war. Restarted in 1923
Item 18 of 271914Cork warehouse  GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 271914Portland Established Church and HallsTroon AyrshireScotland 
Item 20 of 271915Colston Wellpark Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 21 of 271916Chapelpark, Ewenfield RoadAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 22 of 271919Cour House and estate buildings  ArgyllScotlandCommenced job - house and farm manager's house
Item 23 of 27c. 1920Balinakill HouseClachan, North Kintyre ArgyllScotlandAlterations/additions?
Item 24 of 27c. 1920Council housesCampbeltown ArgyllScotland 
Item 25 of 271922Victoria Infirmary, MortuaryLangside GlasgowScotlandMay not have had much input at this date
Item 26 of 271923(?)Campbeltown War MemorialCampbeltown ArgyllScotlandClifford responsible, according to his son's memoir
Item 27 of 271923Chapel ParkAyr AyrshireScotlandMay not have had much input at this date

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from John Watson and Alfred G Lochhead
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v19 no1407; F no1803 (microfilm reel 13)