Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Holmes Howie
Designation:  
Born: 1858
Died: 22 August 1939
Bio Notes: William Holmes Howie was born in Helensburgh in 1858 (Reg District 503, entry 137), the son of James Holmes Howie, physician, and his wife Mary B Stevenson who came from Kilbarchan and was educated at Glasgow High School. He was articled to James Boucher of Boucher & Cousland from 1876 to 1881, after which he spent five months travelling in Italy. Unusually for an assistant in a practice outwith the Campbell Douglas & Sellars circle, he secured a place with John James Stevenson (1881-84), enabling him to study at the Royal Academy Schools, and was thereafter an assistant with William Young. He commenced practice in Glasgow in 1888, at first in partnership with Henry Denison Walton, who had been a fellow student at the RA Schools and a colleague in Young's office. The partnership was initially supported by Walton's continuing role as clerk of works at the City Chambers under William Young, but was dissolved in 1894. At this time (1891) he was living with his widowed mother and older brother James. Holmes was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects. At that date he had an office at 213 West Campbell Street, Glasgow, but by 1914 he was practising from his home at Dunrye, Potterhill, Paisley, his connections being chiefly in Renfrewshire and Ayrshire. After his retirement in 1930 he lived for several years in Ayr, ultimately moving to Largs where he died unmarried on 22 August 1939.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 692, Brisbane Road, Largs, Ayrshire, ScotlandBusiness 1939 
Item 2 of 6131, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness18841905 
Item 3 of 6251, Renfrew Street, Garnethill, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1888  
Item 4 of 6213, West Campbell Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19091920 
Item 5 of 6Dunrye, Potterhill, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1911 *1914And business address as well from 1914
Item 6 of 6131, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19191930 

* 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 Boucher18761881Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4John James Stevenson18811884Assistant 
Item 3 of 4William Young18841887 or 1888Assistant 
Item 4 of 4W H Howie & H D Walton18881894Partner 

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 1John Barbour18941899Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John 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 29188163-79 Cadogan SquareChelsea LondonEnglandNos 75-79 - as assistant to John James Stevenson
Item 2 of 29188226-29 Kensington CourtKensington LondonEnglandProbably involved, as assistant to John James Stevenson. Date of design
Item 3 of 2918823-25 Kensington CourtKensington LondonEnglandProbably involved, as assistant to John James Stevenson
Item 4 of 2918831 Kensington CourtKensington LondonEnglandProbably involved, as assistant to John James Stevenson
Item 5 of 291884Glasgow Municipal Buildings  GlasgowScotlandAs assistant to William Young
Item 6 of 29After 1888HousesDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 7 of 29After 1888HousesWhitecraigs GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 29After 1888Houses, Milliken ParkKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 9 of 29After 1888Houses, PotterhillPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 10 of 29After 1888Liberal ClubKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 11 of 29After 1888Mission HallCambridge CambridgeshireEngland 
Item 12 of 29After 1888Penwold HouseBridge of Weir RenfrewshireScotlandMain house
Item 13 of 29After 1888SchoolKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions
Item 14 of 29After 1888StrathviewKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 15 of 29After 1888Tenements  GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 29After 1888The ElmsKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 17 of 29After 1888Wardend HouseKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 18 of 291889St Ninian's Episcopal ChurchPollokshields GlasgowScotlandPulpit
Item 19 of 291891RavensburnSkelmorlie AyrshireScotlandAlterations
Item 20 of 291891Sheffield Municipal BuildingsSheffield YorkshireEnglandCompetition design - not successful
Item 21 of 291891Trinity UP ChurchSaltcoats AyrshireScotlandDesign for interior
Item 22 of 291892Saltcoats Town HallSaltcoats AyrshireScotlandTown hall addition
Item 23 of 291893Mitchell Street UP ChurchBeith AyrshireScotland 
Item 24 of 291893St Mark's Episcopal Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 25 of 291899(?)Kilbarchan Parish Church and ManseKilbarchan RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 26 of 291900Grangehill HouseBeith AyrshireScotland 
Item 27 of 291903Shops, East Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandRear extension
Item 28 of 291904Townhead Public LibraryTownhead GlasgowScotlandSecond premium
Item 29 of 291906Crown Chemical WorksBridgeton/Dalmarnock GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 4Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p65
Item 4 of 4Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS Quarterly194062Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)p12

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 Birth & death dates from Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v18 no1350