Basic Biographical Details Name: | George Woulfe Brenan | Designation: | | Born: | 1844 | Died: | 6 March 1924 | Bio Notes: | George Woulfe Brenan was born in 1844, the son of Richard Brenan, medical practitioner, and Elizabeth Lewis. Educated as a civil engineer, he was articled as a premium pupil to William Wilson of Queen Square, Westminster and subsequently worked as assistant to Sir John Fowler, during which time he travelled in France, Belgium, Holland and Hungary. He was engaged on railway and dock work for some years and became an art student at South Kensington and at night school in Holborn, exhibiting watercolours and oil paintings on several occasions, although not at the RA. He moved to Oban in 1882 and commenced independent practice as an architect as well as a civil engineer. He seems to have had an office in Glasgow in 1904-05, perhaps because of the jobs he had on at the time (School buildings in Lanarkshire and Ayrshire?).
He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, his sole proposer being a J Munro, Vice Chairman of Argyll County Council Committee. Brenan was a member of the Institute of Chartered Engineers.
Woulfe Brenan's business was bought by James G Falconer probably about 1920 and Lake Falconer junior took charge of this as well as of the Falconer practice in Oban.
He died on 6 March 1924 at his home in Oban. He was survived by his wife Florence Juliet Rogers and his daughter Alice. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 3, Victoria Crescent, Oban, Argyll, Scotland | Private | | 1924 | | | 101, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1904 | 1905 | | | Albany Street, Oban, Argyll, Scotland | Business | 1904 * | After 1911 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | William Wilson | c. 1860(?) | c. 1865(?) | Apprentice | Dates are speculative | | (Sir) John Fowler | After 1864 | Before 1882 | Assistant | | | Brenan & Hunter | c. 1904 | c. 1908 | Partner | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | After 1882 | Altrua House | Altrua, Loch Lochy | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | After 1882 | County Hotel | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | After 1882 | Falls of Lora Hotel | Connel | | Argyll | Scotland | | | After 1882 | Lochnell Castle | Benderloch (near) | | Argyll | Scotland | Restoration | | After 1882 | School | Kilwinning | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | After 1882 | School | West Kilbride | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | After 1882 | School buildings | Cleland | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1884 | Craigvarran Villa, Oban Hill | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Additions | | 1884(?) | Mansion House of Eriska | Ledaig | | Argyll | Scotland | Claims to have designed this house | | 1886(?) | Sheriff Courthouse and county buildings | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Second premiated competition design | | 1887 | Villa for Mrs Annie Campbell | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1888 | Church of St Mary (RC) | Castlebay | Barra | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1888 | Shops, temperance hotel, tenements of dwelling houses | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1889 | Building, George Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1890(?) | Oban High School | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Second premiated competition design | | 1892 | Offices, Albany Street and Campbell Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Office and additions to new office | | 1893 | UF Church | Connel | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1895 | Craigvarran House | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Porch added | | 1895 | Oban Distillery | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Bonded warehouse | | 1895 | West Highland Cottage Hospital | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1896 | Coach House | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1897(?) | Municipal Buildings | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Second premiated competition design | | 1897 | Pier | | Isle of Scalpay, Harris | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1897 | Pier, West Loch | Tarbert | Isle of Harris | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1898 | Peter Creelman's workshop | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | WC added | | 1899 | Oban Distillery | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Warehouse and washing house | | 1899 | Warehouse, John Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1901(?) | St Mary's Church | Taynuilt | | Argyll | Scotland | Dates as in Walker (2000) - only correct if this is in fact the same church | | 1904 | Brownies Taing | Sandwick | Shetland | | Scotland | | | 1904 | St Modan's Established Church, Ledaig | Benderloch | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1905 | Taynuilt Village Hall | Taynuilt | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1906 | Corrugated iron motor garage and petrol store | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1906 | St Barr's RC Church | Northbay | Barra | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1907 | Oban Distillery | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Washhouse | | 1907 | St Bride's RC Church | West Kilbride | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1908 | Gott Bay Pier | Scarinish | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1910 | Great Western Hotel and Terrace | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Extension for gas plant at Engine House of Great Western Hotel, and internal alterations | | 1912 | Board School | Taynuilt | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1912 | Ullapool Pier | Ullapool | | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | Extension | | 1913 | Oban Distillery, Warehouse No 4 | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Extension | | 1914 | Oban Distillery | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Alterations and additions to No 6 warehouse and Malt Barn building | | 1916 | Rockville (Rockfield?) Cottage | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Washhouse and WCs | | 1917 | Rose Cottage | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Wooden shed | | 1917 | Tenement, 77-81 George Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Re-roofing and installation of WC | | 1919 | Hazeldean | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | Bathroom, WC and alterations | | 1919 | Shed and sawbench | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1920 | Garage, Combie Street | Oban | | Argyll | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Measurers\' Companion | 1911 | The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion | | | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Information per Iain Paterson | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v16 no1138 |
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