Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Ewan
Designation:  
Born: c. 1828
Died: 13 February 1917
Bio Notes: Robert Ewan was born about 1828, the son of Charles Ewan, wood merchant, and his wife Jean Smith. From 1862 he was an assistant of J Russell Mackenzie in Aberdeen. Whilst still an assistant he was commissioned to design the Strathearn Hydropathic at Crieff which was promoted in 1866 by an Aberdeen company. He was later to become a director. He appears in the Aberdeen directories between 1865 and 1870 but sometime thereafter he commenced practice in Glasgow initially from his house at 7 Albert Drive, Crosshill. His connection with Crieff remained strong; he designed St Columba's Episcopal Church in 1877 and supervised the erection of John James Stevenson's Free Church there in 1882. In 1885 he was commissioned to build the giant Singer sewing machine works at Kilbowie, his practice remaining predominantly industrial thereafter. His Glasgow Herald obituary does not tell us much beyond the fact that he was well known in the district and was prominent in local affairs having been a member of the Cathcart Landward Committee, the District Committee for Renfrewshire and the Parish Council.

Ewan had a son of the same name, born in 1870 when he was still in Aberdeen: Robert Junior was articled to him in 1889, studying at Glasgow School of Art, and was taken into partnership in 1902. A second son, Charles, born in 1872, followed the same career path two years later, studying at the Glasgow Technical College.

The elder Robert Ewan died on 13 February 1917 at Marylee, 10 Manse Road, Old Cathcart, aged 89, his wife Annie Smith having died the previous year. The business was continued by his sons Robert Junior and Charles.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 57, Hampden Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate  Date unknown
Item 2 of 532, Whitehouse Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivatec. 1866  
Item 3 of 575, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1875After 1894 
Item 4 of 5Kilmailing/10, Manse Brae, Marylea, Old Cathcart, Renfrewshire/Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 18881917 
Item 5 of 5101, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1900After 1914 

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 2John Russell Mackenzie1862 * Assistant 
Item 2 of 2Robert Ewan & Sons19021917Senior Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 4Robert Ewan (junior)1889c. 1894Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Charles Ewan1891c. 1896Apprentice 
Item 3 of 4Robert Ewan (junior)c. 18941902Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Charles Ewanc. 18961904Assistant 

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 301862CroftweitCrieff PerthshireScotland 
Item 2 of 301866Crieff HydropathicCrieff PerthshireScotlandOriginal building, alterations and additions
Item 3 of 301868Learney House  AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions - Ewan working in Mackenzie's office
Item 4 of 301869Aberuchill Castle  PerthshireScotlandService wings
Item 5 of 301869Aberuchill Castle  PerthshireScotlandService wings
Item 6 of 301877St Columba's Episcopal Church and rectoryCrieff PerthshireScotland 
Item 7 of 301881Free ChurchCrieff PerthshireScotlandSupervised the construction for John James Stevenson
Item 8 of 301885Singer Manufacturing Company WorksKilbowie DunbartonshireScotlandExhibited design for Singer's new factory
Item 9 of 301888Allan Line Offices  GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 30After 1889City Line Offices  GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 30After 1889Homes for Indigent Men and WomenWhiteinch GlasgowScotland 
Item 12 of 30After 1889Pilot House for Clyde Pilot BoardGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 13 of 30After 1889ShieldhillBiggar LanarkshireScotland 
Item 14 of 301893Savings BankSpringburn GlasgowScotland 
Item 15 of 301894Corner, Wellington and Holm Streets for P HutchisonCrieff PerthshireScotland 
Item 16 of 301895Bridgend Temperance HotelDalginross, Comrie PerthshireScotland 
Item 17 of 301897House in Drummond Terrace for Mrs MurrayCrieff PerthshireScotland 
Item 18 of 301897Washington Grain Mills  GlasgowScotlandTower block addition
Item 19 of 301898Crieff SchoolCrieff PerthshireScotlandNW wing
Item 20 of 301898Polmadie Iron Works  GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 21 of 301898Warehouse for John Brown Ltd, whisky merchants  GlasgowScotland 
Item 22 of 301899Cathcart SchoolCathcart GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 301901Polmadie Iron Works  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 24 of 3019021 University Avenue  GlasgowScotlandMay be either father or son
Item 25 of 301902Boswell Arms public houseAuchinleck AyrshireScotlandCorner turret added
Item 26 of 301902Camlachie Distillery and Bonded Warehouses  GlasgowScotlandAdditions - bonded warehouses
Item 27 of 301903Camlachie Distillery and Bonded Warehouses  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 28 of 301905Bonded Warehouses for Robert Brown Ltd  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 301914Camlachie Distillery and Bonded Warehouses  GlasgowScotlandAdditions
Item 30 of 301915Bonded Warehouses for Robert Brown Ltd  GlasgowScotlandAddition

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 2Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder9 March 1917  p162 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Architects Index