Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Davidson | Designation: | | Born: | 1848 | Died: | April 1923 | Bio Notes: | James Davidson was born in Airdrie in 1848, the son of a weaver. He was educated at Airdrie Academy and initially trained as a joiner. In his teens he moved to Glasgow to attend the classes in the Athenaeum in Ingram Street, and while acting as foreman joiner on Flowerhill Parish Church in 1875 he impressed sufficiently to be made master or works for other Baird Trust church building projects. This enabled him to be articled to Hugh Hough MacLure from 1875 until 1882 when he commenced practice on his own account in Coatbridge, immediately becoming architect to Coatbridge School Board and, as a prominent local Freemason, achieving the position of master of St John's Lodge within a very few years. He was elected a councillor in Coatbridge in 1889, became a Baillie, and by 1911 was Provost.
In 1898 Davidson took Thomas Martin into partnership. Martin (born 1868) had been articled to Davidson in 1883 and had remained thereafter as junior and latterly senior assistant, studying at Gartsherrie Science School and Glasgow School of Art. The Davidson & Martin partnership was dissolved in 1903, both continuing to practise on their own account.
Davidson was elected FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being James Milne Monro, Alexander Cullen and David Barclay. He was a very competent free Renaissance designer and a specialist in the design and construction of theatres.
Davidson died in April 1923. The practice was continued by his son Alexander, born 1879, who was articled to him and studied at Coatbridge Technical School 1894-99 and at Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College 1899-1902. He became his father's partner in 1908 and was elected LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, his proposers being his father, David Bateman Hutton and James Campbell Reid. He died in 1976. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Greenhill House, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | 1906(?) | 1923(?) | | | Academy Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1906 | After 1914 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | David Barclay | 3 December 1906 | for Fellowship | | Alexander Cullen | 3 December 1906 | for Fellowship | | James Milne Monro | 3 December 1906 | for Fellowship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Peden, Allan | 1992 | The Monklands: an illustrated architectural guide | | RIAS | p43 | | Stothers, Thomas | 1912 | Stothers's Glasgow, Lanarkshire and Renfrewshire Xmas and New Year Annual 1911-1912 | 1911-1912 | Hamilton | pp326-327 | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 4 May 1923 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v17 p100 no1146 (microfilm reel 12) | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Photographs Collection | | |
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