Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Davidson & Son | Designation: | | Born: | August 1908 | Died: | | 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 to 1882 when he commenced practice on his own account in Coatbridge, immediately becoming architect to Coatbridge School Board amd a promonent local mason 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 provost.
Davidson was elected FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being James Milne Monro, Alexander Cullen and Davis 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 from 1894 to 1899 and at Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College from 1899 to 1902. He became his father's partner in August 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.
The practice name became James Davidson & Partners in the 1940s. In 1949 Alexander Smart Todd was taken into partnership. In 1953 on the death of the practice George Bruce Scotland, the practice J Scotland & Sons which was based in Airdrie was taken over by James Davidson & Son. The office in Airdrie was maintained until 1978. In 1960 Robert Robertson was taken into partnership and Robert William Marwick in 1966. At some point prior to 1957 the name of the practice changed again, this time becoming James Davidson & Son.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | | | | | 6, Academy Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 1908 | 1923 | | | Savings Bank Buildings, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 1924 * | 1926 | | | 6, Academy Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 1926 | 1955 | | | 10, Bank Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 5 April 1957 | | per Builder p656 | | 9, Dunbeth Avenue, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1964 | After 1980 | | | 14, Bank Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Business | 1970 * | After 1980 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
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 | | 1908 | Annathill Mining Village | Annathill | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1908 | Clydesdale Institute | Mossend | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1908 | Villas and cottages | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1909 | Drill Hall | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1909 | Drill Hall | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1909 | Library | Dunblane | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1909 | UF Church Hall | Dunblane | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1910 | Coatbridge Board School | Whifflet, Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | New block | | 1914 | Lanarkshire Coalmasters's Rescue Centre | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1914 | Langloan School | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1914 | Sub-Rescue Station | Larbert | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | 1920 | Coatbridge Savings Bank | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1924 | 135 East Clyde Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Alterations to offices | | 1925 | 135 East Clyde Street | Helensburgh | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Showrooms and garage | | 1932 | RC Church at Ladyburn | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1936 | Coatbridge Public Baths, swimming pool and clinic | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Won competition and secured job | | 1945 | Large Piggery Buildings, Drumpark | Bargeddie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1949 | Ice Cream Factory, Bargeddie | Bargeddie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Acted as architects and quantity surveyors.
| | 1950 | Old Monkland Hall-Church | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1950 | Pithead Baths, Workshops, Office Buildings, Road Cadden | Road Cadden | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | As architects and quantity surveyors | | 1950 | Premises for John Allen & Co, Glenpark Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions. Acted as architects and quantity surveyors | | 1950 | Rhousedale Preserve Works | Baillieston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Architects and quantity surveyors for a scheme of extension | | 1951 | Premises for Messrs John Ishaw Ltd, Westerhouse Road | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Prepared plans | | 17 April 1953 | Silvertrees Hotel, Bothwell | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Reconstruction with additions (also acting as quantity surveyors) | | 1 May 1953 | Wrangholm Church, New Stevenston | New Stevenston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans in hand for new buildings | | 1956 | Cleghorn Building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations to ground floor with addition of black and red granite. | | 22 February 1957 | Burnhead Parish Church and Halls (Church of Scotland) | Uddingston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | per Builder p391 | | 1960 | Housing, Holehills | Airdrie | | Lanarskshire | Scotland | | | Before 1960 | St Mark's Church | Wishaw | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1963 | Church, Burnhead | Uddingston | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1964 | GP Maternity Unit | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1964 | GP Maternity Unit | East Kilbride | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1964 | GP Maternity Unit | Duntocher | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1964 | GP Maternity Unit | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1965 | Broomknoll Free Church (and hall) | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Hall added | | 1965 | Factory for J Dick (Engineering) Ltd | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1965 | Royal Bank of Scotland | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | After 1965 | Shop development for Granada Group Ltd | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | After 1965 | Works Department for the Burgh of Airdrie | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1966 | Office for Pearl Assurance | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1966 | Office for Pearl Assurance | Saltcoats | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1966 | Office for Pearl Assurance | Prestwick | | Ayrshre | Scotland | | | 1966 | Swimming Baths | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | | | 1968 | Clydesdale Bank | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1968 | Multi-storey redevelopment with 600 houses | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1969 | Housing redevelopment, Rosehill Brickworks site | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1969 | Housing, East Raw site | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1969 | Shops and office precinct | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1970 | Airdrie Savings Bank | Shotts | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1970 | Commercial Pearl Assurance office | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | | | 1970 | Commercial Pearl Assurance Office | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1970 | St Columba's Church | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1970 | The Glen Hotel | Newtonmore | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1972 | Environmental improvements | Coaatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1972 | Public house for A Carson & Sons | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1975 | Jackson Parish Church, Petersburn | Airdrie | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1977 | Lodge Airdrie St John No 166 | Airdrie | | | | | | 1982 | St Andrews Church | Blantyre | | Lanarkshire | 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 | | | | | Municipal Annual | 1964 | Scottish Municipal Annual | 1964-1965 | | | | RIBA | 1980 | Directory of Practices 1980 | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 5 August 1949 | | | p184 | | Builder | 10 February 1950 | | | p214 | | Builder | 28 July 1950 | | | p140 | | Builder | 1 June 1951 | | | p803 | | Builder | 17 April 1953 | | | p616 | | Builder | 1 May 1953 | | | p701 | | Builder | 5 April 1957 | | | p656 |
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