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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 7Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 76, Academy Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness19081923 
Item 3 of 7Savings Bank Buildings, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness1924 *1926 
Item 4 of 76, Academy Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness19261955 
Item 5 of 710, Bank Street, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness5 April 1957 per Builder p656
Item 6 of 79, Dunbeth Avenue, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1964After 1980 
Item 7 of 714, Bank Street, Airdrie, Lanarkshire, ScotlandBusiness1970 *After 1980 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

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 10Alexander DavidsonAugust 1908 Partner 
Item 2 of 10James DavidsonAugust 1908April 1923Partner 
Item 3 of 10Allan Stewart McNair9 October 191230 May 1913Chief Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 10Ronald Thompson CunninghamApril 1923August 1928Apprentice 
Item 5 of 10William Douglas Loudon25 May 192925 May 1934Apprentice 
Item 6 of 10Alexander Smart Todd19351940Assistant(?) 
Item 7 of 10James Black1939 * Assistant 
Item 8 of 10Alexander Smart Todd1949After 1980Partner 
Item 9 of 10Robert Robertson1960After 1981Partner 
Item 10 of 10Robert William Marwick1966After 1981Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 581908Annathill Mining VillageAnnathill LanarkshireScotland 
Item 2 of 581908Clydesdale InstituteMossend LanarkshireScotland 
Item 3 of 581908Villas and cottagesCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 4 of 581909Drill HallRutherglen LanarkshireScotland 
Item 5 of 581909Drill HallCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 6 of 581909LibraryDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 7 of 581909UF Church HallDunblane PerthshireScotland 
Item 8 of 581910Coatbridge Board SchoolWhifflet, Coatbridge LanarkshireScotlandNew block
Item 9 of 581914Lanarkshire Coalmasters's Rescue CentreCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 10 of 581914Langloan SchoolCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 11 of 581914Sub-Rescue StationLarbert StirlingshireScotland 
Item 12 of 581920Coatbridge Savings BankCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 13 of 581924135 East Clyde StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAlterations to offices
Item 14 of 581925135 East Clyde StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandShowrooms and garage
Item 15 of 581932RC Church at LadyburnGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 16 of 581936Coatbridge Public Baths, swimming pool and clinicCoatbridge LanarkshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 17 of 581945Large Piggery Buildings, Drumpark Bargeddie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 18 of 581949Ice Cream Factory, BargeddieBargeddie LanarkshireScotlandActed as architects and quantity surveyors.
Item 19 of 581950Old Monkland Hall-ChurchCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 20 of 581950Pithead Baths, Workshops, Office Buildings, Road CaddenRoad Cadden LanarkshireScotlandAs architects and quantity surveyors
Item 21 of 581950Premises for John Allen & Co, Glenpark Street  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions. Acted as architects and quantity surveyors
Item 22 of 581950Rhousedale Preserve WorksBaillieston LanarkshireScotlandArchitects and quantity surveyors for a scheme of extension
Item 23 of 581951Premises for Messrs John Ishaw Ltd, Westerhouse Road  GlasgowScotlandPrepared plans
Item 24 of 5817 April 1953Silvertrees Hotel, BothwellBothwell LanarkshireScotlandReconstruction with additions (also acting as quantity surveyors)
Item 25 of 581 May 1953Wrangholm Church, New StevenstonNew Stevenston LanarkshireScotlandPlans in hand for new buildings
Item 26 of 581956Cleghorn Building  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to ground floor with addition of black and red granite.
Item 27 of 5822 February 1957Burnhead Parish Church and Halls (Church of Scotland)Uddingston LanarkshireScotlandper Builder p391
Item 28 of 581960Housing, HolehillsAirdrie LanarskshireScotland 
Item 29 of 58Before 1960St Mark's ChurchWishaw LanarkshireScotland 
Item 30 of 581963Church, BurnheadUddingston LanarkshireScotland 
Item 31 of 581964GP Maternity UnitCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 32 of 581964GP Maternity UnitEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 33 of 581964GP Maternity UnitDuntocher DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 34 of 581964GP Maternity UnitGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 35 of 581965Broomknoll Free Church (and hall)Airdrie LanarkshireScotlandHall added
Item 36 of 581965Factory for J Dick (Engineering) LtdCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 37 of 581965Royal Bank of ScotlandAirdrie LanarkshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 38 of 58After 1965Shop development for Granada Group LtdAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 39 of 58After 1965Works Department for the Burgh of AirdrieAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 40 of 581966Office for Pearl AssuranceKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 41 of 581966Office for Pearl AssuranceSaltcoats AyrshireScotland 
Item 42 of 581966Office for Pearl AssurancePrestwick AyrshreScotland 
Item 43 of 581966Swimming BathsGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 44 of 581968Clydesdale BankCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 45 of 581968Multi-storey redevelopment with 600 housesCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 46 of 581969Housing redevelopment, Rosehill Brickworks siteCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 47 of 581969Housing, East Raw siteCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 48 of 581969Shops and office precinctCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 49 of 581970Airdrie Savings BankShotts LanarkshireScotland 
Item 50 of 581970Commercial Pearl Assurance officeAlloa ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 51 of 581970Commercial Pearl Assurance Office  GlasgowScotland 
Item 52 of 581970St Columba's ChurchAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 53 of 581970The Glen HotelNewtonmore Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 54 of 581972Environmental improvementsCoaatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 55 of 581972Public house for A Carson & SonsCoatbridge LanarkshireScotland 
Item 56 of 581975Jackson Parish Church, PetersburnAirdrie LanarkshireScotland 
Item 57 of 581977Lodge Airdrie St John No 166Airdrie    
Item 58 of 581982St Andrews ChurchBlantyre LanarkshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   
Item 2 of 3Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 3 of 3RIBA1980Directory of Practices 1980   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7Builder5 August 1949  p184
Item 2 of 7Builder10 February 1950  p214
Item 3 of 7Builder28 July 1950  p140
Item 4 of 7Builder1 June 1951  p803
Item 5 of 7Builder17 April 1953  p616
Item 6 of 7Builder1 May 1953  p701
Item 7 of 7Builder5 April 1957  p656