Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Cowie & Torry | Designation: | | Born: | 1947 | Died: | | Bio Notes: | William Cowie was born in 1867. He served his apprenticeship with Alexander and William Reid of Elgin from 1883-1888. He then moved to Edinburgh becoming an assistant in the office of Sydney Mitchell for two-and-a-half years, transferring to Glasgow to the office of Clarke and Bell thereafter. During his early training he showed a particular interest in medieval ecclesiastical architecture, making measured drawings of a number of buildings including Elgin Cathedral, Holyrood Church, Glasgow Cathedral and Crossraguel Abbey. He passed the qualifying exam and was elected ARIBA on 5 June 1893, his proposers being Robert Alexander Bryden, William Forrest Salmon and Thomas Lennox Watson. From this time he was chief draughtsman to John and Henry Vincent Eaglesham for twelve years, commenced independent practice in Ayr in 1905 and taking Torry into partnership. He was elected FRIBA in late 1933 or early 1934, his proposers being James Lochhead, George Arthur Boswell and James Archibald Morris. In addition to the specific works listed on his nomination paper, he mentions "Several Private Houses, Warehouses, Factories etc.".
On Cowie's retirement in 1947, Fred Torry took over the practice. Fred Torry (who is probably the same as John F Torry who appears in the RIBA Kalendar of 1939-1940) was born in 1910. Initially the firm was William Cowie & Torry and subsequently after the retirement of Fred Torry, William Cowie, Torry & Partners, with Ian McGill as senior partner. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Alloway Chambers/239, High Street, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Business | | 1914 | Ar least until 1914 | | 12, Wellington Square, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Business | After 1914 | 1940 | | | 5, Wellington Square, The Sandgate, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Business | Before 1951 | After 1964 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | | | Municipal Annual | 1964 | Scottish Municipal Annual | 1964-1965 | | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 2 March 1951 | | | p332 | | Builder | 12 June 1953 | | | p932 | | Builder | 30 October 1953 | | | p680 |
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