Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Andrew Millar
Designation:  
Born: 1880
Died: 25 January 1922
Bio Notes: Thomas Andrew Millar was born in 1880, the son of James Millar, builder, property owner and later architect. He was educated at Glasgow Academy. He was articled to Baird & Thomson from 1898 to 1902 and studied at Glasgow School of Art under William James Anderson and Alexander McGibbon. He then went on a six-month study tour of Italy, and returned to become a draughtsman in James Miller's office, from which he made two visits to Spain. He commenced practice in 1905 with another of James Miller's assistants, Alexander McInnes Gardner, their office being at 144 St Vincent Street, Glasgow. Both partners were admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects; by that date Miller had made further study tours in France and Holland. In addition to their known works, Millar's nomination papers mention 'a considerabal [sic] amount of remodelling of commercial property in Glasgow'. The partnership of Gardner & Miller lasted until 1912 when it was amicably dissolved.

After war service Millar recommenced practice at 9 Blythswood Square. At the end of 1921 he fell victim to the influenza epidemic and died of pneumonia on 25 January 1922 at age 41, leaving a widow, Mary Reid Morton, and four children. Millar came of an affluent background: his practice consisted wholly of large Arts and Crafts-influenced houses of considerable refinement, neo Tudor at East Rowantreehill and Scottish vernacular at the others. He left moveable estate of £47,931 8s 11d.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 65, Claremont Terrace, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness(?)1904 *  
Item 2 of 6144, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1905c. 1912 
Item 3 of 6Boghall, Baldernock/Milngavie, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivate1907After 1914 
Item 4 of 6122, Wellington Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness(?)1914 *  
Item 5 of 69, Blythswood Square, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 19191922 
Item 6 of 616, Kew Terrace, Kelvinside, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1922 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 4Baird & ThomsonFebruary 18981902Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4James Miller19021904Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Gardner & Millar19051912Draughtsman 
Item 4 of 4Gardner & Whyte19131914Partner 

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 2Harry Anderson Mochrie19151921Apprenticeinterrupted by war service
Item 2 of 2John Eadie Waddel Dallachy11 November 1921c. November 1925  

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John Bennie Wilson20 July 1911for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects

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 26Late 1800sSea MillSeamill AyrshireScotlandPossibly villas by this practice
Item 2 of 261902HousesPerth PerthshireScotlandAs draughtsman to James Miller
Item 3 of 26After 1902Nodesdale HouseLargs (near) AyrshireScotlandAs draughtsman to James Miller
Item 4 of 261903(?)Houses, RedlandsKelvinside GlasgowScotlandAs draughtsman to James Miller
Item 5 of 261905McGilvray's BuildingsOban ArgyllScotland 
Item 6 of 261905Tenement, 18 Battery PlaceRothesayButeButeScotland 
Item 7 of 261905Woodlands HouseSymington LanarkshireScotland 
Item 8 of 26After 1905RosebankLargs AyrshireScotlandAdditions
Item 9 of 26After 1905WestertonMilngavie DunbartonshireScotlandInterior decoration
Item 10 of 26c. 1905BirkwoodSymington LanarkshireScotlandAttribution on grounds of stylistic similarity to Woodlands, Symington.
Item 11 of 26c. 1905CarltonSymington LanarkshireScotlandAttribution on stylistic grounds - by comparison with Woodlands.
Item 12 of 261906House at Jaegersfontein  Jaegersfontein/JagersfonteinSouth AfricaDesign exhibited
Item 13 of 261906LochgreenSouthwood, Troon AyrshireScotlandExecuted house and designed interiors
Item 14 of 261906Tea House, 144 St Vincent Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 15 of 261907Bankell HouseMilngavie (near) StirlingshireScotland 
Item 16 of 261907Boghall HouseBaldernock StirlingshireScotlandFor himself
Item 17 of 261907House for Neil A L McEachranThorntonhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 18 of 261907Scottish National Exhibition, 1908Saughton EdinburghScotlandCompetition design - unsuccessful
Item 19 of 261910The Meadow, SeamillWest Kilbride AyrshireScotlandAdditions
Item 20 of 261910UF ManseWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 21 of 26c. 1910ArdnachoilleNewtonmore Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 22 of 261912Clydebank Public LibraryClydebank DunbartonshireScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 23 of 261912DeaseholmTroon AyrshireScotland 
Item 24 of 26c. 1912(?)Unspecified country house and garden    Design exhibited in 1913 but under the name of Gardner & Millar, the practice having been dissolved the previous year
Item 25 of 261913East RowantreehillKilmacolm/Kilmalcolm RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 26 of 261922Glasgow Academy War Memorial  GlasgowScotlandJob taken over by A N Paterson

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS Quarterly1922AutumnRoyal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Obituary by A McInnes Gardner pp8-11

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Additional research by Iain Paterson
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v19 no1460