Basic Biographical Details

Name: Thomas Bowhill Gibson
Designation:  
Born: 1 March 1895
Died: 27 September 1949
Bio Notes: Thomas Bowhill Gibson was born on 1 March 1895 and was articled to James Inch Morrison in 1913, attending morning and evening classes at the Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot-Watt College. He commenced war service in 1916 and on his demobilisation in 1919 found employment as an assistant to James Davidson Cairns, with whom he remained until January 1922 when he set up practice on his own account. In the following year he took temporary work in Alex Allan Foote's office, assisting 'on plans for W S Farmer's project, which came to nothing'. He applied for Licentiateship of the RIBA in January 1931 but for as yet unknown reasons was not admitted until 6 February 1939, his proposers being James Inch Morrison, Robert Stirling Reid and the then secretary of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, of which he was then Vice-President. His travels prior to that time appear to have been limited to Britain and had included study visits to Bolton Abbey, Coldingham Priory, Dunbar, Skipton, Newcastle and London.

By the time of his admittance as ARIBA, Gibson had entered into partnership with James William Laing as T Bowhill Gibson & Laing. Gibson specialised in cinema and theatre design, but also carried out some domestic work.

Laing continued the practice under the existing name at their offices at 36 Palmerston Place after Gibson's death on 27 September 1949 at his home Strath House, Avonbridge. Gibson was cremated at Warriston and survived by his widow Marjorie Ross.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 753, St Alban's Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1920 *After 1939(?) 
Item 2 of 729, Queen Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1922c. 1927 
Item 3 of 730, Rutland Square, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1928Before 1936 
Item 4 of 77, Tantallon Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1931 *  
Item 5 of 719, Manor Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19361948Builder 24 September 1948 p372
Item 6 of 7Strath House, Avonbridge, Stirlingshire, ScotlandPrivateAfter 1939 *1949 
Item 7 of 736, Palmerston Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1948 * Builder 24 December 1948 p753

* 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 4James Inch Morrison19131916Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4James Davidson Cairns1919January 1922Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Alexander Allan FooteMarch 1923April 1932AssistantTemporary assistant, whilst continuing his own practice
Item 4 of 4T Bowhill Gibson & LaingMid 1930s1949Partner 

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 8James William LaingJanuary 1924January 1929Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8William Henry Sayers19261930Senior Assistant 
Item 3 of 8John Ferguson DonaldsonJune 1927June 1932Apprentice 
Item 4 of 8James William LaingJanuary 1929After 1933Assistant 
Item 5 of 8James Scott Johnston19311936Apprentice 
Item 6 of 8John Ferguson DonaldsonJune 1932September 1933Assistant 
Item 7 of 8Eric Hutton CrosbeeAfter 1935Before 1937AssistantFor six months
Item 8 of 8James Scott Johnston19361938Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2James Inch Morrison6 February 1939for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 2Robert Stirling Reid6 February 1939for Licentiateship

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 59 Amicable House   ScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 59 HighcroftJedburgh RoxburghshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 3 of 59 Unidentified Villa    Date unknown
Item 4 of 59 Villa at CammoBarnton EdinburghScotlandDate unknown
Item 5 of 591920Lambden House  RoxburghshireScotlandAlterations
Item 6 of 591922Crieff Cottage HospitalCrieff PerthshireScotlandAdditions or rebuilding?
Item 7 of 59After 1922House at Braid Farm Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 8 of 59After 1922House at Kinnear Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 59After 1922House for Captain MillarBarnton EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 59After 1922House for George M CottonFairmilehead EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 59After 1922Motor garage for William DuffCrieff PerthshireScotland 
Item 12 of 59After 1922NorwoodBarnton EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 59After 1922Shops, Market Street  AberdeenScotlandExtensive alterations
Item 14 of 59After 1922Stud stablesLambden Estate BerwickshireScotland 
Item 15 of 591923CottageFairmilehead EdinburghScotland 
Item 16 of 591923New Houses and Flats     
Item 17 of 591924Alterations to houses and tenements   Scotland 
Item 18 of 591925GallachlawFairmilehead EdinburghScotland 
Item 19 of 591925Two Double Villas. Afton Terrace  EdunburghScotland 
Item 20 of 591926Lodge, Scottish Rugby UnionMurrayfield EdinburghScotland 
Item 21 of 591926Regent Picture HouseAbbeymount EdinburghScotland 
Item 22 of 591926Scotston House  Peeblesshire?ScotlandCeiling design?
Item 23 of 591927Carlton Cinema  EdinburghScotland 
Item 24 of 591927Housing schemes for Penicuik Town CouncilPenicuik MidlothianScotland 
Item 25 of 591927Rutland Picture House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 26 of 591928Astoria CinemaCorstorphine EdinburghScotland 
Item 27 of 591928St Anne's ChurchCorstorphine EdinburghScotlandHall and enlargement of Guild Room
Item 28 of 591929Blue Halls Cinema  EdinburghScotland 
Item 29 of 591929SlipperfieldWest Linton PeeblesshireScotlandAlterations
Item 30 of 591930Cinema, BridgetonBridgeton GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 591930Leith Palace Picture HouseLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 32 of 591930Regal Picture HouseDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 33 of 59c. 1930Licensed Premises    Alterations
Item 34 of 591931Philp's Cockburn Hotel and other property, 1-29 Cockburn Street  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction of Cockburn Hotel
Item 35 of 591931Shops and HousesNorth Berwick East LothianScotland 
Item 36 of 591932School and Community Premises   ScotlandAlterations
Item 37 of 591933Edinburgh Varieties Theatre  EdinburghScotland 
Item 38 of 591933Playhouse CinemaPerth PerthshireScotlandCompetition design - not successful -or perhaps acted as consultant with Cattanach as executant architect.
Item 39 of 591934Queen's Theatre  EdinburghScotlandInternal rebuilding
Item 40 of 591934Regal Cinema and shopsCraigmillar EdinburghScotland 
Item 41 of 591935House, Cramond Road North  EdinburghScotland 
Item 42 of 591935Learmonth Court  EdinburghScotland 
Item 43 of 591936Anchor InnGranton EdinburghScotland 
Item 44 of 591937Dominion Cinema  EdinburghScotland 
Item 45 of 591937Housing, Crewe Road West  EdinburghScotland 
Item 46 of 591937Picture HouseTranent East LothianScotlandAlterations
Item 47 of 591937Regal CinemaRothesayButeButeScotlandIn collaboration with Alexander Cattanach Junior (as assistant?)
Item 48 of 591937Regal CinemaBroxburn West LothianScotlandResponsible according to W T Johnston
Item 49 of 591937Rio CinemaKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 50 of 591938Block of flats, Osborne Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 51 of 591938County CinemaPortobello EdinburghScotland 
Item 52 of 591938Hillburn Roadhouse  EdinburghScotland 
Item 53 of 591938Restaurant and sports hall  EdinburghScotland 
Item 54 of 591938Stair Arms RoadhousePathhead? Midlothian?ScotlandAlterations
Item 55 of 591939CinemaBaillieston GlasgowScotland 
Item 56 of 591939RoadhouseGranton EdinburghScotland 
Item 57 of 591939Shops and HousesSaughton EdinburghScotland 
Item 58 of 591948Church Halls East Camus Place   EdinburghScotland 
Item 59 of 591948Theatre Royal  EdinburghScotlandRebuilding after fire

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 
Item 2 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA JournalJanuary 1949v57London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp121 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no4726 (combined box 5 but moved to Box 32 July 2008)