Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Gardner
Designation:  
Born: 20 May 1863
Died: 2 February 1926
Bio Notes: Alexander Gardner was born at 95 Regent Street, Greenock on 20 May 1863, the son of Alexander Gardner, grocer and flour miller, and his wife Janet Crawford. He was articled to Malcolm Stark in 1878, moving in 1883 to the office of Hugh Hough Maclure as assistant. During that period he studied at Glasgow School of Art (in 1883-4) and Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College. He progressed to the position of head assistant in Maclure's office and left in 1888 to commence practice in Glasgow on his own account. He was an active member of the Architectural Section of the Royal Philosophical Society of Glasgow, holding the offices of Honorary Secretary (1901-05), Vice-President (1905-07) and President (1907-09); amongst his papers read to the Society were 'The City Churches of Glasgow', 'Some Old Glasgow Buildings' and his presidential address, 'Notable Scottish Architects'.

Gardner was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects. He was admitted FRIBA in November 1925, his proposers being John Fairweather, John Thomson and Ninian Macwhannell. It appears to have been in this year that he entered into partnership with George Hunter Gardner-McLean, who may have been a relative, and who had previously worked in partnership with Hugh Campbell.

Gardner was married to Euphemia Ann Carrick Barclay. He died on 2 February 1926 at 121 Hill Street, his normal address at that time being 89 Eldon Street, Greenock. Gardner-McLean then became sole partner of the firm which retained the Gardner name.

A self-portrait is in the possession of Ian Gow.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6Peacemuir, Kilmacolm/Kilmalcolm, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1883 *1888 
Item 2 of 6192, Hope Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1888 *  
Item 3 of 6209, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1894After 1909 
Item 4 of 626, Holyrood Quadrant, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1911Before 1925 
Item 5 of 6134, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19111926 
Item 6 of 6Kingsbeck/89, Eldon Place (or Eldon Street), Greenock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivate1915 or 1916 *1926Appears to be lodging with 'Miss Barclay'

* 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 4Malcolm Stark18781883Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLure1883Before 1888Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Hugh Hough (or Heugh, or Heuch) MacLureAfter 18831888Chief Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Gardner & Gardner-McLean1925(?)March 1926Partner 

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 3Hugh MacphersonFebruary 1906June 1911Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3John Gairns Laskie19201925Apprentice 
Item 3 of 3Hector John Watt Stirling19221925(?)Apprentice 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 4John Fairweather30 November 1925for Fellowship
Item 2 of 4Ninian Macwhannell30 November 1925for Fellowship
Item 3 of 4John Thomson30 November 1925for Fellowship
Item 4 of 4John 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 17 Tenement, East Princes StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandDate not given
Item 2 of 17After 1888Bonded warehouse, McAlpine Street  GlasgowScotlandThe date may be 1905 if this is the warehouse in McAlpine Street
Item 3 of 17After 1888Bonded warehouse, York Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 17After 1888Crossbasket HouseHigh Blantyre LanarkshireScotlandAdditions
Item 5 of 17After 1888Kilmacolm School BuildingsKilmacolm/Kilmalcolm RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 17After 1888Merchiston House, BrookfieldJohnstone RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions to main house
Item 7 of 17After 1888Parish Council ChambersKilmacolm/Kilmalcolm RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 8 of 171890Kilmacolm UF ChurchKilmacolm/Kilmalcolm RenfrewshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 9 of 171897Bonded warehouse  GlasgowScotlandNorthern six bays
Item 10 of 171897Queen's Tea StoreBroomielaw GlasgowScotlandBuilding at rear (built 1839-40) reconstructed after fire
Item 11 of 171901Carnegie Free LibraryHawick RoxburghshireScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 12 of 171904Red HouseGreenock RenfrewshireScotlandAcademy Architecture shows photograph therefore building completed by 1904.
Item 13 of 17After 1911(?)Banks for the Royal Bank of Scotland   Scotland 
Item 14 of 17After 1911(?)Factories for the Linen Thread Company Ltd   Scotland 
Item 15 of 17After 1911(?)Summerlee Iron Company factorySummerlee, Coatbridge LanarkshireScotlandAdditions
Item 16 of 17c. 1925(?)Factory for the British Oxygen Company LtdPolmadie GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 17Before 1926Buildings for Erskine School BoardErskine RenfrewshireScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder19 March 1926  p 464 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Library Copy of self portrait in the possession of Ian Gow
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v17 no1280; F no2255 (microfilm reel 17)