Basic Biographical Details

Name: Dan Gibson
Designation:  
Born: 20 September 1865
Died: 19 June 1907
Bio Notes: Dan Gibson was born in Bassingthorpe, Lincolnshire on 20 September 1865 and was articled to Smith & Broderick of Hull. About 1889 he moved to become an assistant to Richard Knill Freeman of Bolton and was sent as resident architect to Graythwaite Hall near Windermere the home Colonel Sandys. Here he met the landscape architect Thomas Hayton Mawson with whom he was later to be in partnership.

In 1892 Gibson entered the offices of Ernest George & Peto in London. Described as the "Eton of architectural practices." it attracted some of the most talented young architects of their generation, including Lutyens and Baker However a serious illness in 1893 forced Gibson to leave and he returned to Windermere to recover. Here he later set up in independent practice with W H Ward as assistant. They had met in the office of Ernest George & Peto where Ward had been an improver. Ward only remained briefly with Gibson, subsequently moving to the office of Edwin Lutyens back in London. He later set up practice on his own account.

In 1897 (according to the directories) Gibson formed a partnership with Thomas Mawson under the style Mawson & Gibson, Architects, Crescent Road, Windermere. In the years 1898-1900 they collaborated on extensive garden works and continued to work together even after the partnership was dissolved in 1899 or 1900. From about 1899 to 1902 Thomas Mawson’s son, John William Mawson, was an articled pupil. The practice still operated from Crescent Road, Windermere.

Dan Gibson died on 19 June 1907, survived by his wife, Mary (1870-1916) and his two sons, Guy Wordsworth Gibson and William Garnet Gibson. He was buried in the graveyard at Bowness-on-Windermere. His architectural practice was continued by W L Dolman who had been an assistant from 1902. He had agreed to pay Gibson’s wife one tenth of his income for 10 years and to give their elder son the opportunity to be articled to him. It is not clear if this was taken up but Gibson’s younger son, William, qualified as an architect and practiced in Windermere.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Crescent Road, Windermere, Cumberland, EnglandBusiness1897  

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 4Smith & Broderickc. 1887 Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Richard Knill Freemanc. 1889c. 1892AssistantResident architect - Graythwaite Hall
Item 3 of 4Ernest George & Peto18921893Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Mawson & Gibson18971900Partner 

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 2William Henry Ward18931894Assistant 
Item 2 of 2W L Dolman1902 Assistant 

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 12After 1860Balintober CottageGlenmuick AberdeenshireScotland'Possibly' (HS)
Item 2 of 121888(?)Graythwaite HallFar Sawrey CumberlandEnglandResident architect c1899-1892. Later work following his return to Windermere
Item 3 of 121898Dower House, BraickleyBallater AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 4 of 121898Glen Tanar Estate, Boathouse and Bridge of EssGlentanar/Glen Tanar AberdeenshireScotlandArchitectural work in association with Mawson's garden work, including entrance to the park
Item 5 of 121898Mount StuartRothesay (near)ButeButeScotlandArchitectural work in association with Mawson's garden work including chapel in the grounds, oratories and cross and other small works of garden architecture - not executed. Stations of the Cross, Cavalry walk and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.
Item 6 of 12c. 1898Glen Tanar HouseAboyne AberdeenshireScotlandAssociated with work here along with Mawson
Item 7 of 12Before 1899Ballimore, Otter FerryLoch Fyne ArgyllScotlandArchitectural work in conjunction with Mawson's garden improvements
Item 8 of 12Before 1899Slains Castle  AberdeenshireScotlandArchitectural work including an 'architectural carriage court' in association with garden work by Mawson
Item 9 of 12c. 1899Aboyne CastleAboyne AberdeenshireScotlandEntrances. avenues, carriage court, extensive lawns and gardens proposed.
Item 10 of 12c. 1899Red BraesPrestwick AyrshireScotland 
Item 11 of 121903Flagstaff HillColwyn Bay  WalesLower Lodge and entrance
Item 12 of 12c. 1904Pittencrieff Park, entrance lodgesDunfermline FifeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Guilley, Peter (editor)2011Built from Below. British Architecture and the Vernacular  Chapter 6. pp99-122. Self Conscious Regionalism. Esme Whittaker
Item 2 of 4Mawson, Thomas1907Appreciation of Dan Gibson   
Item 3 of 4Mawson, Thomas H1927The Life and Works of an English Landscape Architect   
Item 4 of 4Moore, Graeme Daniel Gibson, Architect