Basic Biographical Details Name: | Thomas Greenshields Leadbetter | Designation: | | Born: | 21 October 1859 | Died: | 12 February 1931 | Bio Notes: | Thomas Greenshields Leadbetter was born on 21 October 1859, the son of James Greenshields Leadbetter (1827-1897) of Stobieside, Lanarkshire and Margaret Macpherson, daughter of Hugh Macpherson of Blantyreferme. The Leadbetters were Glasgow merchants and metal workers
Leadbetter commenced independent practice in 1885, renting chambers at 122 George Street, an address which suggests some kind of link with Peddie and Kinnear as Peddie owned it: there may also have been a connection with Charles Kinnear whose mother Christian Greenshields also came from a Glasgow merchant family. Information on his training is as yet lacking but the precocious neo-Tudor vernacular of Dundhu, comparable with W L Carruthers's early houses at Inverness suggests a similar London background as do his RA exhibits. On 28 August 1890 Leadbetter married Mary Anne Usher of Norton and Wells, substantially extending the family connections which were the basis of the practice. Although some commentators have found his work bland his understated and predominantly unturreted early-17th-century Scots style reflected J J Stevenson's advocacy of such an idiom in 'House Architecture' (1880) and paralleled Rowand Anderson's Allermuir and Glencoe.
In 1895 Leadbetter took into partnership James McLellan Fairley. Fairley had been born in 1860, the son of Captain Alexander Fairley of the US Army and served his apprenticeship with Hippolyte Jean Blanc from 1875, subsequently working in the offices of Wardrop & Reid, Archibald Macpherson, Walter Wood Robertson of the Office of Works and Arthur George Sydney Mitchell, before founding his practice c. 1885. He passed the qualifying exam in 1886 and was admitted ARIBA on 21 June of that year his proposers being Arthur Cates, George Washington Browne, John Kinross, ___ Berry (?) and, rather oddly, Leadbetter who does not seem to have been a fellow of the institute: his inclusion suggests that he had already been assisting Leadbetter's practice for some time.
Leadbetter inherited Stobieside from his father in 1897 and some time thereafter came into possession of Spittal Tower, Hawick. His house at 2 Magdala Place was given up in 1903, and the Leadbetters seem to have lived chiefly at Spittal Tower thereafter, but his name appears in the directories along with the firm at 17 Young Street until 1909, and he continued to be responsible for projects in which he had a personal interest beyond that date, notably the restoration of Bedrule Church and the complete rebuilding of his own Spittal Tower in 1914.
Leadbetter died on 12 February 1931. He was buried at Dean Cemetery on 14 February 1931. In his later years his surnames were hyphenated. He had three sons - James Greenshields Greenshields Leadbetter WS (born 11 August 1891), John Usher Leadbetter (born 12 September 1893, died 21 September 1908) and Major Alan Edmonstone Leadbetter (born 28 August 1896, killed in action 4 August 1917) - and two unmarried daughters, Mary Balmer Leadbetter and Jean Gillespie Leadbetter. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 26, Coates Gardens, Wester Coates, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1885 * | | | | 122, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1885 | c. 1891 | | | 2, Magdala Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1890 | 1903 | | | 17, Young Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1892 | | On his own until c1895, then with Fairley in 1895 and from 1909 also with Reid | | Spittal Tower, Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland | Private | After 1897 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Leadbetter & Fairley | 1895 | After 1903 | Partner | Leadbetter semi-retired in 1903 but was still involved in some projects thereafter | | Leadbetter, Fairley & Reid | 1909 | c. 1921 | Partner | Involved in some projects whilst semi-retired. |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | William Finlayson | After 1888 | c. 1890 | Assistant | | | John Daniel Swanston | c. 1889 | c. 1890 | Assistant | (Given as 'Leadbetter & Fairley' on Swanston's RIBA nomination papers) | | James McLellan Fairley | Before 1890 | 1895 | | It appears that Fairley worked in Leadbetter's office before being taken into partnership (the RIBA nomination papers of some other architects state that they worked for 'Leadbetter & Fairley' in the early 1890s) | | Thomas Forbes Maclennan | c. 1893 | c. 1894 | Draughtsman | (Given as 'Leadbetter & Fairley' on Maclennan's RIBA nomination papers) | | Robert Raeburn Grieve | 1894 | 1895 | Apprentice | | | Thomas Sinclair | c. 1894 | c. 1895 | Apprentice | |
RIBARIBA ProposalsThis proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | James McLellan Fairley | 21 June 1886 | for Associateship |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1885 | 19 Eglinton Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design for new interiors exhibited | | 1885 | Clifton Hall | Newbridge | | Midlothian | Scotland | Design for billiard room exhibited | | 1885 | Feuing at Ravelston | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Feuing plan | | 1886 | Dundhu | Loch Ard, Aberfoyle | | Perthshire | Scotland | Design exhibited (also 1890) | | 1886 | Feuing plans for Morningside College | Morningside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Feuing plans | | 1886 | Morningside Hydropathic Hotel | Morningside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Feuing plan | | 1887 | Bothwell Parish Council Chambers | Bellshill | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1887 | Cottage near Aberfoyle | Aberfoyle | | Perthshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1887 | Polmood Lodge | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1888 | Library for Solicitors to the Supreme Courts of Scotland | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Competition design (by invitation) - not successful | | 1889 | 4-8 Castle Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Remodelled | | 1889 | 6 Charlotte Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1889 | Bent Road School | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Competition design - unsuccessful | | 1889 | Blairston Farm | Bothwell | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1889 | Christ Church Episcopal Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition of north aisle | | 1889 | Village in Ayrshire | | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Design exhibited 'in course of erection' | | 1890 | 20 Murrayfield Gardens | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1890 | Tulloch Castle, Caisteal Gorach | Dingwall | | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | Restoration/alterations? (Or were these to Tulloch Castle itself rather than this folly?) | | c. 1890 | 137-141 George Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | c. 1890 | Stronachullin Lodge | Ardrishaig | | Argyll | Scotland | Plan and perspectives - were these unexecuted? | | 1891 | 26-27 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal remodelling of existing house as home of Society of Accountants of Edinburgh | | 1891 | Cessnock Castle | | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Design for reconstruction exhibited | | 1891 | Feuing plans for Basket Lands, Calderwood | East Kilbride | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Feuing plans (unexecuted) | | 1891 | Mansion house | | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Design exhibited for addition | | c. 1891 | Craigcrook Castle | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions (billiard room etc) | | 1892 | 4 Moray Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Subdivision of house into three flats | | 1892 | Blair House | Dalry | | Ayrshire | Scotland | North wing and re-fronting of east range, west wing and raising of roof of east wing. Also interior work | | 1892 | Grandtully Castle | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Design exhibited for large addition, which was executed. Restoration | | c. 1892 | Murthly Castle | Murthly | | Perthshire | Scotland | Partial rebuilding and repairs | | 1894 | 52 Garscube Terrace | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1894 | Baird Memorial Cottages | Stitchel/Stichill/Stichel | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1894 | Bank and bank manager's house | North Berwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1894 | Dunalistair | Fortingall | | Perthshire | Scotland | Tower Lodge and gateway | | 1895 | 6 Wester Coates Avenue | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1895 | Airlie Lodge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1895 | Ardwall | | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Design for additions exhibited | | 1895 | Carnegie Public Library | Wick | | Caithness | Scotland | Drew up design - with Sinclair MacDonald as executant architect | | 1895 | Johnstounburn | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | Improved garden front | | 1895 | Sandeman Public Library | Perth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Competition design - unplaced | | 1895 | St Kentigern's Church | Inversnaid | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1895 | The Holmes | St Boswells | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Designs exhibited (before partnership with Fairley) | | 1896 | Airlie Lodge | | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations | | 1896 | Arthur Lodge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1896 | Balbirnie House, including walled garden and stables | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | Proposed additions | | 1896 | Coach house and stables for John Usher | Roseburn | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1896 | Hillhouse | Barassie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Design for additions exhibited | | 1896 | Rowallan Castle and Rowallan House | Kilmaurs | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Rebuilding and additions -'proposed addition to old Scots mansion' - not executed | | 1897 | Broxburn Public School | Broxburn | | West Lothian | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1898 | 22 Belgrave Crescent | Dean | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1898 | Border mansion house | | | | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1898 | Chapel of St Kentigern | | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1898 | Eccles House | | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1898 | Edinburgh Academy, Library | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Centre block | | 1899 | 4 Belford Park | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion of stables to flats | | 1899 | Burntisland Golf Clubhouse | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1899 | Fitzgerald Memorial Hall | Torphichen | | West Lothian | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1899 | Lodge and gates | | | | | Design exhibited | | 1899 | Summerhill | Kirkcudbright | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1900 | Blairhoyle House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1900 | Edinburgh Academy, Library | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Drawing for carved panel dated | | 1900 | Edinburgh Academy, Main Building | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Site plan showing arrangement of covered ways | | 1900 | Parkhill | Dalry | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Addition of wings | | c. 1900 | 22 Moray Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Light installed | | 1901 | Bonded Store | Queen's Park, St Leonard's | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1901 | Mansion house | Slateford | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1901(?) | University of Edinburgh, John Usher Institute of Public Health | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1902 | 16 Gillespie Road | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions | | c. 1902 | 7-8 Moray Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and subdivision into 5 dwellings | | 1903 | New Parish Church (St Paul's) | Milngavie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1904 | Dalveah | Loch Ard, Aberfoyle | | Perthshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1904 | Lee Castle | Carnwath | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | New lodge, gate, large dairy | | c. 1904 | Glenpark | Balerno | | Midlothian | Scotland | New build/alterations? (Plans dated) | | 1905 | 9 Lennox Street Lane | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion of stable and coachhouse to garage | | 1905 | Carlung House | West Kilbride | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Design for rebuilding after fire (not executed) | | 1905 | Queenshill | Ringford (near), Kirkcudbright | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1905 | Swinton Manse | Swinton | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Alterations? Repairs? | | 1905 | Swinton Parish Church | Swinton | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Alterations? | | c. 1905 | Simprin Church and Manse | | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1906 | Wells House | | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1907 | Low Drumclog | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | HS Attribution | | 1908 | Stobieside | Drumclog | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | c. 1908 | Dean Cemetery, Leadbetter Memorial | Dean | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1909 | The Abbey | North Berwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1911 | Edinburgh Academy, cricket ground and pavilion | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1911 | Hillhouse | Barassie | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Additions made | | 1913 | Bedrule Parish Church | Bedrule | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Restoration | | 1913 | Fernielaw House | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1914 | 26-27 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans (unexecuted) for new Hall and Library on ground occupied by garden, cost estimate: £5,000 | | 1914 | Duddingston Forge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1914 | House at the crossroads of Duddingston Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1914 | Spittal Tower | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Alterations - involved though no longer officially practising with the partnership | | 1914 | Tenement, Duddingston Mills | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1917 | Lord Roberts Memorial Workshops, Greenside Row | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations (continued by practice after Fairley retired in 1938) | | 1919 | War Memorial | Bedrule | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1919 | War Memorial | Bedrule | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1920s | 17-18 Moray Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans - presumably for alterations? | | 1920 | Bedrule Parish Church | Bedrule | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | War memorial | | c. 1920 | Athelstaneford | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | War memorial |
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 | | | | | Burke, ____ (Mosley, Charles, ed) | | Burke's Peerage, Baronetage & Knightage: Clan Chiefs, Scottish Feudal Barons | 107th Edition | Wilmington, Delaware: Burke's Peerage & Gentry LLC | | | Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A | 1996 | A History of Scottish Architecture | | | | | Graves, Algernon | 1905 | The Royal Academy of Arts: a complete dictionary of exhibitors and their works… | 1905-6 | London: Graves and Bell | | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Border Telegraph | 17 February 1931 | | | | | Scotsman | 14 February 1931 | | | Death notice |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | DMW Archive | Small, G P: The Leadbetters' Victorian Legacy, Unpublished paper, 21 September 1994 | | Research by Sam Small |
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