Basic Biographical Details

Name: Colin Menzies
Designation:  
Born: 15 June 1861
Died: 31 March 1935
Bio Notes: Colin Menzies was born at 8 Hyndland Street, Partick on 15 June 1861, the son of Colin Menzies, engine fitter and his wife Margaret Scotland; his family is believed to have originated in Perthshire. He studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1885 to 1888. It is not known in which offices he was articled or employed as an assistant, but in 1890 he was taken into partnership by David Thomson. The partnership lasted until Thomson retired in 1897. Colin Menzies continued the practice thereafter under the existing title of Thomson & Menzies. His work was mostly commercial and industrial, his most important client being the National Telephone Company until its compulsory acquisition by the Post Office in 1911, although for much of that time he had to work in association with Leonard Stokes as main architect to that company.

Menzies was an enthusiastic volunteer in the 1st LRV and took part of the Wet Review in 1881. He was also a keen sportsman, particularly cricket, golfing and fishing. For a time he had a residence on the Benmore estate, partly to deal with estate work, and partly for the fishing. He died of pancreatic cancer on 31 March 1935. At that date he was living at 31 Peel Street, Partick, to which he had moved from The Oriels, the handsome house he had built for himself in Nithsdale Road. He left a widow, Jean Rennie from Falkirk, and the then fairly substantial moveable estate of £11,282 0s 8d. After his death the practice was continued by David Thomson's son, David L Thomson.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 921, Maxwell Street, Partick, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1885 *  
Item 2 of 913, Maxwell Street, Partick, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1886After 1887 
Item 3 of 92, West Regent Streetq, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 18901918 or 1919 
Item 4 of 91, Hamilton Terrace West, Partick, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1901 *  
Item 5 of 958, Renfield Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1918 or 19191930 or 1931 
Item 6 of 979, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1930 or 19311936 or 1937 
Item 7 of 931, Peel Street, Partick, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1935 *  
Item 8 of 9204, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1937 or 19381945 or 1946 
Item 9 of 9248, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1946 or 19471954 or 1955 

* 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 1Thomson & Menzies18901935Partner 

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 661893Houston House  RenfrewshireScotlandStable offices and addition
Item 2 of 661894Eastwood Parish ChurchPollokshaws GlasgowScotlandAdditions and church officer's house
Item 3 of 661894Springburn SchoolSpringburn GlasgowScotlandBlock facing Crichton Street added
Item 4 of 661895Lanrick Shooting LodgeLoch Venachar StirlingshireScotland 
Item 5 of 661895VillaThornliebank RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 661896Dalziel Parish ChurchMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandAdditions and halls
Item 7 of 661896Girthon Parish ChurchGatehouse of Fleet KirkcudbrightshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 8 of 661896Royal Exchange  GlasgowScotlandPartial reconstruction for the National Telephone Co
Item 9 of 661896Thornliebank Parish Church and hallThornliebank RenfrewshireScotlandHall etc. Also further work up to 1903
Item 10 of 661897Cranston's Picture House and Tea Rooms, Renfield Street  GlasgowScotlandOriginal building
Item 11 of 661897VillaAberfeldy PerthshireScotland 
Item 12 of 661897VillaAberfeldy PerthshireScotland 
Item 13 of 661898Cranston's Tea Rooms Ltd, Morrison Court (Argyle Arcade)  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction (smoke room etc)
Item 14 of 661898McCorquodale's Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 15 of 661898The MainsGiffnock RenfrewshireScotlandAdditions
Item 16 of 661898The PeelBusby LanarkshireScotlandAdditions
Item 17 of 661899Villa, BalshagrayPartick GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 661900Central Telephone Exchange  GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 661900Keppochhill SchoolKeppochhill GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 20 of 661900Royal Exchange  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 21 of 661900Royal Scottish National Hospital, nurses' homeLarbert StirlingshireScotland 
Item 22 of 66c. 1900The Oriels  GlasgowScotlandMainly responsible?
Item 23 of 661902Stuart Cranston's Tea Rooms, Argyll Arcade (within Argyll Chambers)  GlasgowScotlandShops and warehouses
Item 24 of 661903Free Church College  GlasgowScotlandChurch rebuilt after fire as college library. Won competition to secure job.
Item 25 of 661903McCorquodale's Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 26 of 661903Royal Exchange  GlasgowScotlandOffices and test room
Item 27 of 661904Kennedy Street School  GlasgowScotlandAddition
Item 28 of 661904Larbert HouseLarbert StirlingshireScotlandAddition
Item 29 of 661904Warehouses, counting houses etc  GlasgowScotlandCompleted - eastern part
Item 30 of 661905Ardencaple HouseHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandAdditional floor
Item 31 of 661905Cathedral Street and North Hanover Street corner  GlasgowScotland 
Item 32 of 661905Country houseKillearn StirlingshireScotland 
Item 33 of 661905Infant SchoolSpringburn GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 661905Larbert HouseLarbert StirlingshireScotlandGate lodge, avenue etc
Item 35 of 661905VillaBusby LanarkshireScotland 
Item 36 of 661906Cranston's Tea Rooms  GlasgowScotland 
Item 37 of 661906Soldiers' Home, Barry CampBarry AngusScotland 
Item 38 of 661906Wellesley Tea Rooms  GlasgowScotlandAlterations for conversion to Cranston's tea rooms
Item 39 of 661907Soldiers' Home, Stobs CampHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 40 of 661907Western Telephone ExchangeHillhead GlasgowScotlandDesign by Leonard Stokes but with Menzies as executant architect
Item 41 of 661909Free Church College  GlasgowScotlandLibrary, hall, classrooms etc after fire
Item 42 of 661910Douglas Telephone Exchange  GlasgowScotlandOriginal building
Item 43 of 661911Larbert house, model dairy and byreLarbert StirlingshireScotland 
Item 44 of 661911Norwich Union Fire Insurance Company premises  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 45 of 661911Younger HallKilmun ArgyllScotlandDesigner?
Item 46 of 661912Dalrachney Shooting LodgeCarrbridge Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 47 of 661913Larbert HouseLarbert StirlingshireScotlandAdditions
Item 48 of 661913Orangefield HousePrestwick (near) AyrshireScotlandAdditions/alterations
Item 49 of 661913Royal Exchange  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction for Directors of Royal Exchange
Item 50 of 661914Premises for the General Electric Co  GlasgowScotlandWarehouse, showrooms and counting house for General Electric Co
Item 51 of 661914Thornliebank War MemorialThornliebank RenfrewshireScotlandDesign only?
Item 52 of 661915Royal Exchange  GlasgowScotlandRestaurant
Item 53 of 661919McCorquodale's Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandReconstruction of two properties
Item 54 of 661920OrlingtonNorth Mount Vernon GlasgowScotland 
Item 55 of 661920Tea Rooms  GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 56 of 661921Premises for the General Electric Co  GlasgowScotlandShowrooms
Item 57 of 661922McCorquodale's Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandReconditioning of three properties
Item 58 of 661923Boots the Chemist, Argyle Street and Union Street (1)  GlasgowScotland 
Item 59 of 661924Engineering WorksScotstoun GlasgowScotland 
Item 60 of 661924McCorquodale's Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 61 of 661925Warehouse, Fox Street  GlasgowScotlandAttribution by HS
Item 62 of 661926McCorquodale's Printing Works  GlasgowScotlandNew building in Fox Street
Item 63 of 661928Shops and office premises  GlasgowScotland 
Item 64 of 661929Carpet Factory for John E Lyle & CoMile End GlasgowScotland 
Item 65 of 661930Country houseKillearn StirlingshireScotland 
Item 66 of 66c. 1930Dolcis Building  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 2RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS Quarterly31 March 1935 Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Obituary - CHECK date of this (poss. later) and of death

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research on family and addresses by Iain Paterson