Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robert Miller | Designation: | Architect | Born: | c. 1867 | Died: | 9 January 1950 | Bio Notes: | Robert Miller was born c.1867 the son of Robert Miller, master joiner, and Janet Newlands. In 1882 he was articled to McKissack & Rowan, where he remained as draughtsman for two years after completing his apprenticeship. He then spent two years as assistant to Alexander Skirving before moving to Ayr, where he served as assistant to Morris & Hunter for two years, returning to Glasgow in 1892 to join William Gardner Rowan, who was now in independent practice, as assistant. The following year he commenced practice on his own account.
In 1899 Miller was joined in partnership by Andrew Black (born 1862), a fine draughtsman with a place in history as an influential teacher of Charles Rennie Mackintosh. Both architects were admitted FRIBA on 11 June 1906, their proposers being John Keppie, Horatio Kelson Bromhead and C J MacLean. In their Gothic work the influence of Rowan's free neo-perpendicular was marked.
Miller was active in public life as President of the Rutherglen Unionist Association and at the Trades House where he reached the Visitor's Chair in the Incorporation of Maltmen and Mealmen in 1906 and 1934; and in 1923 he was Deacon of the Incorporation of Skinners. He was also a prominent mason as master of the Lodge of St John No. 3 bis and a Burns enthusiast, becoming President of the Bridgeton Burns Club. His other interests included the Grand Antiquity Society.
Black died in 1927. Miller continued the practice under the existing title of Miller & Black until at least 1939. He died on 9 January 1950 at 47 Viewpark Drive, Rutherglen. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 81, St George's Place, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1894 * | | |  | 5, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1899 * | | |  | 27, Monteith Row, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1901 | After 1907 | |  | 58, Renfield Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1904 | After 1931 | |  | 132, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1934 | 1939 or after 1940 | |  | 47, Viewpark Drive, Rutherglen, Lanarkshire, Scotland | Private | 1950 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | David Bateman Hutton | 1898 | 1899 | Apprentice(?) | |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes |  | Horatio Kelson Bromhead | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |  | John Keppie | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |  | C J MacLean | 11 June 1906 | for Fellowship |
RIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | 1896 | Southern Young Men's Christian Association, St Andrew's Cross | Eglinton Toll | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1897 | Co-operative Buildings | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | Engineering Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1898 | Glasgow Oil and Chemical Works office block | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | After 1899 | Kingston Mission | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Main part of building - date unknown |  | 1900 | Dennistoun UP (or UF) Church hall and church officer's house | Dennistoun | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1900 | Engine Waste Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition. |  | 1900 | Offices for Thomas Hinshelwood & Co | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1902 | Broomhill UF Church and halls | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design - not successful |  | 1903 | Kennyhill House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Major reconstruction |  | 1903 | St Crispin Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New building |  | 1904 | Glenbarry House | Lenzie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | 1904 | R Wylie Hill's warehouse | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rebuilding after fire |  | 1905 | Strathblane Free Church | Blanefield | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Rebuilding after fire |  | 1907 | 25-29 Causeyside Street | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | | |  | 1907 | Bakery, Soho Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1907 | St Andrews Church of Scotland | | | Colombo | Sri Lanka (formerly Ceylon, un | |  | 1909 | Bellshill Baptist Church | Bellshill | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1909 | Engine Waste Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Addition |  | 1909 | Hamilton Baptist Church and Halls | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1909 | South Shawlands church hall | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1910 | Reformed Presbyterian Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1911 | Barrowfield Weaving Factory | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Three storey block added at rear |  | 1911 | Hillhead Baptist Church Mission | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1912 | Engineering Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reinstatement after fire |  | 1912 | Ladywell Wire Works | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Rear extension |  | 1912 | South Shawlands Church | Shawlands | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1915 | Frys Building | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Reconstruction |  | 1920s | Church of Christ | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1921 | Factory for Messrs Samuel Gilchrist | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1922 | Harper Memorial Baptist Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1924 | Uphall UF Church | Uphall | | West Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1927 | Partick Baptist Church | Partick | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1929 | Rutherglen West Parish Church Halls and church house | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Hall Memorial Church of Scotland, Dalmarnock Road | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | | |  | 1931 | Public Kitchen, Battery Park | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Cambuslang Baptist Church, Memorial halls | Cambuslang | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Congregation of Christians | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1933 | Shawlands & Langside UF Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Church Halls | Cowie | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Infants' School | Bo'ness / Borrowstouness | | West Lothian | Scotland | |  | 1934 | Premises of D J Black, printer | Bridgeton | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension |  | 1935 | South Carntyne Church | Carntyne | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Buildings for Film Transport Services | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Chalmers Memorial Free Church | Anstruther Easter | | Fife | Scotland | |  | 1939 | Children's Clinic | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1939 | St Philomena's RC School | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1945(?) | Premises for Kidmar Hosiery Co Ltd, Swanston Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1948 | Redhall, Parkhhouse Road | Barrhead | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions (may not be involved- probably retired at this date) |  | Before 1950 | Cottages | Colintraive | | Argyll | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 27 January 1950 | v178 | | p139 - obituary |  | Scotsman | 11 January 1950 | | | p3 Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Additional research by Iain Paterson |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v17 p43 no1118 (microfilm reel 12) |
Images © All rights reserved. The Bailie 26 September 1923 (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) |