Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alan George MacNaughtan
Designation:  
Born: 1878
Died: 24 August 1952
Bio Notes: Alan George MacNaughtan was born in Partick in 1878 (District No 646/2, entry 1135), son of Glasgow architect Duncan McNaughtan and his wife Elizabeth Smith. He was articled to Burnet, Son & Campbell in 1895, remaining with Burnet after the break-up of that partnership in 1897 and working largely on villas. During those years he studied under William James Anderson and Alexander McGibbon at the School of Art and under Charles Gourlay at the Technical College. At the end of his apprenticeship in 1901 he moved to London to work for Aston Webb and Edward Ingress Bell, which enabled him to study at the Architectural Association. He won its Silver Medal and Travelling Scholarship, enabling him to spend nine months of the year 1903 in Italy with Alexander Wingate, a friend and colleague from Burnet's office. There his pencil and brush were never idle and on his return he gave a paper to the Glasgow Architectural Association: 'A walk through Etruria'. He would continue his artistic pursuits throughout his life, exhibiting drawings and watercolours at the Royal Glasgow Institute of the Fine Arts until 1941, mostly of Italian and Arran subjects.

Alan George MacNaughtan joined his father's practice in 1904, becoming a partner in 1907 and joining the Glasgow Institute of Architects in the same year. He was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by John Bennie Wilson and the Glasgow Institute of Architects, and became sole practitioner when his father died at Froach, Bearsden on 26 February 1912.

Alan George MacNaughtan was both an 'ardent Highlander…on a suitable occasion could tune up the pipes with the best of them' and a territorial. He went to France with the 9th Highland Light Infantry and whilst still on active service on 14 August 1918 he married Mary Henrietta Jebb at St Ninian's Episcopal Church, Glasgow. Serious wounds sustained in battle ended his war service; his health never fully recovered.

In the later 1920s he went into partnership with another friend from Burnet's office, John Arthur who had subsequently worked in James Miller's London office. Arthur had won the competition for Marr College, Troon in 1919, but was in failing health by the time he was called upon to build it; nevertheless they jointly entered the competition for the new Glasgow University Student's Union and won it, MacNaughtan completing both buildings after John Arthur's enforced retirement and death.

Alan George MacNaughtan's health deteriorated after the Second World War, his 'heavy illness' being aggravated by the loss of the son who had intended to continue the practice. He died in Canniesburn Hospital on 24 August 1952, leaving estate of £1,820 15s 2d.

(NB: Duncan McNaughtan signed himself thus; his son Alan George inserted an 'a' to become MacNaughtan.)

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6137, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1904c. 1921 
Item 2 of 6Fraoch, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1911After 1926(?) 
Item 3 of 668, Clarence Drive, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1914 *  
Item 4 of 6154, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1920 *1952 
Item 5 of 6164, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1922After 1941 
Item 6 of 6Hillside/9, Grange Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1945 *  

* 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 6Burnet Son & Campbell18951897Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6John Burnet & Son18971901Apprentice 
Item 3 of 6(Sir) Aston Webb & E Ingress Bell19011903Assistant 
Item 4 of 6Duncan McNaughtan19041907Assistant(?) 
Item 5 of 6Duncan McNaughtan & Son (or Duncan MacNaughtan & Son)1907After 1922Partner 
Item 6 of 6Arthur & MacNaughtanc. 19251935Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 1John 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 241901Birmingham UniversityEdgbaston BirminghamEnglandAs assistant to Sir Aston Webb & E Ingress Bell
Item 2 of 241904Tollcross Park UF Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 3 of 24After 1904Possilpark School, manual instruction blockPossilpark GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 241905Drumchapel SchoolDrumchapel GlasgowScotlandAddition of wings, doubling accommodation
Item 5 of 241906Colston SchoolSpringburn GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 241906New Kilpatrick Parish Council ChambersBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 7 of 241906St Rollox School  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 241907CuilvonaHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 9 of 241909Radnor Park UF ChurchClydebank DunbartonshireScotlandAdditions (transepts)
Item 10 of 241911Gallowflat Public SchoolRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandOne of three blocks (begun 1908?)
Item 11 of 241913Board of Trade Offices  LondonEnglandCompetition design - not successful
Item 12 of 241913Roman CourtBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 13 of 241921Phoenix CinemaWoodside GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 24c. 1928Marr CollegeTroon AyrshireScotlandCompleted in partnership with John Arthur
Item 15 of 241929University of Glasgow Students Union  GlasgowScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 16 of 241932House for D F NicolBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 241932Inverness High SchoolInverness Inverness-shireScotlandPlaced second in competition
Item 18 of 241934New Kilpatrick Parish Church HallsBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 241934South Parish ChurchBearsden GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 241935DumbrockStrathblane StirlingshireScotland 
Item 21 of 241935Killermont Parish ChurchBearsden GlasgowScotlandHalls
Item 22 of 241935Killermont Parish Church Hall  GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 24c. 1935Kessington Church HallKessington DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 24 of 241939Territorial Halls  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS QuarterlyNovember 195290Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from Alfred G Lochhead and Alexander Wright
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v19 no1440