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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 137, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1904 | c. 1921 | | | Fraoch, Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1911 | After 1926(?) | | | 68, Clarence Drive, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1914 * | | | | 154, West Regent Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | Before 1920 * | 1952 | | | 164, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1922 | After 1941 | | | Hillside/9, Grange Road, Bearsden, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | 1945 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Bennie Wilson | 20 July 1911 | for Licentiateship - as President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects |
Buildings and Designs
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 | | | | | 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 : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIAS Quarterly | November 1952 | 90 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Alfred G Lochhead and Alexander Wright | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v19 no1440 |
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