Basic Biographical Details

Name: Rennison & Scott
Designation:  
Born: c. 1874
Died: 1881
Bio Notes: John Albert Rennison was born in 1841 the son of the Rev Alexander Rennison, Minister of St George's Church, Paisley and his wife Eliza Henderson. The Rennison family originated in Berwick on Tweed where the minister's father had been a bookseller. The Rev Alexander died in 1867 at which date his architect son was in London, perhaps with the obscure W J Rennison but as his mother had been left unprovided for he returned to Paisley to live with his mother and his brother Edward of Lilla & Edwards, wholesale warehousemen, and commenced practice sometime before 1873 in partnership with another minister's son, John Laurie Fogo as Fogo & Rennison. Fogo was in charge of the Glasgow office at 133 West George Street whil Rennison was in charge of the Paisley one. About 1873 Fogo's health failed, the Glasgow office was closed and the partnership dissolved, Rennison thereafter practising from Paisley only.

About 1874 Rennison entered into partnership with Andrew Robb Scott. Scott was born in Edinburgh in 1851, the son of dairyman James Scott and Elizabeth Robb of Peebles. He was educated at the Royal High School and articled to David Bryce. In 1874 John Albert Rennison of Paisley took him into partnership, and in the following year they won the competition for the George A Clark Town Hall in Paisley but in the event the Clarks increased the cost limit and gave the commission to William Henry Lynn of Belfast. The partnership was dissolved in 1884, apparently from want of business during the recession following the final call from the City of Glasgow Bank liquidators in 1881, but drink may have been a factor, together with Scott's inability to produce drawings when inspiration was lacking. Their office was at 15 Gilmour Street, Paisley. Scott took a job as a leading draughtsman with John Burnet & Son.

Rennison thereafter practised alone from 15 Gilmour Street, his home being at Fereneze View, Mary Street. He died suddenly on 7 January 1915. He was unmarried.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 215, Gilmour Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusinessc. 1874After 1881 
Item 2 of 213, Gilmour Street, Paisley, Renfrewshire, ScotlandBusiness1884 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2Andrew Robb Scott18741884Partner 
Item 2 of 2John Albert Rennisonc. 18741881Partner 

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 121874St George's ChurchPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandInternal remodelling and addition of apse for organ chamber - presumably completed by Rennison after Scott left the partnership
Item 2 of 121875George A Clark Town HallPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandWon competition but job went to Lynn
Item 3 of 121876High ChurchPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandInternal remodelling
Item 4 of 121877Wellpark West ChurchGreenock RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 5 of 12c. 1880Glasgow Municipal Buildings  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design entered under the pseudonym Apropos
Item 6 of 121881Cartside HouseRenfrew RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 7 of 121881Church of ScotlandBerwick-upon-Tweed NorthumberlandEnglandInterior - design exhibited
Item 8 of 121881Ferguslie SchoolPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 9 of 121881Good Templar HallsPaisley RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 10 of 121884DunselmaStrone ArgyllScotland 
Item 11 of 12c. 1886Dunselma, boathouseStrone ArgyllScotland 
Item 12 of 12c. 1886Dunselma, LodgeStrone ArgyllScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Robertson, Una A Carskey: a house and its people   
Item 2 of 2Walker, Frank Arneil1986South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew  p8, p23, p123