Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Wilson
Designation:  
Born:  
Died: October 1965
Bio Notes: Robert Wilson, who does not appear in the British Architectural Library/RIBA 'Directory of British Architects 1834-1914', was articled to his uncle James Strang in July 1907 and remained there until November 1915. During this period he took classes in architecture at Falkirk School of Art & Science and then at Glasgow School of Art and the Royal Technical College where he won the Whitelaw Medallion for Junior Design in 1913 and was placed second in Senior Design in 1915. In the period 1910-1914 he sketched and made measured drawings in various places in the central belt of Scotland. He then moved to become assistant to Charles Menart, thereafter to the office of Peter Macgregor Chalmers and to that of James Miller. At the end of the war he was admitted ARIBA under the war exemption scheme and after becoming chief assistant to his uncle in 1919, was taken into partnership. The practice continued until 1937 when Strang retired and Wilson formed a partnership with the unrelated Henry Wilson who had previously been in partnership with David Alexander Tait in Grangemouth. The combined practice of Wilson & Wilson was based in Strang's office at 39 Vicar Street, Falkirk.

Wilson was architect for Denny burgh and was responsible for the design of many of the buildings there. He served as president of the Stirling Chapter of the RIAS. He also sat on the advisory committee set up by the Church of Scotland on artistic matters.

In 1940, by which time both Wilsons were Fellows of the Stirling Society of Architects and Robert was serving on its Council, the partnership re-opened an office in Grangemouth, but it was closed again in 1943. In 1955 Henry Wilson's son Rory was taken into partnership, Henry not retiring until 1960 at the age of 80.

Robert Wilson died in October 1965; Henry had died some years earlier.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 239, Vicar Street, Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19381940 
Item 2 of 22, Charing Cross, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness19401943 

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 7James Strang19071912Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7Peter Macgregor ChalmersAfter 1915 Assistant 
Item 3 of 7Charles Jean Menart (or Ménart)After 1915 Assistant 
Item 4 of 7James MillerAfter 1915 Assistant 
Item 5 of 7James StrangApril 19191922Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 7Strang & Wilson19221937Partner 
Item 7 of 7Wilson & Wilson19371965(?)Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John KeppieLate 1919For Associateship
Item 2 of 3James MillerLate 1919For Associateship
Item 3 of 3John WatsonLate 1919For Associateship

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 381930Town HouseDenny StirlingshireScotland 
Item 2 of 381933Villa, Glasgow RoadDenny StirlingshireScotland 
Item 3 of 381936Reinforced concrete warehouse for A YoungFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 4 of 381937Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction and additions
Item 5 of 381938Falkirk Ice RinkFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 6 of 381939Church hallWestquarter StirlingshireScotland 
Item 7 of 381939Four blocks of housingHaggs StirlingshireScotland 
Item 8 of 381942Large Prisoner-of-War Camp  Stirlingshire?Scotland 
Item 9 of 38After 1956(?)Bowhouse Church of ScotlandGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 10 of 38After 1956(?)Denny & Dunipace Town Centre redevelopmentDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 11 of 38After 1956(?)Denny Old Parish ChurchDenny StirlingshireScotlandRepairs - may have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 12 of 38After 1956(?)Falkirk Royal InfirmaryFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandNew kitchen, pharmacy and stores block, and alterations to boiler house, mortuary and post-mortem accommodation - may have been done after Wilson left practice
Item 13 of 38After 1956(?)Five advance factories for Burgh of Denny & DunipaceDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 14 of 38After 1956(?)Foundry buildings and officesFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left practice
Item 15 of 38After 1956(?)Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandFurther extensions (unless done post-1965)
Item 16 of 38After 1956(?)House for J Wotherspoon   ScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 17 of 38After 1956(?)House for R Campbell   ScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 18 of 38After 1956(?)Housing schemes for Burgh of Denny & DunipaceDenny|Dunipace StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 19 of 38After 1956(?)Housing schemes for West Lothian County Council  West LothianScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 20 of 38After 1956(?)Housing works for Bridge of AllanBridge of Allan StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson had departed from the practice
Item 21 of 38After 1956(?)Larbert Old ChurchLarbert StirlingshireScotlandRepairs - may have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 22 of 38After 1956(?)St Michael's Parish ChurchLinlithgow West LothianScotlandRestoration, repair, redecoration and lighting - may have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 23 of 38After 1956Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallDenny StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 24 of 38After 1956(?)Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 25 of 38After 1956(?)Territorial and Auxiliary Forces drill hallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 26 of 38After 1956(?)Territorial Army centre, Bog RoadFalkirk StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 27 of 38After 1956(?)Territorial Army centre, ForthsideStirling StirlingshireScotlandMay have been done after Wilson left the practice
Item 28 of 381958Country house for J M Lindsay   Scotland 
Item 29 of 381959Airfield 3 housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 30 of 381962Airfield 6 housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 31 of 381963Airfield 9 housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 32 of 381963Bowhouse 1st housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 33 of 381963Cafeteria and tennis changing roomsGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 34 of 381964Bowhouse 3rd housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 35 of 381964Bowhouse 4th housing schemeGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 36 of 381964Bowhouse Community CentreGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 37 of 381964Sports stadium grandstand, Kersiebank AvenueGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 38 of 381965Nine advance factoriesGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Scotsman12 October 1965  Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no3051 (microfilm reel 24)