Basic Biographical Details

Name: Wilson & Tait
Designation:  
Born: 1903
Died: 1937
Bio Notes: Henry (Harry) Wilson was born on 27 March 1880 and was articled to George Deas Page of Falkirk in July 1895, attending classes at the Falkirk School of Art and Science. On completion of his apprenticeship in 1900 he moved first to Lerwick as assistant to John Morgan Aitken and then a year later to Glasgow as assistant to R MacLelland (probably a civil engineer), also spending some time in MacLelland's office in Johnstone, Renfrewshire. This move enabled Wilson to study at Glasgow School of Art under Alexander McGibbon.

In 1903 Wilson commenced independent practice in partnership with a slightly older apprentice at Page's, David Alexander Tait. Tait had been born on 16 December 1879 and articled to Page in June 1897, remaining with him as an assistant. During his time with Page he had attended Falkirk School of Science and Art and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College.

The firm of Wilson & Tait was based at Grangemouth. Both architects were admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911 without the need of proposers, Tait's nomination being supported by a character reference from the chairman of Grangemouth Public School Board. Wilson's house was then at Carnach, Polmont and Tait's at Sunnylea, Ronaldshay Crescent, Grangemouth. Wilson & Tait appear to have briefly had an office in Edinburgh at 122 George Street from about 1913-15. Presumably this was to to enable them to undertake a particular job in the city but this has not yet been traced. They also had a branch office in Jedburgh in the mid-1930s, presumably to oversee projects there.

Tait retired in 1937. In the same year Henry Wilson merged his practice with that of Strang & Wilson, James Strang also having retired in that year, the combined practice of Wilson & Wilson being now based in Strang's office at 39 Vicar Street, Falkirk. The surviving partner of Strang & Wilson, Robert Wilson, was not related to Henry Wilson and had been articled to an as yet unidentified practice in Falkirk before the First World War.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 5Falkirk, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness(?)   
Item 2 of 5Lumley Street, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusiness1911 *  
Item 3 of 5122, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1913After 1919 
Item 4 of 5Jedburgh, Roxburghshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1934After 1937 
Item 5 of 5Station Road, Grangemouth, Stirlingshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1935After 1937 

* 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 9David Alexander Tait19031937Partner 
Item 2 of 9Henry ('Harry') Wilson19031937Partner 
Item 3 of 9Alexander Abercrombie Wilkie19251930Apprentice 
Item 4 of 9Alexander Jamieson Smith19281934ApprenticeIn Grangemouth office
Item 5 of 9Alexander Abercrombie Wilkie19301932Improver 
Item 6 of 9Alexander John Macaskill Currell19331937Apprentice 
Item 7 of 9Alexander Jamieson Smith19341937AssistantIn Jedburgh office
Item 8 of 9Alexander Strang1934c. 1937Apprentice 
Item 9 of 9Helen Lily Jackson (Mrs Johnston)1935After 1937AssistantIn Grangemouth office

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 25After 1903Business premises for A G TaylorPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 2 of 25After 1903Business premises for P M UriePolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 3 of 25After 1903Licensed premises and billiard rooms for A G TaylorPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 4 of 25After 1903Royal Bank of ScotlandPolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 5 of 25After 1903Villa for J P MacKenziePolmont|Grangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 6 of 251904Co-operative bakery, stables, byre, van shed etcGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 7 of 251906Redding and Westquarter ChurchRedding StirlingshireScotland 
Item 8 of 251908Grangemouth High SchoolGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 9 of 251910Grangemouth Parish ChurchGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 10 of 25c. 1910Grange House, stables and stables cottageLinlithgow West LothianScotland 
Item 11 of 25191961 High StreetDunbar East LothianScotland 
Item 12 of 25After 1919(?)Housing scheme(s) for West Lothian County Council  West LothianScotlandHenry Wilson responsible, either under Wilson & Tait (if pre-1937) or Wilson & Wilson (if post-1937)
Item 13 of 251923Larbert East Church HallLarbert StirlingshireScotland 
Item 14 of 251925Two blocks of Flatted Dwellings, The NurseriesFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 15 of 251929Kerse Parish Church HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 16 of 251930sHousing scheme for Stirling County CouncilGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 17 of 251932St Helen's Church of ScotlandHigh Bonnybridge StirlingshireScotland 
Item 18 of 251933Silk FactorySelkirk SelkirkshireScotland 
Item 19 of 25193525 Callendar RiggsFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 20 of 251935The KnoweAncrum RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 21 of 251936Grangemouth Town HallGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandReconstruction and additions
Item 22 of 25c. 1936CairnmountJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 23 of 251937Forthill housing schemeJedburgh RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 24 of 251937Grangemouth Public LibraryGrangemouth StirlingshireScotlandAddition to W
Item 25 of 251937Roadhouse and tearooms, Stirling RoadGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   
Item 2 of 2Post Office Directories