Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | William McCrea | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 4 February 1896 | Died: | 3 June 1974 | Bio Notes: | William McCrea was born on 4 February 1896, the son of John McCrea, bank agent, and his wife Agnes McArthur MacKintosh. He attended classes at Kirkcaldy High School. He was articled to David Forbes Smith of Kirkcaldy from 1911 (ARIBA paper) or 1912 (FRIBA paper) and attended Heriot-Watt College in Edinburgh and the Glasgow School of Architecture where he undertook the full diploma course and was awarded the Diploma of the School. He spent two periods of three months studying in northern France, one in 1922-23 and the other somewhat later. In 1920 he entered the office of James Miller followed by a spell in the office of John Burnet, Son & Dick from 1922-24 and from 1924-28 he was assistant to James Taylor Thomson. He was admitted ARIBA sometime in late 1928.
He was promoted to the post of chief assistant by James Taylor Thomson in 1936 and claimed in his FRIBA nomination papers to have commenced independent practice in Glasgow in 1937, but this was presumably as partner to Thomson under the title of James Taylor Thomson & Partner; his name was not acknowledged in the practice title until c. 1942. He was elected FRIBA on 22 September of the latter year, his proposers being Professor William James Smith, Charles Geddes Soutar and Thomas Johnston Beveridge. William Hamilton Sanders was assumed into the partnership in 1952.
McCrea was active in public life. He was President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects from 1953-54, and was elected President of the RIAS in 1955, having previously sat on the Council for seventeen years in various capacities, as well as serving on the Council and Executive Committee of the RIBA. He died on 3 June 1974. His wife Anne Nicholson, had predeceased him. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 18a, Buccleuch Court, Dunblane, Perthshire, Scotland | Private | | 1974 | |  | 10, Bute Terrace, Strathbungo, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1928 * | After 1930 | |  | 19, Leslie Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Private | Before 1934 | After 1942 | |  | 212, Bath Street, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | 1937 | 1955 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployers
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes |  | 1937 | Factory for Donaldson & Files Ltd | Pollokshaws | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1937 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Church of Scotland | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | As chief assistant to James Taylor Thomson? |  | 1937 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Concert Hall and Tea Pavilion | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | As chief assistant to James Taylor Thomson? |  | 1937 | Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Palace of Industries West | Bellahouston | | Glasgow | Scotland | As chief assistant to James Taylor Thomson? |  | After 1937 | Office block for Scottish Cables Ltd | Renfrew | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |  | 1939 | Beechwood | Muirend | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1939 | Blowarthill Church of Scotland | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1939 | Premises for Donaldson & Faber | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | Before 1942 | Factory for John Tullis & Co | Tullibody | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1942 | Factory for John Tullis & Sons | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension |  | Before 1942 | Lamlash School | Lamlash | Bute | Bute | Scotland | |  | Before 1942 | Yorkshire Insurance Company offices, St Vincent Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Completion |  | c. 1942(?) | Cowlairs Co-operative Society Department store | Cowlairs | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1945 | St Gilbert's Church | Pollokshields | | Glasgow | Scotland | Font |  | 1947 | Gilmore & Aitken Premises | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension |  | 1948 | 43 Wellington Street and 41 Waterloo Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1948 | Her Majesty's Theatre, Gorbals Street | Gorbals | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1948 | House | Kippen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | 1948 | New Church Halls Mecklarig Avenue | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Builder gives name as MacCrae |  | 1948 | Premises 83-91 Forth Street | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Additions and alterations |  | 1948 | Residence? Dalkeith Avenue | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1949 | Barony Parish Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Organ case |  | 1951 | Titwood Established Church | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Taken down and re-erected at Meiklerig Crescent as St James's Pollok |  | 1953 | Montrose Old Church | Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Plans in hand for alterations |  | 1954 | Montrose Old Church | Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Carried out alterations |  | 1955 | South Parish Church | Bearsden | | Dunbartonshire/Glasgow | Scotland | |  | Before 1955 | Houses at Kippen | Kippen | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1955 | Houses, Bowling | Bowling | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1955 | Houses, Milngavie | Milngavie | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | |  | Before 1955 | Scottish Control Station of Central Electricity | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1957 | Premises of Mavor & Coulson, Swanston Street | Dalmarnock | | Glasgow | Scotland | Canteen and baths. ('J. Taylor Thomson, McCrea & Sanders, 212 Bath St, WC2' per Builder p294) |  | 1963 | Glasgow University, Zoology Field Station | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1964 | Bonded stores, blending, bottling hall | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1964 | Television studios | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1965 | Indoor bowling green | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1965 | Old people's home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1966 | Garage for McHarg, Rennie & Lindsay | | | Glasgow | Scotland | New garage on same site or different site? |  | 1966 | Geriatric Hospital, Blawarthill | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1967 | Hampden Park Football Ground | Mount Florida | | Glasgow | Scotland | West terracing covering, grass, TV boxes, dressing rooms. Cost £180,000, |  | 1967 or 1968 | Celtic Football Ground | Parkhead | | Glasgow | Scotland | East terracing covering |  | 1968 | Glasgow University, television studio | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1968 | Holyrood RC School | Polmadie | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extensions |  | 1969 | Children's Home | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1969 | McGhee's Bakery | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |  | 1969 | North Park House | Kelvinside | | Glasgow | Scotland | Extension |  | 1969 | Youth Centre for Church of Scotland | | | Glasgow | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |  | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 8 May 1953 | | | p736 - summarises speech to Glasgow Institute of Architects, arguing that architects need more time to prepare working drawings (resulting in lower building costs) |  | Builder | 22 May 1959 | | | mentioned in 'Notes of the Week' p912; CHECK date of death |  | RIAS Quarterly | August 1955 | 101 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | p4-6
This cannot be an obituary - must be a rport of him as President of the RIAS. |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A no 4263 (box 9); F no3910 (box 30) |
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