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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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 418a, Buccleuch Court, Dunblane, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate 1974 
Item 2 of 410, Bute Terrace, Strathbungo, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1928 *After 1930 
Item 3 of 419, Leslie Street, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1934After 1942 
Item 4 of 4212, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19371955 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 7David Forbes Smith1911 or 19121916Apprentice 
Item 2 of 7James Miller19201922Assistant 
Item 3 of 7Burnet, Son & Dick19221924Assistant 
Item 4 of 7James Taylor Thomson19241928Assistant 
Item 5 of 7James Taylor Thomson19361937(?)Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 7James Taylor Thomson & McCrea (or Thomson & Partner)1937(?)1952Partner 
Item 7 of 7Thomson, McCrea & Sanders19521955(?)Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6Thomas Johnston Beveridge22 September 1942for Fellowship
Item 2 of 6Thomas Harold HughesLate 1928For Associateship
Item 3 of 6David Bateman HuttonLate 1928For Associateship
Item 4 of 6(Professor) William James Smith22 September 1942for Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Charles Geddes Soutar22 September 1942for Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Thomas Lumsden TaylorLate 1928For Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 26Robert Aitchison10 December 1946For Associateship
Item 2 of 26James Bell10 February 1948for Fellowship
Item 3 of 26Peter Lamont Burnside Borthwick27 November 1949for Associateship
Item 4 of 26Peter Lamont Burnside Borthwick5 April 1967for Fellowship
Item 5 of 26Frank Russell Burnet10 February 1948for Fellowship
Item 6 of 26John Chambers Busby8 March 1949For Licentiateship
Item 7 of 26James Andrew Carrick13 October 1953For Fellowship
Item 8 of 26Albert Dick Cordiner10 April 1956For Fellowship
Item 9 of 26James Docherty14 December 1943for Associateship
Item 10 of 26Alexander Dunlop16 May 1944for Licentiateship
Item 11 of 26Kenneth Murray Fraser14 December 1948For Licentiateship
Item 12 of 26Archibald Douglas Holmes11 December 1951For Licentiateship
Item 13 of 26William Archibald Park Jack8 December 1953For Fellowship
Item 14 of 26William Jardine26 June 1963for Fellowship
Item 15 of 26William Geoffrey Jarvis2 February 1954For Associateship
Item 16 of 26Andrew Mason15 April 1947For Licentiateship
Item 17 of 26Samuel McColl (sometimes misspelt MacColl)2 February 1954for Fellowship
Item 18 of 26William McKendrick McLean6 February 1951For Licentiateship
Item 19 of 26Arthur Stranraer Mull2 February 1954for Associateship
Item 20 of 26Walter Neil Wilson Ramsay6 May 1947For Associateship
Item 21 of 26Walter Neil Wilson Ramsay2 October 1968For Fellowship
Item 22 of 26Robert William Kelly Cupples Rogerson5 August 1948For Associateship
Item 23 of 26Robert William Kelly Cupples Rogerson9 December 1964For Fellowship
Item 24 of 26William Hamilton Sanders2 October 1968For Fellowship
Item 25 of 26James Stevenson6 March 1956For Licentiateship
Item 26 of 26Walter Underwood11 March 1947for Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 461937Factory for Donaldson & Files LtdPollokshaws GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 461937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Church of ScotlandBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs chief assistant to James Taylor Thomson?
Item 3 of 461937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Concert Hall and Tea PavilionBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs chief assistant to James Taylor Thomson?
Item 4 of 461937Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Palace of Industries WestBellahouston GlasgowScotlandAs chief assistant to James Taylor Thomson?
Item 5 of 46After 1937Office block for Scottish Cables LtdRenfrew RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 6 of 461939BeechwoodMuirend GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 7 of 461939Blowarthill Church of Scotland  GlasgowScotland 
Item 8 of 461939Premises for Donaldson & Faber  GlasgowScotland 
Item 9 of 46Before 1942Factory for John Tullis & CoTullibody ClackmannanshireScotland 
Item 10 of 46Before 1942Factory for John Tullis & Sons  GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 11 of 46Before 1942Lamlash SchoolLamlashButeButeScotland 
Item 12 of 46Before 1942Yorkshire Insurance Company offices, St Vincent Street  GlasgowScotlandCompletion
Item 13 of 46c. 1942(?)Cowlairs Co-operative Society Department storeCowlairs GlasgowScotland 
Item 14 of 461945St Gilbert's ChurchPollokshields GlasgowScotlandFont
Item 15 of 461947Gilmore & Aitken Premises  GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 16 of 46194843 Wellington Street and 41 Waterloo Street  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 461948Her Majesty's Theatre, Gorbals StreetGorbals GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 18 of 461948HouseKippen StirlingshireScotland 
Item 19 of 461948New Church Halls Mecklarig Avenue  GlasgowScotlandBuilder gives name as MacCrae
Item 20 of 461948Premises 83-91 Forth Street  GlasgowScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 21 of 461948Residence? Dalkeith Avenue  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 22 of 461949Barony Parish Church  GlasgowScotlandOrgan case
Item 23 of 461951Titwood Established Church  GlasgowScotlandTaken down and re-erected at Meiklerig Crescent as St James's Pollok
Item 24 of 461953Montrose Old ChurchMontrose AngusScotlandPlans in hand for alterations
Item 25 of 461954Montrose Old ChurchMontrose AngusScotlandCarried out alterations
Item 26 of 461955South Parish ChurchBearsden Dunbartonshire/GlasgowScotland 
Item 27 of 46Before 1955Houses at KippenKippen StirlingshireScotland 
Item 28 of 46Before 1955Houses, BowlingBowling DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 29 of 46Before 1955Houses, MilngavieMilngavie DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 30 of 46Before 1955Scottish Control Station of Central Electricity  GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 461957Premises of Mavor & Coulson, Swanston StreetDalmarnock GlasgowScotlandCanteen and baths. ('J. Taylor Thomson, McCrea & Sanders, 212 Bath St, WC2' per Builder p294)
Item 32 of 461963Glasgow University, Zoology Field Station  GlasgowScotland 
Item 33 of 461964Bonded stores, blending, bottling hall  GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 461964Television studios  GlasgowScotland 
Item 35 of 461965Indoor bowling green  GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 461965Old people's home  GlasgowScotland 
Item 37 of 461966Garage for McHarg, Rennie & Lindsay  GlasgowScotlandNew garage on same site or different site?
Item 38 of 461966Geriatric Hospital, Blawarthill  GlasgowScotlandAlterations
Item 39 of 461967Hampden Park Football GroundMount Florida GlasgowScotlandWest terracing covering, grass, TV boxes, dressing rooms. Cost £180,000,
Item 40 of 461967 or 1968Celtic Football GroundParkhead GlasgowScotlandEast terracing covering
Item 41 of 461968Glasgow University, television studio  GlasgowScotland 
Item 42 of 461968Holyrood RC SchoolPolmadie GlasgowScotlandExtensions
Item 43 of 461969Children's Home  GlasgowScotland 
Item 44 of 461969McGhee's Bakery  GlasgowScotland 
Item 45 of 461969North Park HouseKelvinside GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 46 of 461969Youth Centre for Church of Scotland  GlasgowScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 2 of 3RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 3 of 3RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Builder8 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)
Item 2 of 3Builder22 May 1959  mentioned in 'Notes of the Week' p912; CHECK date of death
Item 3 of 3RIAS QuarterlyAugust 1955101Royal 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 References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no 4263 (box 9); F no3910 (box 30)

Images

© All rights reserved. İand courtesy of RIAS 

© All rights reserved. İand courtesy of RIAS