Basic Biographical Details

Name: Williamson & Hubbard
Designation:  
Born: 1932
Died: 1959
Bio Notes: William Williamson was born in Kirkcaldy on 19 April 1871, the son of William Williamson and his wife Joanna Hutchison. He was educated at Kirkcaldy High School and was articled to J W Hislop of Kirkcaldy c.1887; but after two years he transferred to the office of James Bow Dunn enabling him to take classes at Heriot-Watt College. He remained with Dunn as assistant until 1895 when he returned home to commence independent practice in Kirkcaldy: Dunn and his partner from 1894 James Leslie Findlay had a Kirkcaldy connection having won the competition for the Adam Smith Hall in the previous year. Late in 1897 Williamson took the slightly older Alexander Russell Inglis, who had been a fellow apprentice in Dunn's office, into partnership. The partnership quickly made a name for high-quality Renaissance and arts and crafts work but it came at a cost. Overwork resulted in Inglis suffering from chronic insomnia and a desperate overdose of a sleeping draught resulted in his death at his home 26 Pitt Street, Edinburgh on 9 June 1901, two days before he was to be married. Williamson then closed the Edinburgh office and did not take another partner at that time. He was admitted FRIBA on 5 June 1905, his proposers being Charles Stanley Peach of London, Alexander Cullen of Hamilton and Alexander Hunter Crawford of Edinburgh with whose work his own had much in common. At that date his office was at 220 High Street, Kirkcaldy and his house was The Croft but sometime prior to 1914 he took an office in Royal Bank Buildings in Kirkcaldy and lived at Pitteadie (or Piteadie) House adjacent to Pitteadie Castle, the planned restoration of which he never implemented. Subsequently he moved to Bowbutts, a fine 18th-century house in Kinghorn where he was both Dean of Guild and Provost. From 1919 to 1923 Williamson was in partnership with George Brown Deas who quickly left to set up his own practice.

Williamson then practised alone until 1932 when he took Henry (known as Harry) Hubbard into partnership; in these last years of his career, Williamson is said to have got the jobs and Hubbard designed them. Hubbard had been born on 25 February 1888 and educated at Glasgow High School. In 1906 he had been articled to Frank Southorn and at the end of his articles in 1910 he had obtained a place as assistant to Sir John James Burnet and Norman Aitken Dick in the firm of John Burnet & Son: during that period (1906-13) he had studied at the Glasgow School of Architecture under Eugène Bourdon and had become a friend of Alfred George Lochhead, also of that office. He had undertaken a three-month tour of Italy in 1913 and had also made short visits to Paris, Brittany and several parts of Northern Europe during these early years. Early in the First World War while serving in the Glasgow Highlanders he had suffered from a poisoned leg and spent sixteen months in hospital. On discharge in 1917 he had become an assistant with Watson Salmond & Gray in Glasgow, working on the Glasgow City Chambers extension. The following year he had left to join the Admiralty Housing Department in the same city. He had been admitted ARIBA under the war exemption scheme on 3 March 1919, his proposers being John Watson, John Keppie and William Brown Whitie; his declaration accepting his admittance was witnessed by John Arthur LRIBA. Sometime after 1923 Hubbard had moved to Edinburgh as chief assistant to Sir Robert Lorimer on the recommendation of his predecessor Alfred Lochhead who had commenced independent practice, and soon thereafter had begun teaching at Edinburgh College of Art.

In addition to his architectural practice, Williamson was the owner of the Bentsfield Sand Quarry at Burntisland, which brought him significant income beyond that from his practice.

The practice had branches in Edinburgh, Perth and Dundee in 1970.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4153, High Street, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1940After 1943 
Item 2 of 4Royal Bank Buildings, Kirkcaldy, Fife, ScotlandBusiness1950 *1970 
Item 3 of 42, Melville Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1970 * Branch office 1970
Item 4 of 410, Rothesay Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1975 *  

* 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 8William Williamson1932 Partner 
Item 2 of 8Henry Hubbard (or Harry Hubbard)1932 Partner 
Item 3 of 8Duncan Livingstone1933 * Assistant 
Item 4 of 8John ('Jack') Baird19351940Apprentice 
Item 5 of 8James Hutchon (junior)19371939Assistant 
Item 6 of 8Angus Macintyre Mackillop1970 *After 1975Partner 
Item 7 of 8Thomas Dick Beaton1970 *After 1975Partner 
Item 8 of 8Eric James Athole Reid1975 * Partner 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 75 Westfield Court, Multi-storey housingWestfield EdinburghScotland 
Item 2 of 751931Burma ballroomKirkcaldy FifeScotlandReconstruction of burnt-out Troxy Dance Hall
Item 3 of 751932Fifty housesThornton FifeScotland 
Item 4 of 751933Forth Park HouseKirkcaldy FifeScotlandConversion of villa to hospital including wings - won limited competition to secure job
Item 5 of 751933Housing for Fife County Council, DundonaldCardenden FifeScotlandSixty houses
Item 6 of 751933Housing scheme, EastgateKinghorn FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 751933Kirkcaldy and District Savings BankKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 751933Sinclairtown Library and Child Welfare ClinicSinclairtown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 751933St Brycedale HouseKirkcaldy FifeScotlandConversion and extension of St Brycedale House into Hunter Hospital
Item 10 of 751933Thirty-two houses for Fife County CouncilKinglassie FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 751933Twenty houses for Fife County CouncilMarkinch FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 751933Villa for R Ritchie FraserKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 13 of 751934Eight houses for Fife County CouncilMilton of Balgonie FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 751934HouseKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 751934Leslie and District Co-operative Society premisesLeslie FifeScotland 
Item 16 of 751934Local Authority Housing, unspecified sitesBurntisland FifeScotland12 houses
Item 17 of 751934Twelve housesAuchtertool FifeScotland 
Item 18 of 751934Twenty-eight houses, EastgateKinghorn FifeScotland 
Item 19 of 751935Kirkcaldy Rugby Club PavilionKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 20 of 751935Motor Garage for Barnet & MortonKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAddition of store
Item 21 of 75c. 1935Sailor's WalkKirkcaldy FifeScotlandRestoration
Item 22 of 751936Bungalow for Messrs Baxter & SonKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 23 of 751936Cottage for Mrs E DandKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 24 of 751936Eighty-four houses for Fife County Council, RosewellLochore FifeScotland 
Item 25 of 751936Forty houses for Fife County CouncilHill of Beath FifeScotland 
Item 26 of 751936Forty houses for Fife County CouncilComrie FifeScotland 
Item 27 of 751936Forty-four houses for Fife County CouncilKinglassie FifeScotland 
Item 28 of 751936Sixty-eight houses for Fife County CouncilHigh Valleyfield FifeScotland 
Item 29 of 751936St Mungo's Parish ChurchAlloa ClackmannanshireScotlandDesign for remodelling or new church?
Item 30 of 751936Thirty-six houses for Fife County CouncilNorth Queensferry FifeScotland 
Item 31 of 751936Twelve Houses for Fife County CouncilLimekilns FifeScotland 
Item 32 of 751936Two hundred houses for Fife County CouncilKelty FifeScotland 
Item 33 of 751937Forty houses, Woodside for Fife County CouncilLargo FifeScotland 
Item 34 of 751937Kirkcaldy and District Savings BankLeven FifeScotland 
Item 35 of 751937Kirkcaldy Ice RinkKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 36 of 751937(?)Kirkcaldy Town HallKirkcaldy FifeScotlandProbably entered competition (exhibited 'Competitive Design for Municipal Buildings' at RGI in 1943)
Item 37 of 751938Cameron HouseWindygates FifeScotlandAdministration building and nurses' home
Item 38 of 751938Crown BAr adjoining National HotelKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations to bar
Item 39 of 751938Fidelity Motor GarageKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 40 of 751938Four houses and public convenienceKincardine-on-Forth FifeScotland 
Item 41 of 751938Premises of Messrs SaundersKirkcaldy FifeScotlandNew shop front
Item 42 of 751938Thirty houses, The Croft siteKinghorn FifeScotland 
Item 43 of 751938Thirty-six houses for Fife County CouncilWellwood FifeScotland 
Item 44 of 751939Eight houses for Fife County CouncilKelty FifeScotland 
Item 45 of 751939YWCAKirkcaldy FifeScotlandRecreation hall
Item 46 of 751944Premises of Messrs M Spears & Co.Kirkcaldy Fife ScotlandRoofing over of courtyard
Item 47 of 751945Motor servicing stationKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 48 of 751947Caledonian BarKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAddition of lounge to bar
Item 49 of 751947Forth Park HouseKirkcaldy FifeScotlandExtensions including maternity block
Item 50 of 751947Linktown Old Men's ClubKirkclady FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 51 of 751948Station HotelSinclairtown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 52 of 751949YWCAKirkcaldy FifeScotlandHostel accommodation
Item 53 of 751950BeechwoodKirkcaldy FifeScotlandConcrete Floor on Asphalt bottoming for Bottled Beer Store
Item 54 of 751950Bungalow in Southerton CrescentKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 55 of 751950Cottage in Pratt StreetKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 56 of 751950North of Scotland Hydro Electric Board officesPerth PerthshireScotlandConversion and extension of late 18th century Blackfriars House with bow front in Atholl Place
Item 57 of 751950Premises of Beveridge & AitkenKirkcaldy FifeScotlandOffice extension and caretaker's house
Item 58 of 751950Raith Motor WorksKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 59 of 751950Singer Sewing Machine Co. factoryKirkcaldy FifeScotlandWorkshop and store
Item 60 of 751951Commercial BarKirkcaldy FifeScotlandReconstruction
Item 61 of 751951House for Andrew W BeveridgeKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 62 of 751951House in Octavia StreetKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 63 of 751951House in Valley Gardens SouthKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 64 of 751951Raith Motor WorksKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAdditions
Item 65 of 751951Trustee Savings Bank, Head OfficeKirkcaldy Fife Addition
Item 66 of 751952Bungalow for Robert & Fay BurnsKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 67 of 75Before 1952Burntisland Savings BankBurntisland FifeScotland 
Item 68 of 75Before 1952Sinclairtown Savings BankSinclairtown, Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 69 of 75Before 1952St John's Parish ChurchKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAddition of transept
Item 70 of 751954Electrical shop of Edwin DonaldsonKirkcaldy FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 71 of 751954Kirkcaldy War Memorial (1939-1945)Kirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 72 of 751968Fire StationPerth PerthshireScotland 
Item 73 of 751971Edinburgh Gas Light Company Offices  EdinburghScotlandEncapsulation of interiors
Item 74 of 751971Waterloo Hotel  EdinburghScotlandRecasting of interior
Item 75 of 751998Office for W M McEwanKirkcaldy FifeScotlandReconstruction

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Pride, Glen L1999The Kingdom of Fife2nd EditionThe Rutland Pressp59
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 3Builder24 October 1952  Obituary of Williamson
Item 2 of 3Fife Free Press12 December 1959  Obituary of Hubbard
Item 3 of 3RIBA JournalMay 1960 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary of Hubbard

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from Alfred G Lochhead and Hubbard's daughter, Miss J Hubbard