Basic Biographical Details

Name: Wylie, Shanks & Wylie
Designation:  
Born: 1936
Died: Between October 1956 and April 1957
Bio Notes: Alexander ('Sandy') Wright was born in 1877 and educated at Garnethill School where his classmates included Muirhead Bone, Albert Hodge and Alexander Hislop. In 1892 he entered the office of James Miller where he spent eighteen months as an office boy before being articled to John Hutchison, c.1894-98. Thereafter he was an assistant first with Clarke & Bell for three years c.1899-1902 and then with Alexander Cullen in Hamilton for eighteen months 1902-03 prior to emigrating to Montreal as assistant to Edward and William Sutherland with whom he remained for two and a half years, c.1903-06. He returned to Glasgow as a senior assistant to John Burnet & Son with whom he remained until he commenced independent practice at 147 Bath Street.

In 1911 Wright took into partnership a colleague at Burnet's, Edward Grigg Wylie, and moved office to 212 Bath Street. Wylie had been born at 12 Raeberry Street, Glasgow on 11 April 1885, the son of Robert Wylie, commercial traveller and brush manufacturer and his wife Agnes Robinson Grigg. He had been articled to William Forsyth McGibbon 1900-05, during which period (from 1901) he had studied at Glasgow School of Art and the Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College, and from 1904 at the Glasgow School of Architecture where he took the full-time course and became close to Eugène Bourdon. At the end of his apprenticeship in 1905 he had won the RIBA Silver Medal and gained a place in the office of John Burnet & Son. During his time as apprentice and assistant he had undertaken five sketching tours in England and France, each of one month's duration. In 1909 Wylie had commenced practice on his own account, Bourdon having appointed him as part-time post at the Glasgow School of Architecture.

The practice was closed during the First World War. Wright served with the Royal Engineers, latterly in Italy, a country to which he was devoted. Wylie served with the Durham Light Infantry and was several times mentioned in despatches, gaining the MC and bar; he was also made a Chevalier of the Order of the Crown of Italy. The partnership was resumed in 1919. Wylie was appointed an instructor at Glasgow School of Art under Alexander McGibbon in that year, and admitted ARIBA under the war exemption scheme in 1920, his proposer being Sir John James Burnet.

In 1925 Wylie became departmental head of Glasgow School of Architecture at Glasgow School of Art, and in 1927 the practice moved to larger premises at 204 West Regent Street, business having grown enormously as a result of the competition wins for Hillhead High School and the Scots Legal Life Building. In 1928 Wylie's nephew, Frederick Robert Wylie was taken into partnership, the practice title now becoming Wylie Wright & Wylie, the changed precedence reflecting Wylie's leading role as both designer and job-getter.

The partnership with Wright was dissolved in 1935 by mutual agreement. Wright recognised that by both age and temperament he was no longer suited to the fast changing nature of the practice, and set up his own which tended to specialise in alterations and additions rather than new buildings. In the following year Wylie took George Ferguson Shanks into partnership, the practice name becoming Wylie Shanks & Wylie. Shanks had been born at Partick on 15 May 1898, the son of George Ferguson Smellie Shanks, engine patternmaker and Eliza Jane Borthwick. He had studied at Glasgow School of Art from 1914 to 1917 and again from 1918 to 1919, and had become an Associate of both the Glasgow Institute of Architects and the RIBA by 1930.

In 1937 Wylie was appointed chief consulting architect to Scottish Industrial Estates Ltd and from that year onwards designed many of their buildings, and not long thereafter also became architect to Scottish Oils and Shell Mex Ltd. Shanks was admitted FRIBA sometime before 1939.

In 1946 Walter Underwood was taken into partnership. Underwood had been born in Shettleston on 19 November 1906, the son of Matthew Underwood, Inspector of Buildings and Annie Eliz [sic] Tait. He had married Mary Campbell Gunn, daughter of David Flett Gunn, wine and spirit merchant, at All Saints Episcopal Church, Jordanhill on 31 January 1933. The firm name was not changed to Wylie, Shanks & Underwood until some time after Underwood joined, well into the 1950s.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3204, West Regent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1936 *1948 
Item 2 of 3120, Blythswood Street, Blythswood Square, Glasgow, Scotland 1949 *1954 
Item 3 of 312, Clairmont Gardens, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessc. 1953  

* 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 22Thomas George Low1924 Apprentice 
Item 2 of 22Thomas George Low1934 Junior Assistant 
Item 3 of 22Gordon Buchanan Biggar19341936Apprentice 
Item 4 of 22Horace James Dick Hamilton1936June 1937Apprentice 
Item 5 of 22Adam Elliot Watson1936c. 1939Assistant 
Item 6 of 22Edward Grigg Wylie19361954Partner 
Item 7 of 22Frederick Robert Wylie1936Between October 1956 and April 1957Partner 
Item 8 of 22George Ferguson Smellie Shanks1936Between October 1956 and April 1957Partner 
Item 9 of 22James Robin1937 * Assistant 
Item 10 of 22Margaret Jean Sutherland Love (Mrs Gardner)1937 * Assistant 
Item 11 of 22Douglas Gordon McKellar Adam19411943Apprentice 
Item 12 of 22William Jardine19461953Assistant 
Item 13 of 22Walter Underwood19461957Partner 
Item 14 of 22Thomas George LowFebruary 1946 Chief Assistant 
Item 15 of 22Thomas George LowLate 1940s or 1950s Chief Draughtsman 
Item 16 of 22David James Leslie1950 Apprentice 
Item 17 of 22Douglas Gordon McKellar Adam19501951Assistant Architect 
Item 18 of 22William Jardine1954Between October 1956 and April 1957Partner 
Item 19 of 22Peter Leslie Aitken Williams1954Between October 1956 and April 1957Partner 
Item 20 of 22Hugh Stewart Robertson1957 Assistant 
Item 21 of 22David James Leslie1957 Assistant Architect 
Item 22 of 22Michael Bealec. 1957 Senior Assistant 

* 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 861935Messrs McKean's building (pork factory)Port Dundas GlasgowScotland 
Item 2 of 861936Lennox CastleLennoxtown StirlingshireScotlandConversion of Lennox Castle into nurses' home, and addition of numerous blocks on the estate to form hospital. Also extensive buildings for a theatre/cinema in hospital grounds proposed.
Item 3 of 861936Maternity hospitalGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 861936Wylie & Lochhead, new shop front  GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 861937Hillington Industrial EstateHillington GlasgowScotland 
Item 6 of 861937Holm Foundry Administration Building and Amenity BuildingCathcart GlasgowScotlandAmenity block
Item 7 of 861937Premises for George Miller & Son  GlasgowScotlandWith Shanks mainly responsible
Item 8 of 861937Premises of Messrs Newman Ltd  GlasgowScotlandAlterations with George Shanks mainly responsible
Item 9 of 861937Premises of Messrs Spencer Ltd  GlasgowScotlandAlterations - with Shanks mainly responsible
Item 10 of 861937Weir's Welfare buildingCathcart GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 861938Carfin Industrial EstateCarfin LanarkshireScotland 
Item 12 of 861938Factory of Messrs Anderson & Robison (or Robertson)Motherwell LanarkshireScotlandExtension - with Shanks mainly responsible
Item 13 of 861938Funeral office for Wylie & Lochhead  GlasgowScotlandWith Shanks mainly responsible
Item 14 of 861938Larkhall Industrial EstateLarkhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 15 of 861938Modiste Establishment for Renee Eme Ltd  GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 861938Office block for the Law Union and Rock Insurance Co  GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 861938Office building for the Yorkshire Copper Works LtdBarrhead RenfrewshireScotlandWith Shanks mainly responsible
Item 18 of 861940Craigpark Electric Cable Company's worksSpringburn GlasgowScotlandExtensions
Item 19 of 861942Service flats  GlasgowScotland 
Item 20 of 861944Factory or factoriesCarfin LanarkshireScotland 
Item 21 of 861944Factory or factoriesChapelhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 22 of 861944Factory or factoriesNewhouse LanarkshireScotland 
Item 23 of 861945Queenslie Industrial EstateQueenslie GlasgowScotlandConsulting architects
Item 24 of 86After 1945Dundee Industrial Estate  DundeeScotlandLayout of estate and factory building blocks (blocks number 1, 11, 12, 16, and 23) - in conjunction with Carver Ross & Symon
Item 25 of 861947Biscuit Factory, FinniestonFinnieston GlasgowScotlandExtension
Item 26 of 861947Carruthers & Sons Limited Premises  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 27 of 861947Glasgow Maternity Hospital  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 28 of 861947Malcolm Campbell Ltd, Paisley Road  GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 861947Rutherglen Town HallRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandScheme for restoration - or proposal for new building?
Item 30 of 861947Simpson Ltd Factory Larkhall Insustrial EstateLarkhall LanarkshireScotland 
Item 31 of 86Before 1947Engineering works of Rankin & Blackmore  GlasgowScotland 
Item 32 of 86Before 1947Factory or engineering works for James P McPhie  GlasgowScotland 
Item 33 of 86Before 1947House for Abraham Russell Esq  GlasgowScotland 
Item 34 of 86Before 1947House for J Russell Leng Esq  Glasgow  
Item 35 of 86Before 1947House for John McKean Esq  GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 86Before 1947House for William McPhail  GlasgowScotland 
Item 37 of 86Before 1947Stonefield House and estate  ArgyllScotlandWork on estate
Item 38 of 86Before 1947Works for Lobnitz & Co, shipbuildingRenfrew RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 39 of 861948Factory Block No 111   LanarkshireScotland 
Item 40 of 861948Factory Block No 123   LanarkshireScotland 
Item 41 of 861948Factory Block No 19, BothwellBothwell GlasgowScotland 
Item 42 of 861948New Buildings, Industrial EstateNewhouse LanarkshireScotland 
Item 43 of 861949National Cash Registers (NCR) Factory  DundeeScotlandExtension
Item 44 of 861949Premises, Peel StreetPartick GlasgowScotlandAdditions and alterations.
Item 45 of 861949Royal College of Science and Technology, James Weir Engineering Building  GlasgowScotland 
Item 46 of 861950Albion Motor Car Company FactoryScotstoun GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for additions
Item 47 of 861950Catholic Secondary School, Priesthill SchemePriesthill GlasgowScotland 
Item 48 of 861950Colston Milton Church  GlasgowScotland 
Item 49 of 861950Electricity Board Service Depot, PartickPartick GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 861950Factory for the International Business Machines Corporation of America, Inverkip RoadRavenscraig RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 51 of 861950Factory, Abbotsford RoadKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 52 of 861950Factory, Abbotshill RoadKilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 53 of 861950Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College  GlasgowScotlandArchitects for extension
Item 54 of 861950Glasgow Royal Infirmary  GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for alterations
Item 55 of 861950Premises for National Dock Labour Board Ltd, Woodside PlaceCharing Cross GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for alterations to premises
Item 56 of 861951108-110 West George Street  GlasgowScotlandFor alterations and additions
Item 57 of 861951Block of Buildings, Kennedy StreetSt Rollox Glasgow  
Item 58 of 861951Factory of Dairy Produce Packers Ltd, Colquhoun AvenueHillington GlasgowScotland 
Item 59 of 861951Rolls Royce FactoryEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 60 of 861952Bank, Buchanan Street  GlasgowScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 61 of 861952Cranhill Parish Church  GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for new halls (1953)
Item 62 of 861952Newhouse Industrial Estate buildingsMotherwell LanarkshireScotland 
Item 63 of 861952Scottish Widows Fund and Life Assurance and Junior Conservative Club  GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for alterations and additions
Item 64 of 863 October 1952Factory of Remington Rand, Woodside CrescentHillington GlasgowScotlandPlans prepared for extensions to factory
Item 65 of 861953Bilsland Bros Ltd, Hydepark StreetHydepark GlasgowScotlandExtensions, alterations, and additions
Item 66 of 861953Factory, Newmains Industrial EstateNewmains LanarkshireScotlandPlans in hand for new factory
Item 67 of 862 January 1953Premises of Hugh Baird & Sons Ltd, Vintner Street  GlasgowScotlandPlans in hand for reinstatement with additions
Item 68 of 8620 March 1953Premises of Alexander Woodrow & Son Ltd, Colquhoun Street  GlasgowScotlandNew buildings
Item 69 of 8624 April 1953Newhouse Industrial Estate buildingsMotherwell LanarkshireScotlandExtension to factory
Item 70 of 869 October 1953Hillington Industrial EstateHillington GlasgowScotlandTo prepare plans for re-erection of two factories destroyed by fire
Item 71 of 864 December 1953The New Locarno, Saucheihall Street  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 72 of 861954Glasgow and West of Scotland Technical College  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 73 of 861954Killearn HospitalKillearn StirlingshireScotlandAlterations and extension to wards, labs and X-ray and operating theatres
Item 74 of 861954North Cardonald Industrial EstateCardonald GlasgowScotland 
Item 75 of 861954Premises of MacSkimming, Langside DriveLangside GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 76 of 861954Royal College of Science and Technology Students Union  GlasgowScotland 
Item 77 of 861954Scottish Industries Exhibition, 1954  GlasgowScotland 
Item 78 of 861954Warehouse Buildings, 5-41 Charlotte Street  GlasgowScotlandNew warehouse buildings
Item 79 of 8612 March 1954Church of Scotland Halls, BalornockSpringburn GlasgowScotlandPlans prepared and approved for new halls
Item 80 of 8626 March 1954Alterations and Additions to Mitchell Street Buildings, Mitchell Street  GlasgowScotlandPlans prepared for alterations and additions
Item 81 of 861955Cleansing Department, Polmadie Road  GlasgowScotland 
Item 82 of 861955Factory for Scottish Industrial EstatesNewhouse LanarkshireScotland 
Item 83 of 861955Trades House  GlasgowScotlandTimber ceiling in Hall inserted.
Item 84 of 861957Scottish Industrial Estate, Euclid (Great Britain) Ltd, plant at NewhouseNewhouse LanarkshireScotland 
Item 85 of 864 January 195762-64 Ingram Street  GlasgowScotland12 Clairmont Gdns, C3
'plans prepared for additions'
lists Wylie, Shanks & Wylie as architect - Builder, p34; need to check as their active per. ends prior to this date CHECK
Item 86 of 8611 January 1957Factory for R Patterson & Son  GlasgowScotland12 Clairmont Gdns, C3
'plans prepared for new buildings at 67/71 Greendyke St, Calton' per Builder 1957/01/11, p121 - need to check as their active per. ends prior to this date CHECK

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecture  P603

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 36Builder2 January 1948  p24
Item 2 of 36Builder3 June 1949  p699
Item 3 of 36Builder20 January 1950  p119
Item 4 of 36Builder10 November 1950  p483
Item 5 of 36Builder24 November 1950  p550
Item 6 of 36Builder1 December 1950  p582
Item 7 of 36Builder15 December 1950  p649
Item 8 of 36Builder16 June 1950  p825
Item 9 of 36Builder9 June 1950  p793
Item 10 of 36Builder22 September 1950  p346
Item 11 of 36Builder29 September 1950  p379
Item 12 of 36Builder12 October 1951  p502
Item 13 of 36Builder19 October 1951  p535
Item 14 of 36Builder13 April 1951  p534
Item 15 of 36Builder25 May 1951  p768
Item 16 of 36Builder6 July 1951  p35
Item 17 of 36Builder23 May 1952  p792
Item 18 of 36Builder1 August 1952  p180
Item 19 of 36Builder3 October 1952  p488
Item 20 of 36Builder2 January 1953  p32
Item 21 of 36Builder23 January 1953  p177
Item 22 of 36Builder20 March 1953  p472
Item 23 of 36Builder24 April 1953  p664
Item 24 of 36Builder15 May 1953  p776
Item 25 of 36Builder18 September 1953  p452
Item 26 of 36Builder9 October 1953  p561
Item 27 of 36Builder16 October 1953  p600
Item 28 of 36Builder4 December 1953  p903
Item 29 of 36Builder12 March 1954  p488
Item 30 of 36Builder26 March 1954  p572
Item 31 of 36Builder30 April 1954  p786
Item 32 of 36Builder7 May 1954  p830
Item 33 of 36Builder14 May 1954  p870
Item 34 of 36Builder4 June 1954  p1007
Item 35 of 36Builder11 February 1955  p276
Item 36 of 36Builder1 April 1955  p572