Basic Biographical Details

Name: George William Robertson
Designation:  
Born: 6 November 1902
Died: 22 September 1981
Bio Notes: George William Robertson was born on 6 November 1902, the son of Charles Robertson, house painter and his wife Margaret Grierson. He was articled to Peter Macgregor Chalmers in 1917, studying at the Glasgow School of Architecture. He remained with Chalmers for two years as assistant after completing his apprenticeship, leaving in 1924 to join the staff of the Corporation of Glasgow as resident architectural assistant at the new Mearnskirk Sanatorium. Meanwhile he continued his studies, gaining his certificate from the Glasgow School of Architecture in 1927. In that same year he moved to the office of Eric Alexander Sutherland as chief assistant, and in 1928 he passed the qualifying exam on 14 January, enabling him to be admitted ARIBA on 4 June, his proposers being Thomas Harold Hughes, John Watson and John Maurice Arthur. He commenced practice on his own account in Glasgow in 1932 but it appears that business was slow, as after three years he moved to Belfast, where he spent a short spell as chief assistant to Gibson & McGeagh before obtaining a post as assistant architect in the Ministry of Finance in the Government of Northern Ireland. He was promoted to architect in 1941 and remained there until 1947 when he returned to Glasgow and was taken into partnership by his brother-in-law William Archibald Park Jack and James Honeyman, the firm name becoming Honeyman, Jack & Robertson. During the ensuing years the practice was involved mainly in factory work and in jobs for the Ministry of Works.

Robertson was elected FRIBA in 1950, his proposers being William Ross, Walter Underwood and another (undeciperable). By 1953, when Jack was admitted FRIBA, the practice had expanded to incorporate an Oban branch. Further branches were subsequently established in Kelso, Edinburgh and Stirling where Jack lived.

Robertson served as a Vice President of the RIAS from 1964-65, representing the Inverness Chapter.

Robertson died on 22 September 1981 at his home, 94 Netherblane, Blanefield. He was survived by his wife Marion and by at least one daughter, Deirdre who lived in Montrose.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 694, Netherblane, Blanefield, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate 1981 
Item 2 of 669, Woodend Drive, Jordanhill, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1928After 1930 
Item 3 of 650, Westland Drive, Scotstoun, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1934 *  
Item 4 of 692, Bath Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness1947  
Item 5 of 6Strathmore, Kilbryde Crescent, Dunblane, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate1950 *  
Item 6 of 6Gilnahirk, Old Doune Road, Dunblane, Perthshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1964 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 8Peter Macgregor Chalmers19171922Apprentice 
Item 2 of 8Peter Macgregor Chalmers19221924Assistant 
Item 3 of 8Glasgow Office of Public Works Architectural Department (later Glasgow Corporation City Engineer's Department)19241927AssistantAs Resident Architectural Assistant at Mearnskirk Sanatorium
Item 4 of 8Eric Alexander Sutherland19271932Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 8Gibson & McGeagh19351935Chief Assistant 
Item 6 of 8Ministry of Finance Architect's Department, (or Department of Works & Public Buildings) Government of Northern Ireland19351941Assistant 
Item 7 of 8Ministry of Finance Architect's Department, (or Department of Works & Public Buildings) Government of Northern Ireland19411947Architect 
Item 8 of 8Honeyman, Jack & Robertson1947After 1970Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 5John Maurice Arthur4 June 1928for Associateship
Item 2 of 5Thomas Harold Hughes4 June 1928for Associateship
Item 3 of 5William Ross7 March 1950For Fellowship
Item 4 of 5Walter Underwood7 March 1950For Fellowship
Item 5 of 5John Watson4 June 1928for Associateship

RIBA Proposals

This proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2Philip Stanley Cocker2 October 1968For Fellowship
Item 2 of 2Thomas Gibson8 July 1958For Associateship

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 521924Mearnskirk SanatoriumNewton Mearns RenfrewshireScotlandAs resident architectural assistant, under J A T Houston, employed by the Glasgow Office of Public Works
Item 2 of 521932Park Church hallsHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotlandIn independent practice.
Item 3 of 521933Pony Race TrackParkhead GlasgowScotland 
Item 4 of 521934Temple Church HallsAnniesland GlasgowScotland 
Item 5 of 521938Glasgow Empire Exhibition, Pavilion for Northern irelandBellahouston Park GlasgowScotlandAs assistant with the Ministry of Finance Government of Northern Ireland.
Item 6 of 521939Houses of ParliamentStormont BelfastNorthern IrelandAdditional storey
Item 7 of 521945Garment Factory  BelfastNorthern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 8 of 521945Garment FactoryDungannon  Northern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 9 of 521945Hosiery FactoryEnniskillen  Northern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 10 of 521945Industrial Estate  BelfastNorthern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 11 of 521945Light Castings Factory  BelfastNorthern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 12 of 521945Screen Print MillPortadown  Northern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 13 of 521945Shoe factoryBanbridge  Northern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 14 of 521945Spinning MillWhitehouse BelfastNorthern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 15 of 521945Spinning millNewry  Northern IrelandAs Architect with Ministry of Finance Architect's Department
Item 16 of 521947CanteenBridgeton GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 521947Factory for Mavor & Coulson  GlasgowScotland 
Item 18 of 521947Savings Bank of GlasgowScotstoun GlasgowScotland 
Item 19 of 521947Savings Bank of GlasgowTroon AyrshireScotland 
Item 20 of 521948Church of Scotland, Glendinning and Avenel Roads   GlasgowScotland 
Item 21 of 521948E K Cole Limited (EKCO) FactoryRutherglen  Scotland 
Item 22 of 521948Factory for Messrs Greenlees Ltd  GlasgowScotland 
Item 23 of 521948Storage Buildings, Dalsholm Paper Co Ltd  GlasgowScotland 
Item 24 of 521949Deanston DistilleryDeanston StirlingshireScotland 
Item 25 of 521950Church of Scotland Hall-Church, Hawick Street and Bell DriveYoker GlasgowScotland 
Item 26 of 521950Hall Church, HillheadKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 27 of 521950Permanent primary school Priesthill GlasgowScotland 
Item 28 of 521950St Matthew's ChurchKnightswood GlasgowScotland 
Item 29 of 521951Private theatre  GlasgowScotland 
Item 30 of 521952High Carntyne Parish Church hallsHigh Carntyne GlasgowScotland 
Item 31 of 521952Hutton Castle, Barns FarmDuns BerwickshireScotlandAdditions? Alterations?
Item 32 of 521953Area headquarters and accountancy offices for National Dock Labour Board Nominees Ltd, Queen's DockFinnieston GlasgowScotland 
Item 33 of 521955Cadder Primary SchoolCadder LanarkshireScotland 
Item 34 of 521955St Agnes SchoolCadder LanarkshireScotland 
Item 35 of 521955St Mark's ChurchMaryhill GlasgowScotland 
Item 36 of 521957298 dwellings, south of Roystonhill, Royston Redevelopment AreaRoyston GlasgowScotland 
Item 37 of 521960sDunblane United Associate Church HallDunblane StirlingshireScotlandConversion to Leighton House
Item 38 of 521960sScottish Churches HouseDunblane PerthshireScotlandConversion of 18th and 19th century cottages to church house with dining room and library
Item 39 of 521961King's Theatre  GlasgowScotlandRestoration
Item 40 of 521962HouseWemyss Bay RenfrewshireScotlandRestoration
Item 41 of 521962Private housing   Scotland 
Item 42 of 521962Victoria Drive Higher Grade School  GlasgowScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 43 of 521964Hartfield SchoolDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandExtension
Item 44 of 521964Ladywell Housing Estate  GlasgowScotland 
Item 45 of 521964Scottish Industries Exhibition 1964  GlasgowScotlandExhibition stands
Item 46 of 521965Anderston Kelvingrove Church  GlasgowScotlandDates differ from those given in 'Buildings of Scotland' and Glendinning.
Item 47 of 521965Hillhead ChurchKirkintilloch DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 48 of 521967Arthurlie Parish ChurchBarrhead Renfrewshire  
Item 49 of 52196894 flats in five blocks, Roystonhill II, Royston Redevelopment AreaRoyston GlasgowScotland 
Item 50 of 521975Sauchieburn HouseSauchie StirlingshireScotland 
Item 51 of 521979Westpark Church HallsDeanston StirlingshireScotland 
Item 52 of 52Early 1980sCrawford's ArcadeStirling StirlingshireScotlandRestoration - may not be involved

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Municipal Annual1964Scottish Municipal Annual1964-1965  
Item 2 of 4Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 4RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 4RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no4205 (stored under F4513, combined box 19); F no4513 (combined box 19)