Basic Biographical Details

Name: Kenneth Finlayson Masson (or Kenneth T Masson or erroneously Manson)
Designation:  
Born: 21 July 1903
Died: 12 October 1971
Bio Notes: Kenneth Finlayson Masson (also given as Kenneth T Masson and Manson) was born on 21 July 1903, the son of Charles Masson and his wife Annie Finlayson. He served a five-year apprenticeship in the office of Balfour & Stewart from 1918 and attended classes at Glasgow School of Architecture and the Royal Technical College, his studies embracing quantity surveying, land surveying and town planning. After completing his apprenticeship he joines James Austin Laird as assistant in 1924. He spent some time in 1927 working for Colonel Launcelot Hugh Ross, but in the same year joined the Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society. Initially chief assistant, he appears to have had been promoted to Chief Architect by 1936, although, he was not admitted ARIBA until 18 November 1941, his proposers being Ross, Andrew Balfour and Alexander Wright. He remained the SCWS Chief Architect until his retirement in January 1968.

Masson died on 12 October 1971 aged 65 at his home in Thornliebank. He was survived by his wife, Beatrice Pinner.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 528, Ardenlea Street, Dalmarnock, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1918After 1922 
Item 2 of 56, Millerfield Road, Glasgow, ScotlandPrivate1934 *  
Item 3 of 555, Merrylea Park Avenue, Giffnock, Renfrewshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1941After 1950 
Item 4 of 5119, Paisley Road, Tradeston, Glasgow, ScotlandBusinessBefore 19501954 
Item 5 of 576, Morrison Street, Glasgow, Scotland 12 April 1957 address given in Builder p707

* 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 5Balfour & Stewart19181923Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5James Austen Laird19241927Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Launcelot Hugh Ross19271927Assistant 
Item 4 of 5Scottish Co-Operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) Architectural Department (CWS Ltd Architecture & Design)1927Before 1936Chief Assistant 
Item 5 of 5Scottish Co-Operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) Architectural Department (CWS Ltd Architecture & Design)Before 19361968Chief Architect 

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 1David Graham Watson1936After 1942Assistantunder Masson, Chief Architect of SCWS

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Andrew Balfour18 November 1941for Associateship
Item 2 of 3Launcelot Hugh Ross18 November 1941for Associateship
Item 3 of 3Alexander Wright18 November 1941for 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 191922LagganHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 2 of 191947Taybank Works, Mill and Calender  DundeeScotlandExtension
Item 3 of 191949Cartwright Factory, RutherglenRutherglen LanarkshireScotlandAs Architect to the SCWS
Item 4 of 191950Dunfermline and West Fife LaundryDunfermline FifeScotlandArchitect for extension
Item 5 of 191953Garage, LevenLeven FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 1930 October 1953Factory, Bognor RoadShieldhall GlasgowScotlandPlans prepared for rebuilding
Item 7 of 1927 November 1953Premises of Glasgow South Co-Operative Society Ltd, Pollokshaws Road  GlasgowScotlandPlans prepared for alterations and additions
Item 8 of 191954Premises of Blantrye Co-operative Society Ltd, George RoadBlantyre LanarkshireScotland 
Item 9 of 191954Premises of Glasgow South Co-operative Society Ltd, Burleigh Street and Helen StreetGovan GlasgowScotland 
Item 10 of 191954Premises of Glasgow South Co-Operative Society Ltd, Pollokshaws Road  GlasgowScotland 
Item 11 of 191954Premises of St George's Co-operative Society Ltd, St George's Road and Gladstone Street  GlasgowScotlandPlans prepared and approved for alterations and additions
Item 12 of 191954Warehouse of Blantyre Co-operative Society Ltd, Glasgow RoadBlantyre LanarkshireScotland 
Item 13 of 191955East Kilbride Co-Operative Society Ltd, Main StreetEast Kilbride LanarkshireScotland 
Item 14 of 191955Kirkcaldy Co-operative SocietyKirkcaldy FifeScotland 
Item 15 of 191955Premises of Glasgow Eastern Co-Operative Society Ltd, Duke StreetDennistoun GlasgowScotland 
Item 16 of 191955Premises of Scottish Co-Op Society Ltd, Hardgate Road and Shieldhall RoadShieldhall GlasgowScotland 
Item 17 of 1922 March 1957Commercial GarageBlantyre LanarkshireScotlandper Builder p572. As Chief Architect to the SCWS
Item 18 of 1912 April 1957Factory Buildings for the Co-operative Wholesale SocietyKinning Park GlasgowScotlandper Builder p707 - CHECK
Item 19 of 191962Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society Administration Building, Morrison Street  GlasgowScotlandAs Chief Architect to SCWS

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Post Office Directories     
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 14Builder7 October 1949  p466
Item 2 of 14Builder24 March 1950  p406
Item 3 of 14Builder4 January 1952  p33
Item 4 of 14Builder30 October 1953  p680
Item 5 of 14Builder27 November 1953  p862
Item 6 of 14Builder7 May 1954  p830
Item 7 of 14Builder28 May 1954  p958
Item 8 of 14Builder18 June 1954  p1091
Item 9 of 14Builder9 July 1954  p78
Item 10 of 14Builder16 July 1954  p118
Item 11 of 14Builder21 January 1955  p156
Item 12 of 14Builder4 February 1955  p236
Item 13 of 14Builder18 March 1955  p492
Item 14 of 14Builder5 April 1957  p707 - CHECK

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research by Iain Paterson
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no7957 (combined box 201)