Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Barclay | Designation: | | Born: | 14 July 1905 | Died: | 5 March 1962 | Bio Notes: | William Barclay was born on 14 July 1905, the son of James Barclay, sculptor, and his wife, Mary Jane Gibb. He was articled to James Inch Morrison from about 1922 and at the same time studied for the diploma in architecture at Edinburgh College of Art and Heriot Watt. He attended morning classes at the College of Art and evening classes at Heriot Watt, gaining certificates in building construction, strength of materials, statistics, structural mechanics, reinforced concrete construction and so on. He remained with Inch Morrison after the completion of his articles for eight further years (13 years in all) and during this period he worked on a wide variety of different jobs including churches, theatres, child welfare buildings, an orthopaedic centre, factories, and mansion houses.
In 1935 he moved to the practice of Wilson & Tait in Grangemouth where he was engaged on various factories and housing schemes including the layout plans of the latter. After two years he moved to the office of James Stewart Johnston, where he worked on factories, roadhouses, two secondary schools and other private works.
During the Second World War he joined the National Fire Service as an accommodation officer in connection with the acquisition, improvement and maintenance of premises for the Service. He was seconded to the Scottish Home Department also in this capacity.
After demobilisation in September 1945 he returned to James Stewart Johnston’s office. He was admitted LRIBA in 1948, proposed by James Stewart Johnston, Alfred Hugh Mottram and B H Cuthbertson, secretary of the RIBA. Bu this time he was chief assistant in the practice. He continued in the practice of J & F Johnston in the post-war period. He was involved with various jobs by the firm in these years but was particularly proud of his work on Goldbergs.
Barclay died of a coronary thrombosis on 5 March 1962. He was survived by his wife, Marion Gibb Brown Stewart. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 50, Howden Hall Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1950 * | 1962 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | J & F Johnston | | 1961 | Architect(?) | | | J & F Johnston & Partners | 1961 | 1962 | Architect(?) | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Information sent to DSA website | Information from Paula Dixon, daughter of William Barclay | | Sent September 2007 |
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