Basic Biographical Details Name: | James M Thomson | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1850 | Died: | After 1922 | Bio Notes: | James M Thomson was born about 1850 in Edinburgh. He was educated at George Heriots School.
Late in 1877 or early in 1878, Robert Thornton Shiells entered into a partnership with James M Thomson, with an office at 65 George Street, Edinburgh to which Shiells had moved in 1874/75. The continuity of style with Shiells's previous work suggests that Shiells remained the principal designer, or that Thomson had been his principal assistant: nothing is known of Thomson's background. The practice survived the severe recession of the 1880s better than most but in 1894 Shiells became bankrupt as a result of personal speculation in feus at North Merchiston, his main creditors being the Beatties and his partner James M Thomson. The partnership was thereafter dissolved (although it seems to have been in existence as late as May 1896), the practice being continued by Thomson.
Thomson's daughter Betty died suddenly on 5 March 1919 at Kilmaurs, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh.
Thomson was still practising from 63 George Street in 1922 when involved in selling feus of the North Merchiston estate. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 4, Teviotdale Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1874 | | | | 23, Lauriston Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1875 | c. 1876 | | | 65 (or 63?), George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1877 or 1878 | | In partnership with Shiells | | 1, Kilmaurs Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | Before 1881 | c. 1895 | In partnership with Shiells - house and office | | 8, York Buildings, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1896 | c. 1902 | | | Kilmaurs, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1903 | c. 1919 | On his own | | 63, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1905 | After 1922 | On his own |
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 | | Shiells & Thomson | 1877 or 1878 | c. 1896 | Partner | |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | James Gray | 15 July 1896 | 1901 | Apprentice | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1876 | Tenements, 26-30 Warrender Park Road and 22-30 Marchmont Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1877 | Cowgate Free Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Enlargement | | 1877 | Leith stables for Wardie & Co | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1877 | Tron Free Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1878 | Prestonpans Free Church | Prestonpans | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1878 | UP Church | Stonehouse | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1879 | East UP Church | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1879 | Free Church | East Linton | | East Lothian | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1879 | Lochgelly Free Church | Lochgelly | | Fife | Scotland | New gallery, porch rebuilt, platform extended etc | | 1879 | South UP Church | Galashiels | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | Design exhibited | | 1880 | 32-42 Marchmont Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1880 | Prospect Place Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1880 | Roslin Free Church | Roslin/Rosslyn | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1880 | SS John Cantius and Nicholas RC Church | Broxburn | | West Lothian | Scotland | Church and spire (the latter added 1890) | | 1880 | Union Bank, West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1880 | UP Church, Gilmore Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1882 | New Free Church, Ferry Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1884 | Limplum House | | | East Lothian | Scotland | House and probably Lodge | | 1885 | Bo'ness Established Church | Bo'ness / Borrowstouness | | West Lothian | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1885 | Kirkgate UP Church | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Won competition to secure job | | 1886 | Four villas, Mayfield Road | Mayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1886 | Life Association of Scotland, Head Office and Bedford Hotel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans of drains | | 1888 | Dumbarton Cottage Hospital | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1888 | Newington Free Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1889 | 85-87 Shandwick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1889 | Musselburgh Free Church | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | Reconstruction, new façade and tower | | 1891 | Forrest Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition of corner part | | 1891 | Public House, St Mary's Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1893 | Tenements, Seaport Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1895 | Lewis Combination Poorhouse | Stornoway | Lewis | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | | | 1896 | Lightburn Infectious Deseases Hospital | | | Glasgow | Scotland | This may be an error in Builder | | 1897 | Tenements, Polwarth Crescent and Temple Park Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1901 | Mr Gerrard's Villa | Lundin Links | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1901 | Three-apartment houses, New Street | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1904 | Dumbarton Cottage Hospital | Dumbarton | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1904 | Restenneth | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Edinburgh Evening News | 2 June 1891 | | | | | Scotsman | 10 March 1919 | | | p2 | | Scotsman | 16 December 1922 | | | p3 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Census records online | Censuses | | |
|