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 Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 74, Teviotdale Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1874  
Item 2 of 723, Lauriston Gardens, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1875c. 1876 
Item 3 of 765 (or 63?), George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1877 or 1878 In partnership with Shiells
Item 4 of 71, Kilmaurs Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1881c. 1895In partnership with Shiells - house and office
Item 5 of 78, York Buildings, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1896c. 1902 
Item 6 of 7Kilmaurs, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1903c. 1919On his own
Item 7 of 763, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1905After 1922On his own

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 1Shiells & Thomson1877 or 1878c. 1896Partner 

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 1James Gray15 July 18961901Apprentice 

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 361876Tenements, 26-30 Warrender Park Road and 22-30 Marchmont Crescent  EdinburghScotland 
Item 2 of 361877Cowgate Free Church  EdinburghScotlandEnlargement
Item 3 of 361877Leith stables for Wardie & CoLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 361877Tron Free Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 361878Prestonpans Free ChurchPrestonpans East LothianScotland 
Item 6 of 361878UP ChurchStonehouse LanarkshireScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 7 of 361879East UP ChurchDalkeith MidlothianScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 8 of 361879Free ChurchEast Linton East LothianScotlandReconstruction
Item 9 of 361879Lochgelly Free ChurchLochgelly FifeScotlandNew gallery, porch rebuilt, platform extended etc
Item 10 of 361879South UP ChurchGalashiels SelkirkshireScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 11 of 36188032-42 Marchmont Crescent  EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 361880Prospect Place Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 361880Roslin Free ChurchRoslin/Rosslyn MidlothianScotland 
Item 14 of 361880SS John Cantius and Nicholas RC ChurchBroxburn West LothianScotlandChurch and spire (the latter added 1890)
Item 15 of 361880Union Bank, West Maitland Street and Palmerston Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 16 of 361880UP Church, Gilmore Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 17 of 361882New Free Church, Ferry Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 361884Limplum House  East LothianScotlandHouse and probably Lodge
Item 19 of 361885Bo'ness Established ChurchBo'ness / Borrowstouness West LothianScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 20 of 361885Kirkgate UP ChurchLeith EdinburghScotlandWon competition to secure job
Item 21 of 361886Four villas, Mayfield RoadMayfield EdinburghScotland 
Item 22 of 361886Life Association of Scotland, Head Office and Bedford Hotel  EdinburghScotlandPlans of drains
Item 23 of 361888Dumbarton Cottage HospitalDumbarton DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 24 of 361888Newington Free Church  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 25 of 36188985-87 Shandwick Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 26 of 361889Musselburgh Free ChurchMusselburgh MidlothianScotlandReconstruction, new façade and tower
Item 27 of 361891Forrest Road  EdinburghScotlandAddition of corner part
Item 28 of 361891Public House, St Mary's Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 29 of 361893Tenements, Seaport StreetLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 361895Lewis Combination PoorhouseStornowayLewisRoss and CromartyScotland 
Item 31 of 361896Lightburn Infectious Deseases Hospital  GlasgowScotlandThis may be an error in Builder
Item 32 of 361897Tenements, Polwarth Crescent and Temple Park Crescent  EdinburghScotland 
Item 33 of 361901Mr Gerrard's VillaLundin Links FifeScotland 
Item 34 of 361901Three-apartment houses, New StreetPenicuik MidlothianScotland 
Item 35 of 361904Dumbarton Cottage HospitalDumbarton DunbartonshireScotlandAdditions
Item 36 of 361904RestennethColinton EdinburghScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Edinburgh Evening News2 June 1891   
Item 2 of 3Scotsman10 March 1919  p2
Item 3 of 3Scotsman16 December 1922  p3

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Census records onlineCensuses