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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Thomas Graham Abercrombie
Architect
Year Only
1862
Exact Date
16/02/1926
Thomas Graham Abercrombie was born in Paisley, the son of a well-connected banker, William Abercrombie, who was of the family of Abercrombie of Tullibody, Clackmannan and his wife Robina Andrews Graham. He was articled to John Hutchison of Glasgow, an architect with Paisley connections, in 1876 and at the end of the apprenticeship he emigrated to the USA, location not known. By 19 May 1886 he had returned to Paisley and set up practice with £19 10s advanced by his father. The first year he is said to have had little or no work but in 1887 he took on an assistant, his brother-in-law Robert S Symington who became a partner in 1888. In that year the practice won a competition for Greenlaw Church, Paisley, but in July the following year Symington emigrated to the USA as manager of Clark's Thread Mills at Newark. The Greenlaw church design was modelled on Burnet's Barony Church and in or about 1890 Abercrombie took on as his chief assistant William Kerr (1866-1940) from the office of Burnet Son and Campbell, the work of the practice taking on a still more Burnetian character with the Clark Memorial Church, Largs (1892) which in several respects derives from Burnet's competition design for the Coats Memorial Church in Paisley.

Kerr was not invited to become a partner in the practice and in 1902 he left to become a partner in the practice of John Melvin and Son at Alloa. Thereafter Abercrombie continued with well-selected assistants until 1923 when he took into partnership James Steel Maitland (1887-1982), a pupil of Leiper who had worked for Brown and Vallance in Montreal. The partnership was brief as Abercrombie died suddenly at his home, Redholme, Castlehead, on 16 February 1926, Maitland continuing the practice alone thereafter under the existing name of Abercrombie & Maitland.

Abercrombie developed close links with the Coats, Clark and Stewart families and was an enthusiastic volunteer, first in the 2nd Renfrewshire Rifles and then in the Argyll and Southern Highlanders, reaching the rank of Captain.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
Redholme Castlehead Paisley Renfrewshire ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
97 High Street Paisley Renfrewshire ScotlandBusiness18861893
13 Gilmour Street Paisley Renfrewshire ScotlandBusiness18931900
1 County Place Paisley Renfrewshire ScotlandBusiness19001926

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
John Hutchison200059In year 1876Apprentice
Abercrombie & Symington203323In year 18881889/07Partner
Abercrombie & Maitland100127In year 1923In year 1926Partner

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
John (Ian) Shaw Boyd2004291906/051911/05Apprentice
John (Ian) Shaw Boyd2004291911/051911/09Junior draughtsman
Hugh Smith2053041920/05/04In year 1923Apprentice
James Christopher Rogerson2052711921/02/01In year 1923Assistant
James Maitland2045761921/09In year 1923Apprentice
James Steel Maitland100087Early 1920sIn year 1923Principal Assistant
Robert Stevenson Symington203324In year 1887In year 1888Assistant
John Galt Mitchell202698In year 1889In year 1891Apprentice
William Kerr201772In year 1890c. 1902AssistantLater principal assistant
Andrew Hamilton200475In year 1891In year 1916DraughtsmanLatterly Principal Assistant
John Galt Mitchell202698In year 1891In year 1892Assistant
Henry ('Harry') Cook200474In year 1897Before 1904Apprentice
Alfred George Lochhead200297In year 1906In year 1910Apprentice
James Craig Barr200372c. 1899In year 1904Apprentice

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Greenlaw Free ChurchIn year 1887PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandSuccessful competition design, modelled on Burnet's Barony Church - in collaboration with Robert S Symington prior to partnership
25-26 Canal StreetIn year 1888PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandAlterations
RedholmeIn year 1889PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandOriginal building - listed as 'cottage, Castlehead' in Paisley Dean of Guild, but likely to be same building
67 CauseysideIn year 1889PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandAlterations
Tenement, 10 BroomlandsIn year 1889PaisleyRenfrewshireScotland
Cricket pavilion, MeikleriggsIn year 1889PaisleyRenfrewshireScotland
UP ChurchIn year 1890LargsAyrshireScotlandWith William Kerr as assistant
Burgh SawmillsIn year 1890PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandAdditions
Thornly Park HouseIn year 1890PaisleyRenfrewshireScotland
House, MeikleriggsIn year 1890PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Cottage and byre, LyleslandIn year 1890PaisleyRenfrewshireScotland
Abbey PoorhouseIn year 1890PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandAddition of hospital block, and alterations
Broadlie HouseIn year 1891DalryAyrshireScotland
RoneilIn year 1891PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandWith William Kerr as assistant
John Neilson Endowment School and entrance lodgeIn year 1891PaisleyRenfrewshireScotlandLavatories

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
MacLean, AllanAbercrombie and Maitland Architects 1886-19631986B. Arch University of StrathclydeDissertation
Davis, Michael CThe Castles and Mansions of Ayrshire1991Ardrishaig, Argyll: privately publishedBroadlie House, Curlinghall, Noddsdale
Johnston, W TArtists of Scotland2003Officina Publications CDROM
MacLean, AllanThomas Graham Abercrombie: eclectic patterns in Paisley1986Charles Rennie Mackintosh Newsletter43, Summerp5-7
Walker, Frank ArneilSouth Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew1986p14, p15, p17, p21, p22, p23, p24, p29, p30, p32, p33, p34, p35, p58, p98, p99

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Paisley Daily Express1926/02/17*Obituary
Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette1897/12/04*Obituary of J D Symington
Paisley and Renfrewshire Gazette1926/02/20*