James Miller (architect)
Encyclopedia
James Miller was a Scottish
architect
and artist. He is noted for his many buildings in Glasgow
and for his Scottish railway stations. Among these are the heavily American-influenced Union Bank building at 110-20 St Vincent Street; his 1901-1905 extensions to Glasgow Central railway station; and the spectacular Wemyss Bay railway station
on the Firth of Clyde
. He also produced a number of Arts and Crafts
designs.
Miller moved to Stirling
in 1911, at Randolphfield, and died there on 28 November 1947.
, where he spent most of his childhood. He was educated at Perth Academy.
After finishing his school education, he undertook an apprenticeship with the Perth architect, Andrew Heiton, a former employee of Norman Shaw
, in London; who had links with Scottish railway companies. Upon completion of his apprenticeship, he worked for Hippolyte Blanc
, in Edinburgh
.
's Drawing Office in Glasgow, where he designed a number of railway stations under the supervision of the engineer-in-chief, George Graham, and his successor Donald Alexander Matheson.
In 1892 he set up in full-time practice on his own, renting an office at 223 West George Street, Glasgow; where he continued to do work for the Caledonian Railway
, as well as other Scottish railway companies. In 1894 he gained commissions for stations on the West Highland Railway
.
, who in 1902 made a fact-finding visit to the USA.
Among his buildings showing American influence are:
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and artist. He is noted for his many buildings in Glasgow
Glasgow
Glasgow is the largest city in Scotland and third most populous in the United Kingdom. The city is situated on the River Clyde in the country's west central lowlands...
and for his Scottish railway stations. Among these are the heavily American-influenced Union Bank building at 110-20 St Vincent Street; his 1901-1905 extensions to Glasgow Central railway station; and the spectacular Wemyss Bay railway station
Wemyss Bay railway station
Wemyss Bay railway station serves the village of Wemyss Bay, Inverclyde, Scotland. The station is a terminus on the Inverclyde Line, about west of . The station incorporates the Caledonian MacBrayne ferry terminal connecting mainland Scotland to Rothesay on the Isle of Bute...
on the Firth of Clyde
Firth of Clyde
The Firth of Clyde forms a large area of coastal water, sheltered from the Atlantic Ocean by the Kintyre peninsula which encloses the outer firth in Argyll and Ayrshire, Scotland. The Kilbrannan Sound is a large arm of the Firth of Clyde, separating the Kintyre Peninsula from the Isle of Arran.At...
. He also produced a number of Arts and Crafts
Arts and Crafts movement
Arts and Crafts was an international design philosophy that originated in England and flourished between 1860 and 1910 , continuing its influence until the 1930s...
designs.
Miller moved to Stirling
Stirling
Stirling is a city and former ancient burgh in Scotland, and is at the heart of the wider Stirling council area. The city is clustered around a large fortress and medieval old-town beside the River Forth...
in 1911, at Randolphfield, and died there on 28 November 1947.
Early life
James Miller was born in Auchtergaven, Perthshire, in 1860. Soon after his birth, his father moved to Little Cairnie, ForteviotForteviot
Forteviot is a village in Strathearn, Scotland on the south bank of the River Earn between Dunning and Perth. It lies in the council area of Perth and Kinross...
, where he spent most of his childhood. He was educated at Perth Academy.
After finishing his school education, he undertook an apprenticeship with the Perth architect, Andrew Heiton, a former employee of Norman Shaw
Richard Norman Shaw
Richard Norman Shaw RA , was an influential Scottish architect from the 1870s to the 1900s, known for his country houses and for commercial buildings.-Life:...
, in London; who had links with Scottish railway companies. Upon completion of his apprenticeship, he worked for Hippolyte Blanc
Hippolyte Blanc
Hippolyte Jean Blanc was a Scottish architect. Best known for his church buildings in the Gothic revival style, Blanc was also a keen antiquarian who oversaw meticulously researched restoration projects.-Early life:...
, in Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
.
Summary
In 1888, he joined the Caledonian RailwayCaledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
's Drawing Office in Glasgow, where he designed a number of railway stations under the supervision of the engineer-in-chief, George Graham, and his successor Donald Alexander Matheson.
In 1892 he set up in full-time practice on his own, renting an office at 223 West George Street, Glasgow; where he continued to do work for the Caledonian Railway
Caledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
, as well as other Scottish railway companies. In 1894 he gained commissions for stations on the West Highland Railway
West Highland Railway
The West Highland Railway was one of the last main lines to be built in Scotland. It is one of the most scenic railway lines in Britain, linking Fort William on the west coast to Glasgow. It was originally operated by the North British Railway.- History :...
.
Competitions
Miller won the following competitions, among others:- in 1898 for the Glasgow International Exhibition of 1901Glasgow International Exhibition (1901)The Glasgow International Exhibition was the second of 4 international exhibitions held in Glasgow, Scotland during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-Summary:...
; - in 1901 for the Glasgow Royal InfirmaryGlasgow Royal InfirmaryThe Glasgow Royal Infirmary is a large teaching hospital, operated by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde,. With a capacity of around 1000 beds, the hospital campus covers an area of around 20 acres, situated on the north-eastern edge of the city centre of Glasgow, Scotland.-History:Designed by Robert...
, although the assessor, Rowand Anderson, had recommended another architect, Henry Edward Clifford; - in 1903 for the Materia Medica and Physiology buildings and Natural Philosophy Buildings at the University of GlasgowUniversity of GlasgowThe University of Glasgow is the fourth-oldest university in the English-speaking world and one of Scotland's four ancient universities. Located in Glasgow, the university was founded in 1451 and is presently one of seventeen British higher education institutions ranked amongst the top 100 of the...
; - in 1908 for the museum in Bombay but the commission was given to the runner-up, George Wittet;
- in 1910 for the Institution of Civil EngineersInstitution of Civil EngineersFounded on 2 January 1818, the Institution of Civil Engineers is an independent professional association, based in central London, representing civil engineering. Like its early membership, the majority of its current members are British engineers, but it also has members in more than 150...
in Westminster (One Great George StreetOne Great George StreetOne Great George Street, is a building in London, England, that is the global headquarters of the Institution of Civil Engineers . Its location is in Westminster, just off Parliament Square...
), and for the extension of the Institution of Mechanical EngineersInstitution of Mechanical EngineersThe Institution of Mechanical Engineers is the British engineering society based in central London, representing mechanical engineering. It is licensed by the Engineering Council UK to assess candidates for inclusion on ECUK's Register of professional Engineers...
to match it on the opposite side of Great George Street; - in 1924 for the Union Bank of Scotland in St Vincent Street;
American influence
Miller was influenced by his long-standing friend and supporter, Donald Alexander Matheson, the Chief Engineer of the Caledonian RailwayCaledonian Railway
The Caledonian Railway was a major Scottish railway company. It was formed in the early 19th century and it was absorbed almost a century later into the London, Midland and Scottish Railway, in the 1923 railway grouping, by means of the Railways Act 1921...
, who in 1902 made a fact-finding visit to the USA.
Among his buildings showing American influence are:
- Olympia House in Queen Street (1903);
- Turnberry Hotel (begun in 1904);
- Peebles Hydropathic (begun in 1905);
- North British Locomotive CompanyNorth British Locomotive CompanyThe North British Locomotive Company was created in 1903 through the merger of three Glasgow locomotive manufacturing companies; Sharp Stewart and Company , Neilson, Reid and Company and Dübs and Company , creating the largest locomotive manufacturing company in Europe.Its main factories were...
Headquarters in SpringburnSpringburnSpringburn is an inner city district in the north of the Scottish city of Glasgow, home to various working and middle-class households.Springburn developed from a small rural hamlet at the beginning of the nineteenth century. Its industrial expansion began with the establishment of a chemical...
(1909) - Cranston's Cinema building in Renfield Street (1914–15);
- the McLaren warehouse in George Square (1922);
- Union Bank of Scotland in St Vincent Street (inspired by York & Sawyer's 1913 Guaranty Trust Building and McKim Mead & White's National City Bank of 1903-10, both in New York);
- James Woodhouse & Son, 28-36 Renfield Street (1929–31);
Sources
- McKean, Charles; Walker, David and Walker, Frank A. (1989). Central Glasgow: An Illustrated Architectural Guide. Edinburgh: The rutland Press. ISBN 0-873190-22-0.
- Sloan, Audry; with Murray, Gordon (1993). James Miller: 1860-1947. Edinburgh: Royal Incorporation of Architects in ScotlandRoyal Incorporation of Architects in ScotlandThe Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is the professional body for architects in Scotland. It was founded in 1916 by Robert Rowand Anderson who donated his Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh to be used as its home, where it remains to this day. It was given its first Royal charter in...
. ISBN 0-873190-15-8. - Walker, Frank Arneil (1986). The South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew. Edinburgh: Royal Incorporation of Architects in ScotlandRoyal Incorporation of Architects in ScotlandThe Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland is the professional body for architects in Scotland. It was founded in 1916 by Robert Rowand Anderson who donated his Georgian townhouse in Edinburgh to be used as its home, where it remains to this day. It was given its first Royal charter in...
. ISBN 0-7073-0476-8.