Campbell Douglas

Archibald Campbell Douglas (usually simply referred to as Campbell Douglas) (14 June 1828 – 14 April 1910) was a Scottish architect based primarily in Glasgow. He designed many churches in Glasgow and Edinburgh, especially those for the Free Church of Scotland.

Campbell Douglas
Douglas c. 1900
Born
Archibald Campbell Douglas

(1828-06-14)14 June 1828
Kilbarchan, Scotland
Died14 April 1910(1910-04-14) (aged 81)
Edinburgh, Scotland
Alma materUniversity of Glasgow
OccupationArchitect

He was three times President of the Glasgow Architectural Association and in 1891 was the Vice President of the Royal Institute of British Architects.

He was active in politics, and was a member of the Scottish Liberal Club, Glasgow Liberal Club and National Liberal Club (in London). He was also a Justice of the Peace in Argyllshire.[1]

Early life

Douglas was born at Kilbarchan in 1828, the son of Janet Monteath and the Rev. Robert Douglas, minister in the parish of Kilbarchan in Renfrewshire.[2]

He attended the University of Glasgow at the age of 13.

In 1842, he was articled to John Thomas Rochead, architect, who was based in Glasgow.

In 1843, together with his father, they left the established Church of Scotland and joined the Free Church, following the Disruption of that year. This led to many later commissions. After a time in England he set up his own practice in Glasgow in 1855. It seems he may have had an office in Fife, where his brother Robert Douglas was an iron founder and engineer.

Works
Penicuik Town Hall (formerly the Cowan Institute), designed by Campbell Dougas 1891

He came to early fame with the designs of Briggate Free Church in Glasgow and North Leith Free Church in Edinburgh. At this time he employed the talented draughtsman Bruce Jones Talbot.

In 1860 he took John James Stevenson (b.24 August 1831) into partnership and they set up office at 24 George Street in Edinburgh. This lasted until the death of Stevenson's father in 1866 at which point he inherited a large sum of money and drifted out of the profession.

From 1868 to his retiral in 1906 Douglas's principal office was in Glasgow where he and James Sellars formed the architectural firm of Campbell Douglas & Sellars which expanded to include large commercial. educational and municipal projects.[2] During this period employees included Charles Alfred Chastel de Boinville, a talented Anglo-French architect, who brought a European flavour to the designs. Douglas helped Colin Alexander McVean, a chief surveyor of Japan's Public Works, to build first technical school building, later Imperial College of Engineering.

The grave of Campbell Douglas, Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh

In 1865, he married Elizabeth Menzies, the granddaughter of Alexander Cowan. This led to his commission to build the Cowan Institute, now known as Penicuik Town Hall, in Cowan's memory.[2]

In 1903 he merged with the much younger Alexander Nisbet Paterson to create "Campbell Douglas & Paterson", probably to give more kudos to the blossoming young architect.[3]

He died of bladder disease in 1910, aged 81, at his house 25 Braid Avenue, Edinburgh, leaving the then-substantial sum of over £8,000.[1]

He was cremated and his ashes were buried in Morningside Cemetery against the south wall, towards the south-west corner. His wife Elizabeth Menzies (1837–1923) lies with him.

Trainees

Principal works
  • Queen's Park Church, Glasgow
    Queen's Park Church, Glasgow
  • Cupar Corn Exchange
    Cupar Corn Exchange
  • Penicuik Town Hall (formerly the Cowan Institute), Penicuik
    Penicuik Town Hall (formerly the Cowan Institute), Penicuik
  • The grave of Campbell Douglas, Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh
    The grave of Campbell Douglas, Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh
  • Spier's School
    Spier's School

References
  1. Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Campbell Douglas
  2. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report". www.scottisharchitects.org.uk. Retrieved 27 July 2021.
  3. "The Arts – Alexander Nisbet Paterson – Heroes Centre".
  4. History of Penicuik: Cowan Institute
  • Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Campbell Douglas
  • Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker
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