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. He was three times President of the Glasgow Architectural Association and in 1891 was the Vice President of the

Royal Institute of British Architects The Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA) is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally, founded for the advancement of architecture under its royal charter granted in 1837, three supp ...

. He was active in politics, and was a member of the Scottish Liberal Club, Glasgow Liberal Club and

National Liberal Club The National Liberal Club (NLC) is a London private members' club, open to both men and women. It was established by William Ewart Gladstone in 1882 to provide club facilities for Liberal Party campaigners among the newly enlarged electorate ...

(in London). He was also a Justice of the Peace in Argyllshire.Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Campbell Douglas

Early life

Douglas was born at

Kilbarchan Kilbarchan ( gd, Cill Bhearchain) is a village and civil parish in central Renfrewshire, in the west central Lowlands of Scotland. The village's name means "cell (chapel) of St. Barchan". It is known for its former weaving industry. History ...

in 1828, the son of Janet Monteath and the Rev. Robert Douglas, minister in the parish of

Renfrewshire Renfrewshire () ( sco, Renfrewshire; gd, Siorrachd Rinn Friù) is one of the 32 council areas of Scotland. Located in the west central Lowlands, it is one of three council areas contained within the boundaries of the historic county of Re ...

. He attended the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

at the age of 13. In 1842, he was articled to

John Thomas Rochead John Thomas Rochead (28 March 1814 – 7 April 1878) was a Scottish architect. He is most noteworthy on a national scale for having been the designer of the Wallace Monument. Life He was born in Edinburgh, the son of John Rochead and Cather ...

, architect, who was based in

Glasgow Glasgow ( ; sco, Glesca or ; gd, Glaschu ) is the most populous city in Scotland and the fourth-most populous city in the United Kingdom, as well as being the 27th largest city by population in Europe. In 2020, it had an estimated popul ...

. 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

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 John James Stevenson FRSE FSA FRIBA (24 August 1831 – 5 May 1908), usually referred to as J. J. Stevenson, was a British architect of the late-Victorian era. Born in Glasgow, he worked in Glasgow, Edinburgh and London. He is particularly assoc ...

(b.24 August 1831) into partnership and they set up office at 24 George Street in

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian on the southern shore of t ...

. 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 James Sellars (2 December 1843 – 9 October 1888) was a Scottish architect who was heavily influenced by the work of Alexander Greek Thomson. Life He was born in the Gorbals in Glasgow, son of James Sellars, house factor and Elizabeth ...

formed the architectural firm of Campbell Douglas & Sellars which expanded to include large commercial. educational and municipal projects. During this period employees included

Charles Alfred Chastel de Boinville Charles Alfred Chastel de Boinville (1849 – April 25, 1897) was an Anglo-French architect, who worked in Japan and Britain. His father was a well known clergyman who completed 30 years of missionary service in France, and left several public ...

, a talented Anglo-French architect, who brought a European flavour to the designs. Douglas helped

Colin Alexander McVean Colin Alexander McVean, FRGS (6 March 1838 – 18 January 1912) was a Scottish civil engineer who made a considerable contribution to Japan's engineering development in 1870s. He left two brief autobiographies, diaries, photos, letters and a co ...

, a chief surveyor of Japan's Public Works, to build first technical school building, later

Imperial College of Engineering The Imperial College of Engineering (工部大学校, ''Kōbudaigakkō'') was a Japanese institution of higher education that was founded during the Meiji Era. The college was established under the auspices of the Ministry of Public Works for ...

The grave of Campbell Douglas, Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh

In 1865, he married Elizabeth Menzies, the granddaughter of

Alexander Cowan Alexander Cowan (17 June 1775 – 13 February 1859) was a Scottish papermaker and philanthropist. He was a cousin and friend of Thomas Chalmers, the prominent Scottish minister. Through his business he was a friend and associate of the publishe ...

. This led to his commission to build the Cowan Institute, now known as

Penicuik Town Hall Penicuik Town Hall, formerly the Cowan Institute, is a municipal building in the High Street, Penicuik, Midlothian, Scotland. The structure, which was the meeting place of Penicuik Burgh Council, is a Category C listed building. History The bui ...

, in Cowan's memory. 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. 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. 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

* John Rhind *

* J. J. Stevenson *

Principal works

*Wallacetown Free Church, Ayrshire (1855) * Alloway Parish Church (1855) *Briggate Free Church,

(1857–1859) *Invertiel Free Church, Kirkcaldy (1857) *Millport Free Churcyh, Bute (1857) *Brisbane Academy,

Largs Largs ( gd, An Leargaidh Ghallda) is a town on the Firth of Clyde in North Ayrshire, Scotland, about from Glasgow. The original name means "the slopes" (''An Leargaidh'') in Scottish Gaelic. A popular seaside resort with a pier, the town mark ...

(1858) *Lion St UP Church, Glasgow (1859) *Corn Exchange, Cupar, Fife (1861) *McDonald Mission Church, Cowcaddens, Glasgow (1861) *Moulin Free Church,

Pitlochry Pitlochry (; gd, Baile Chloichridh or ) is a town in the Perth and Kinross council area of Scotland, lying on the River Tummel. It is historically in the county of Perthshire, and has a population of 2,776, according to the 2011 census.Scotlan ...

(1861) *St Peters Mission Church, Glasgow (1861) *

Kelvinside Kelvinside is a district in the Scottish city of Glasgow. It is situated north of the River Clyde and is bounded by Broomhill, Dowanhill and Hyndland to the south with Kelvindale and the River Kelvin to the north. It is an affluent area of Gl ...

Free Church (1862) * Campsie Free Church (1863) * Clola Free Church (1863) *

Girls' School (1863) *Reformed Presbyterian Church, Derry (1863) *Greyfriars Church, Dumfries (1866) *Cove Castle (jointly with

) (1867) * Dunoon Pier and offices (1867) *Episcopal Church and English Free Church, Campbeltown (1867) *Monument to Dr John Alexander, Kirkcaldy Cemetery (1868) *Scottish Amicable Insurance Offices, Glasgow (1870) *Burnbank UP Church, Glasgow (1871) *Stewart Memorial Fountain, Wellington Park, Kelvingrove (1871) *

Langholm Langholm , also known colloquially as the "Muckle Toon", is a burgh in Dumfries and Galloway, southern Scotland. Langholm lies between four hills in the valley of the River Esk in the Southern Uplands. Location and geography Langholm sits nort ...

Cottage Hospital (1872) *Wesleyan Church, Claremont St, Glasgow (1872) *

Cowcaddens Cowcaddens ( sco, Coucaddens, gd, Coille Challtainn)
...

Free Church (1872) * Dysart Free Church (1872) *Queen's Park Church, Glasgow (1872) *St Enoch's Free Church,

Partick Partick ( sco, Pairtick, Scottish Gaelic: ''Partaig'') is an area of Glasgow on the north bank of the River Clyde, just across from Govan. To the west lies Whiteinch, to the east Yorkhill and Kelvingrove Park (across the River Kelvin), and ...

(1873) *

Lenzie Lenzie () is an affluent town by the Edinburgh and Glasgow Railway in the East Dunbartonshire council area of Scotland. It is about north-east of Glasgow city centre and south of Kirkintilloch. At the 2011 census, it had a population of 8,873. ...

UP Church (1874) *

Cupar Cupar ( ; gd, Cùbar) is a town, former royal burgh and parish in Fife, Scotland. It lies between Dundee and Glenrothes. According to a 2011 population estimate, Cupar had a population around 9,000, making it the ninth-largest settlement in Fi ...

Free Church (1875) *Belhaven UP Church and Mission, Glasgow (1875–1877) *Blackfriars Park Church, Glasgow (1876) *

Kelvinside Academy Kelvinside Academy is an independent day school in Glasgow, Scotland, founded in 1878. It has a capacity of over 600 pupils and spans two years of Nursery, six years of Junior School (primary school), a transition year of Senior Preparatory, and ...

(working with

) (1877) *Finnieston Free Church, Kelvingrove (1878) *Her Majesty's Theatre, Gorbals Street, Glasgow (1878) demolished. *Milton Street School,

Cowcaddens Cowcaddens ( sco, Coucaddens, gd, Coille Challtainn)
...

(1878) *Anderston Free Church, Glasgow (1879) *

Medical Mission, Calton, Glasgow (1879) *Factory for Wylie & Lochhead, Charing Cross, Glasgow (1880–1883) *Mission Hospital in Safed, Syria (now in Israel) (1880) *Free Abbey Church, Dunfermline (1881) *Sick Children's Hospital,

Garnethill Garnethill is a predominantly residential area of the city of Glasgow, Scotland with a number of important public buildings. Geography Located in the city centre, the area borders Cowcaddens to its north, Sauchiehall Street to its south, Cambr ...

(1881) *Pathhead Public Hall, Kirkcaldy (1882) *

Lochgoilhead Lochgoilhead ( gd, Ceann Loch Goibhle, IPA: �kʰʲaun̴̪ˈɫ̪ɔxˈkɤilə is a village on the Cowal peninsula, in Argyll and Bute, Scottish Highlands. It is located within the Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park and is widely consider ...

Free Church (1883) * Mugdock House (working with

) (1883) *Sinclairtown Town Hall and Library, Kirkcaldy (1883) *Glasgow Medical Mission,

Gorbals The Gorbals is an area in the city of Glasgow, Scotland, on the south bank of the River Clyde. By the late 19th century, it had become densely populated; rural migrants and immigrants were attracted by the new industries and employment opportun ...

, Glasgow (1884) * Dysart Town Hall (1885) *Mission Hospital,

Tiberias Tiberias ( ; he, טְבֶרְיָה, ; ar, طبريا, Ṭabariyyā) is an Israeli city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. A major Jewish center during Late Antiquity, it has been considered since the 16th century one of Judaism's F ...

in Israel (1885) *Proudfoot Institute,

Moffat Moffat ( gd, Mofad) is a burgh and parish in Dumfriesshire, now part of the Dumfries and Galloway local authority area in Scotland. It lies on the River Annan, with a population of around 2,500. It was a centre of the wool trade and a spa town. ...

(1885) *St Andrews Free Church,

(1886) * Couper Institute, Cathcart, Glasgow (1887) *Spiers School, Beith, Ayrshire (1887) (demolished 1984) *St Andrews Scots Church, Bournemouth (1887) *Anderson's College Medical School, now part of the

University of Glasgow , image = UofG Coat of Arms.png , image_size = 150px , caption = Coat of arms Flag , latin_name = Universitas Glasguensis , motto = la, Via, Veritas, Vita , ...

(1888) * Greenock Baptist Church (1888) * Hampstead Presbyterian Church (1888) *

Ayr Ayr (; sco, Ayr; gd, Inbhir Àir, "Mouth of the River Ayr") is a town situated on the southwest coast of Scotland. It is the administrative centre of the South Ayrshire Subdivisions of Scotland, council area and the historic Shires of Scotlan ...

Public Library (1891) *Canaan House, Morningside,

(1892) demolished *Bridgend UP Church,

Bridgend Bridgend (; cy, Pen-y-bont ar Ogwr or just , meaning "the end of the bridge on the Ogmore") is a town in Bridgend County Borough in Wales, west of Cardiff and east of Swansea. The town is named after the medieval bridge over the River Og ...

(1893) *

(formerly the Cowan Institute),

Penicuik Penicuik ( ; sco, Penicuik; gd, Peighinn na Cuthaig) is a town and former Police burgh, burgh in Midlothian, Scotland, lying on the west bank of the River Esk, Lothian, River North Esk. It lies on the A701 road, A701 midway between Edinburgh a ...

(1893)History of Penicuik: Cowan Institute *

Inveraray Inveraray ( or ; gd, Inbhir Aora meaning "mouth of the Aray") is a town in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. It is on the western shore of Loch Fyne, near its head, and on the A83 road. It is a former royal burgh, the traditional county town of Arg ...

Free Church (1895) * Sandeman Library,

Perth Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia. It is the fourth most populous city in Australia and Oceania, with a population of 2.1 million (80% of the state) living in Greater Perth in 2020. Perth i ...

(1898) *

Milngavie Milngavie ( ; gd, Muileann-Ghaidh) is a town in East Dunbartonshire, Scotland and a suburb of Glasgow. It is on the Allander Water, at the northwestern edge of Greater Glasgow, and about from Glasgow city centre. It neighbours Bearsden. Mi ...

Free Church and Hall (1896) * Paisley Technical School (1896) *UP Church,

St John's Town of Dalry St John's Town of Dalry ( gd, Clachan Eòin), usually referred to simply as Dalry ( / 'dal-RYE'), is a village in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland, in the historic county of Kirkcudbrightshire. Location St Johns Town is located close to the ...

(1897) * Kirkcaldy Burgh Infectious Diseases Hospital (1897) *Factory for

Barr & Stroud Barr & Stroud Limited was a pioneering Glasgow optical engineering firm. They played a leading role in the development of modern optics, including rangefinders, for the Royal Navy and for other branches of British Armed Forces during the 20th c ...

in Anniesland, Glasgow (1903) *

Lochboisdale Lochboisdale ( gd, Loch Baghasdail) is the main village and port on the island of South Uist, Outer Hebrides, Scotland. Lochboisdale is within the parish of South Uist, and is situated on the shore of Loch Baghasdail at the southern end of the A ...

Church,

South Uist South Uist ( gd, Uibhist a Deas, ; sco, Sooth Uist) is the second-largest island of the Outer Hebrides in Scotland. At the 2011 census, it had a usually resident population of 1,754: a decrease of 64 since 2001. The island, in common with the ...

(1904) *National Bank of Scotland, St Enoch's Square, Glasgow (1906)

Gallery

File:QueensPark-church-glasgow.jpg, Queen's Park Church, Glasgow File:Cupar Corn Exchange.jpg, Cupar Corn Exchange File:The Cowan Institute, Penicuik.JPG, Penicuik Town Hall (formerly the Cowan Institute),

File:The grave of Campbell Douglas, Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh.JPG, The grave of Campbell Douglas, Morningside Cemetery, Edinburgh File:Spier's School, Beith, from the front garden.jpg, Spier's School

References

*''Dictionary of Scottish Architects'': Campbell Douglas *''Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh'' by Gifford McWilliam and Walker {{DEFAULTSORT:Douglas, Campbell 1828 births 1910 deaths People associated with Edinburgh People associated with Glasgow Scottish architects Alumni of the University of Glasgow