Architect who left his mark on city centre
Stirling Local History Society has produced a leaflet about local architect John Allan.
An exhibition of his work and life is on view in the Smith Art Gallery until July.
Allan was born near Dunfermline in 1847. His buildings have been described as “bold statements in an era of transformation at the end of the 19th and early 20th century. Stirling’s townscape is the richer for his legacy”.
He trained as an architect in Dunfermline before moving to Stirling with his sister Margaret in 1870.
He set up his own architectural and land surveying practice in Shore Road, living at Spittal Square in the heart of the town where he saw first hand the slum living conditions of some local residents.
John built his own house Cliff Bank at 32 Dumbarton Road, where he and Margaret lived until 1922. They died within days of each other, John suddenly on February 20 and Margaret nine days later.
SLHS spokesperson Dorothy Wilson said: “John Allan left an incredible legacy of tenements, grand villas and architecturally individual commercial buildings in Stirling and the surrounding area, including the iconic Wolf Craig building in Port Street, which he completed for Robertson and MacFarlane, grocers in 1897.
“This landmark building was the first in Stirling to use steel frame construction methods and had gas lighting and its own electricity generator.
“He had a wide range of interests and wrote a number of books and pamphlets on various subjects. “He was concerned to improve social housing and sanitary conditions for both the urban and rural poor.
“We are aware of two national competitions he successfully entered.
“Early in his career in March 1873 John won first premium (class I) for his design of a model cottage for agricultural labourers in a Royal Northern Agricultural Society competition.
“In 1913 he designed a model of a cottage which could be built for £250.
“It was erected as a demonstration model at the Glasgow Building Exhibition.
“It was designed to provide healthy living conditions in a flexible style as it could be built as a single, double or row of cottages and incorporated some of the most modern building methods and materials.”
The leaflet, which is available through public libraries and the Smith Museum, was produced through funding support from Stirling City Heritage Trust. The society also hopes to produce a booklet about John Allan in the near future.