Stirling architect Allan is focus of booklet
Wolfcraig building creator celebrated in publication
The work of Stirling architect John Allan, whose creations include the landmark Wolfcraig building in the city centre, is celebrated in a recently published booklet.
It has been compiled by Stuart Campbell, Andy McEwan and Dorothy Wilson of Stirling Local History Society and follows their work on a leaflet on the 19th century architect to accompany last year’s exhibition at the Smith Art Gallery and Museum.
As well as Wolfcraig, Allan’s work also includes the curious Tudorstyle building at 55 Baker Street, the Dutch-style gabled 29-31 Friars Street, the grand mansion ‘Batterflats’ in Polmaise Road and his own home ‘Cliffbank’ in Albert Place.
Dorothy said the work on the leaflet and booklet took just over a year, adding: “We gradually discovered a great deal more information about John Allan’s life, work and interests than was required for the purposes of the leaflet. And we are still discovering more about him and his contemporaries, architects and skilled craftsmen, with whom he worked and shared interests.”
Society members were intrigued by the “unusual, innovative and varied range of buildings” designed by Allan in Stirling and also wished to understand more about the symbolism and other features he used to decorate the external and internal structures of the commercial and residential buildings he designed in the city.
Dorothy explained: “John Allan not only introduced both modern and innovative methods and materials in his building design techniques, but also demonstrated interest and participated in the in arts and crafts revival movement in architecture taking place in late 19th century Scotland and elsewhere.”
The researchers consider the 1897 Wolfcraig building at the junction of Port Street and Dumbarton Road to be “one of his most significant accomplishments” and “an extraordinary inventive and highly decorative building.”
It followed Allan’s first building in brick, the Tudor-style 55 Baker Street (1890) of which Dorothy said: “It is a most unusual building and must have stood out significantly in the traditional streetscape of this part of Stirling in late 19th century.”
The Elizabethan ‘Batterflats’ in Polmaise Road, a revival arts and crafts mansion house, was built by Allan in 1893 for Patrick Drummond, of the Drummond family of seed merchants.
Dorothy said: “Despite considerable alteration and change in use over time this mansion house remains very striking building and still contains some very interesting and attractively conserved decorative features including stained glass windows, artistic wood panelling and decorative metal work door panels.”
Allan was a prolific author who wrote many booklets and articles. He also believed in better town planning, financial investment in housing and improved housing conditions for the poor.
He also worked in partnership on some projects with other Scottish architects such as John William Small who specialised in artistic interior woodwork and furniture design.
For a time, Small had a specialist North British Art Furniture factory in Stirling, employing in 1886-7 around 30 skilled craftsmen, and his company carried out interior restoration work at Falkland Palace for the 3rd Marquis of Bute.
Stirling Heritage Trust, the main funders for the John Allan leaflet and booklet project, also provided guidance and support to Stirling Local History Society for their research work and additional funding came from Stirling Council and SLHS.
Copies of the booklet are available from the Smith Museum and Stirling Central public library or direct from www.stirling-lhs.org, price £6.
We’re still discovering things about him and his contemporaries