William Leiper

William Leiper FRIBA RSA (1839–1916) was a Scottish architect known particularly for his domestic architecture in and around the town of Helensburgh. In addition, he produced a small amount of fine ecclesiastical and commercial architecture in Glasgow and the Scottish Lowlands. He was also an accomplished watercolour artist, and from the late 1870s spent much spare time painting in oils and watercolours.

Stylistically Leiper was capable of working in many styles including truly eclectic works such as the Templeton Carpet Factory which is based on the Doge's Palace in Venice. His best internal work is certainly the Banqueting Hall at Glasgow City Chambers.

Life Leiper was born in Glasgow on 21 May 1839 the eldest son of William Leiper who ran a small private school teaching writing and arithmetic at 187 George Street in the city centre. His mother was Jane Mellis. The family lived at 70 Renfrew Street.

He was educated at his father's primary school at 187 George St then at Glasgow High School. From 1855 to 1859, he was apprenticed to the newly formed architectural firm of Boucher & Cousland at 5 Bath Street working on Renfield Free Church. in the Hyndland district of north-west Glasgow. In this project he commissioned John Mossman to work on the sculptural details and Daniel Cottier to work on the stained glass, and continued a relationship with both until the end of his career.

Leiper was responsible for the design of St Columba's Church and Auchenbothie House in the village of Kilmacolm, Renfrewshire, and a number of works in Helensburgh, Dunbartonshire.

In 1891, he was unsuccessful in his competition entry for the Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum and in 1895 was unsuccessful in the competition for the North British Railway Hotel in Edinburgh.

Artistic recognition

A portrait of Leiper by Colin Hunter is held at Aberdeen Art Gallery.

In 2016, a three-month exhibition of Leiper's work in Glasgow was open to the public under the title of the Leiper Gallery.

Main works

Dowanhill Parish Church (1865) Dumbarton Academy (1865) Dumbarton Burgh Halls (1865) plus repairs and alterations in 1883 Kirktonhill House, Dumbarton (1866) Offices for Glasgow Gas Lighting Company, 42 Virginia Street (1867) working with William Melvin Colearn Castle near Auchterarder (1869) Lindsaylands, villa near Biggar (1869) Gravestone to his parents in Sighthill Cemetery (1870) Interior of SY Livadia (1879) yacht for Russian aristocracy, made by John Elder & Co. in Govan Ruthven Towers near Auchterarder (1880) now a care home Castlepark, Lanark (1880) Cairndhu stable block, Helensburgh (1881) Wheatpark house in Lanark, remodelling and cottage addition (1882) Grave of Very Rev Norman Macleod, Milton of Campsie (1882) Dorlecote villa at 134 Sinclair Street in Helensburgh (1883) later renamed Albion Lodge Tordarroch, 117 Sinclair St in Helensburgh (1883) Kinlochmoidart House and lodge houses (1884) Ruyton Park in Shrewsbury (1884) Leiper's only English work (built 1887–1889) External remodelling of Dormira villa in Partickhill (1885) interior by Daniel Cottier Hyndland Parish Church (1885) Jubilee Gates, Victoria Park, Glasgow (1887) paid for by the "Ladies of Partick" Ganavan villa in Oban (1888) Catholic Apostolic Church, Glasgow (1889) Monument to Jessie Montgomery Lang, Glasgow Necropolis (1889) Sun Life Insurance Offices, corner of West George Street and Renfield Street in Glasgow (1889) Leiper's largest office commission – sculpture is by William Birnie Rhind Moredun House and lodge in Paisley (1890) Grave of Hugh Kerr (1808–1891), tobacco merchant in Kentucky, and separate monument to his wife Jane Kerr, Helensburgh Cemetery (1891) Earnock Cottage, Hamilton (1892) St Leomards villa in Gillburn Rd in Kilmacolm (1893) Victoria Infirmary, Helensburgh (1893) plus 1899 and 1902 extensions Westbreak villa on Park Rd in Kilmacolm (1893) Grave of Rev George Jacque in Auchterarder Churchyard (1895) Brantwood villa in Helensburgh (1895) Primary School in Garelochhead (1895) Tighnabruaich House (1895) Remodelling of Knockderry Castle (1895) for the Templeton family Viewfield House and lodge, Stirling (1897) Auchenbothie House and estate buildings (1898) lodge later completed by Charles Rennie Mackintosh Dhuhill House lodge, Helensburgh (1898) Glasgow City Chambers – design and co-ordination of a highly ornate remodelling of the Banqueting Hall including murals by the Glasgow Boys (1898) Red Towers, Helensburgh (1898) Stable block at Redholm, Helensburgh (1898) Remodelling of Ballimore House in Otter Ferry, Loch Fyne (1899) Barnlongart, Ballimore Estate, Loch Fyne (1899) Interior work on NMS Regele Carol I (1899) for the Romanian Navy William Black Memorial, Duart Point, Mull (1899) Ard Choille house, Clynder (1900) Ard Luss villa, Helensburgh (1900) and 1908 extension Deroran villa in Stirling (1900) Watermill at Glendaruel House (1901) Mar Gate villa in Stirling (1901) Museum at Marden House, Helensburgh (1902) St James' Church, Kilmacolm (1902) Remodelling of Glendaruel Inn (1903) Morar House and outbuildings, Helensburgh (1903) restored by Lorn Macneal architect and finalist for Scottish Home Award 2021 Offices at 153 St Vincent Street, Glasgow (1904) Argyll Mansions, shop and tenement on corner of Argyll Street and George Street in Oban (1905) Three villas at Rockbank in Helensburgh (1906) Uplands, 15 Abercromby Drive, Bridge of Allan (1907) restored 2020 Polkemmet villa in Helensburgh (1908)