Very few documents concerning the construction of
Thomson’s buildings seem to survive. Roger Guthrie discovered in the
Glasgow City Archives the architect’s final account for designing and
building the Caledonia Road Church. The document is signed by Thomson on
behalf of Baird and Thomson, for the partnership with John Baird II had
been dissolved while the church was under construction.
This document is important as it reveals that Thomson
designed the building a year before the date usually cited, that is,
before the Revd Robert T. Jeffrey was invited to be the minister of the
United Presbyterian congregation formed in December 1854. This would
seem to mean that the preliminary designs for the church preserved in
the Mitchell Library date from 1855. The church was opened on 22nd
March, 1857.
According to J. Logan Aikman’s Historical Notices of
the United Presbyterian Congregations in Glasgow published in 1875,
the Caledonia Road Church cost about £8,000. Assuming that no earlier
payments had been made, Baird & Thomson’s charge of £232 would
seem to represent an architects’ fee of 3.5%.
"Glasgow March 1858
"Messrs the Committee of Management
of Caledonia Road Church
To Baird & Thomson
Pro Alexander Thomson, Architect
1855 to March 1858
For making various designs for proposed Church
- Working plans of do. with Copies for tradesmen,
- Large scale drawings of portions and drawings of details to full size,
- Instructing Measurer and procuring Estimates,
- Visiting Building during progress,
- Instructing tradesmen,
- Meetings and Consultations,
- Orders for instalments,
-Examining accounts &c. &c. £232.0.0.
Glasgow
28th April 1858
Recd- payment pro Baird & Thomson
A.
Thomson"
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