John Cochrane

Joiner

Borders-born John Cochrane (1856–1930) first appears in the Glasgow Post Office Directory in 1884, as a joiner working from 103 St James's Road, Townhead. 1 By the early 20th century, he had moved a short distance to Townhead Wright Works in Dobbie's Loan, where he built up his wood yard, and by the time of his death had become 'the largest employer of joiners and wrights in Scotland'. 2

He fitted the woodwork in the Gleneagles Hotel, Perthshire; and in Glasgow at the Mitchell Library, Waterloo Street Post Office, and the Memorial Chapel of Glasgow University. By 1906 his turnover was a massive £62,000. 3 Cochrane's firm was still in business in the late 20th century, and produced the court-room panelling for the new Glasgow Sheriff Courts in 1986. It continued until 1995 when it was acquired by Dumfries builders Robison & Davidson. 4 Although in the 1990s the company gave their foundation date as 1856, John Cochrane's contemporary obituary confirms that he was the sole founder, and that 1856 is his date of birth. 5

Notes:

1: Glasgow Post Office Directory, 1884–5; 'Death of Leading Glasgow Wright', Glasgow Herald, 28 August 1930, p. 11.

2: Glasgow Post Office Directory, 1904–5, 1911–12; Scotsman, 20 May 1914, p. 7, 11 January 1915, p. 5; Glasgow Herald, 28 August 1930, p. 11.

3: 'Prepared for Fresh Challenges', Glasgow Herald, 14 February 1994, p. 12; 'A beneficial combination of skills', Glasgow Herald, 11 April 1997, p. 23, www.heraldscotland.com [accessed 15 September 2011].

4: Advertisement, 'John Cochrane & Co. Ltd', Glasgow Herald, 30 January 1986, p. 8; 'Merger of two very well known names', Glasgow Herald, 26 October 1995, p. 25, www.heraldscotland.com [accessed 15 September 2011]. The founding date of the company has sometimes erroneously been given as 1856, the date of Cochrane's birth.

5: 'Bob has no time for a quiet life', Glasgow Herald, 18 January 1997; 'Merger of two very well known names', Glasgow Herald, 26 October 1995; 'A beneficial combination of skills', Glasgow Herald, 11 April 1997, www.heraldscotland.com [accessed 15 September 2011]; 'Death of Leading Glasgow Wright', Glasgow Herald, 28 August 1930, p. 11.

'Mackintosh Architecture' led by The Hunterian, University of Glasgow, funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council; with additional support from The Monument Trust, The Pilgrim Trust, and the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art; and collaborative input from Historic Scotland and the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland.