Wardend House was built just after the turn of the 20th century complete with an artist’s studio. It was built originally for the Scottish artist, Sir George Pirie (1863 – 1946), an associate of “The Glasgow Boys”. He was educated at Glasgow Academy and graduated M.A. at Glasgow University in 1882. He studied at the Glasgow School of Art, the Slade School in London and the Academie Julian in Paris. He was elected an Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1912 and he served as President from 1933 to 1944. He was knighted in Edinburgh in 1937 by King George VI. In 1943 he was awarded an honorary degree LL.D by Glasgow University.
In 1901 He married Jean Wingate, a daughter of Mr John Wingate, a member of the calico printers which was combined with the Calico Printers’ Association Ltd.
They had two sons, Norman and George, and a daughter, Sheena. The younger son, Norman Wingate Pirie, became a biochemist and virologist.

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