Records of Hay and Henderson, architects, Edinburgh, Scotland

Description Records of Hay and Henderson, architects, Edinburgh, Scotland

Collection Records of Hay and Henderson, architects, Edinburgh, Scotland

Catalogue Number 551 103

Category All Other

Scope and Content The collection consists of approximately 300 items, dating from as early as the 1830s, to the first decade of the twentieth century. These are mainly composed of architectural plans, perspective drawings of various designs, and photographs of their work, as well as associated people and places. The collection deals not only with work of the partnership, but also from their careers prior to 1877, as well as church designs by John Henderson. A large amount of the material relates to their work in Bermuda following the fire of 1883, as well as that at Old St Paul’s and St Giles in Edinburgh. The collection shows the strong influence of the rise of the Neo-Gothic in ecclesiastical architecture in Britain at that time. Other features of the collected works include a pair of unsuccessful competition designs for the Municipal Buildings in Edinburgh by Hay & Henderson, as well as several mounted drawings depicting a selection of John Henderson’s work including the Trinity College at Glenalmond, the Holy Trinity Church, Ardgowan Chapel, St Baldred’s Chapel in North Berwick, and St Mary’s Church at Dalmahoy. Un-catalogued material includes a series of survey drawings and rough sketches of medieval church ruins made by George Henderson during his apprenticeship period, as well as numerous photographs and drawings from George Henderson’s time in Australia, many relating to the many homesteads built for various clients. In addition, various pulpit, font, and gravestone designs fall into this category. Also, photographic copies made as a Survey of a Private Collection, including drawing of Colliston Castle, photographs of fittings of unidentified church, drawing of interior of renovated Haddington Parish Church, perspective of Craiglockhart Parish Church, design for triptych for Old St Paul's Church, Edinburgh, photograph of Abbey Strand, Holyrood, Edinburgh, a proposed screen for north transept, St Giles, Edinburgh, western doorway St Giles, Edinburgh, perspective of Woodlands, Galashiels, photographs of fittings for Distington Church, Cumberland.

Archive History Created by John Henderson, his son George Henderson and William Hay. Deposited to RCAHMS in 1987 by the executors (I G Fraser of J.C. & A. Steuart, W.S. Solicitors) of the late Mrs Stella Phillipps, daughter of George Henderson. Accessioned in 2007 (Acc. No: 2007/228). Also, material lent by Mrs E S Phillipps and copied as a Survey of a Private Collection by RCAHMS in 1977.

System of Arrangement The material is arranged into groups by country, then in sub-groups by type of building and then by site.

Access Conditions No restrictions on access.

Administrative History William Hay William Hay (1818-1888) was born in Dykeside, Aberdeenshire. His parents were William Hay, a grain merchant, and Jean Alexander. He began his working life as an apprentice joiner (as did his future mentor John Henderson). However, following an accident at work in which Hay broke his leg he was forced to give up this apprenticeship for several months. The accident did however provide the opportunity for him to begin the study of architecture. At the age of 24 he received his first commission, for St James Episcopal Church in Cruden. Two years later, Hay traveled to Edinburgh to become an assistant to John Henderson; he remained in this position until 1846, when he was employed as an assistant to the London architect, George Gilbert Scott. He occupied the position of Clerk of Works for the proposed erection of a new cathedral in Newfoundland, the Cathedral of St John the Baptist at St Johns. In April 1847 Hay travelled to Newfoundland with his wife Janet Reid (m.1844), and her brother, Thomas Reid, and remained until completion of the nave in 1850, before returning to Scotland in order to re-establish his practice in Dykeside. Hay and his wife sailed across the Atlantic once more in 1854. Following visits to Montreal and Chicago, the Hays decided to settle in Toronto. Here he set up his practice and became a prominent and successful member of the community, becoming the vice president of Mechanics Institute and secretary of the Association of Architects Civil Engineers and Provincial Surveyors of Canada. In 1860, Hay’s wife died aged only 41, resulting in Hay leaving Canada the following year. In 1862 Hay travelled to Bermuda to consult with Bishop Feild regarding the Cathedral of the Most Holy Trinity at Hamilton. Hay had previously been consulted in 1848-9 on the original designs of 1844 by James Cranston. In 1864 Hay returned to Scotland and re-married (Jemima Huddleston). He then accepted an offer to enter into partnership with David Cousin, the Edinburgh City Architect. After 1870, Hay took complete control of the practice following Cousin’s serious deterioration of health. The following year, Hay received the commission for the restoration of St Giles from William Chambers, Lord Provost. In 1878 Hay entered partnership with George Henderson. This was a collaboration that lasted until William Hay’s death on 30 May 1888. He left behind his wife Jemima, and their only daughter Fanny. George Henderson George Henderson (1846-1905) was born at 7 Greenhill Park, Edinburgh, a house built by his father. His parents were John Henderson, a distinguished Edinburgh architect, and Hannah Matilda Exley. In 1858 he enrolled at the Royal High School in Edinburgh which he attended until 1861, at which time he entered his father’s office as an articled pupil. George trained with his father, John Henderson, until the latter died in 1862; George Henderson completed his apprenticeship under David Cousin (later associated with William Hay) who took over his father’s practice. During his apprenticeship George travelled extensively and made numerous field sketches of ruins and churches in Edinburgh and around many areas of Scotland. It was largely due to this first hand experience that Henderson gained such in-depth knowledge of medieval architectural style. George emigrated to Australia in May 1867 at the age of 21, and joined the office of Alexander Davidson, a former fellow assistant from his fathers office. At the practice in Rokewood, Victoria, Henderson began as an unpaid assistant to Davidson. Soon afterwards both men were able to send money home to support their families; a number of important commissions were secured in late 1868 and early 1869 following a move to Geelong, Victoria. A formal partnership was created in late 1869, with Davidson now receiving 5/9 of the profits. This was not an entirely satisfying set up for Henderson. The first partnership lasted from 1 January1869 until 31 December 1873. The architects appeared to have taken some time over the negotiations of the second partnership, with the documents only being signed on 1 June 1874. This second partnership endured until 1876, the two men parting on hostile terms. By 1878 George had returned to Edinburgh and entered into partnership with William Hay. The latter was well connected in ecclesiastical and aristocratic circles, and this was the first time George Henderson was engaged with clients above his own status. Hay and Henderson The premises of the Hay & Henderson practice were initially located at 17 Hill Street in Edinburgh from 1877, before moving firstly to 2 Hill Street in 1884, and subsequently into 12 Queen Street in 1888. Some of the first work undertaken by the duo, and amongst the most prestigious, was the third restoration of St Giles Cathedral in 1881-83. Many ecclesiastical commissions came their way in the 1880s; including Old St Paul’s Episcopal Church; Craiglockhart Church; the new chancel at St Mary’s Episcopal Church in Hamilton, Lanarkshire; the chancel and S aisle, school buildings and new hall at St Peter’s in Galashiels; St Paul’s Church, Galashiels; and the restoration of the tower at Peebles Old Parish Church at the request of Dr William Chambers, Lord Provost. As well as the stream of commissions at home, the pair continued with work in the dominions: following a fire at the Bermuda Cathedral in 1883, Hay & Henderson were called upon to supervise the reconstruction work. They also completed work for St John’s Cathedral in Newfoundland. Following the death of William Hay in 1888, George Henderson became the sole partner, and the business continued until his death in 1905.

Accruals The collection is closed. No further accruals expected.

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