Basic Biographical Details Name: | Henry ('Harry') Ramsay Taylor | Designation: | | Born: | 1863 or 1864 | Died: | 14 November 1922 | Bio Notes: | Harry (although actually Henry he was always known as Harry) Ramsay Taylor was born in Stranraer in 1863 or 1864, the son of Samuel Henry Taylor, an architect in practice there. He was educated at Stranraer but completed his schooling at Glasgow Academy and was in his father's office from 1878 until March 1880 when he transferred to the Lessels practice in Edinburgh. He completed his apprenticeship under John Lessels & Son and remained as assistant to James Lessels thereafter, quickly rising to be 'head of the office'. During that period he attended the School of Art, Heriot-Watt College and the University of Edinburgh and travelled in Belgium, England and Scotland.
In 1890 James Lessels took Taylor into partnership, the firm of Lessels & Taylor continuing to occupy the existing Lessels office at 50 George Street. Shortly thereafter Taylor visited Italy to make a study of Venetian architecture.
After James Lessels died, Taylor carried on the business retaining the practice of Lessels & Taylor but about 1905 Taylor merged his practice with that of William Ormiston of Cousin & Ormiston as Cousin, Ormiston & Taylor, moving into Ormiston's office at 140 Princes Street: this event marked a final conclusion to the long-standing links between the Cousin and Lessels practices. Taylor was elected FRIBA on 3 December 1906, his proposers being Harold Ogle Tarbolton, Hippolyte Jean Blanc and Alexander Hunter Crawford.
Taylor had an inventive cast of mind. In 1890-91 he invented and patented a system of locomotive electric bell signalling in fog or darkness which attracted a good deal of interest but was not adopted. In 1913 he introduced a cheap-to-produce patent roof-light and during the First World War he devised a neat folding periscope which was sold commercially for parents to send to sons in front-line trenches.
Taylor died on 14 November 1922. Dr A R B Haldane remembered him as a big man, very good with the Haldane children to whom he was known as 'Woolly Bear' because of his liking for big leather coats with fur collars. Portrait sketches in his news cuttings book show him bearded and rather academic-looking with spectacles. His wife Beatrice Rowina Marriner survived him and appears to have continued his practice for a few years with the aid of his staff to complete work in hand. The practice then closed. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 50, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1880 | c. 1905 | | | 1, Torphichen Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1893 | 1895 | | | 9, Upper Gilmore Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1897 | 1915 | | | 140, Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1905 | 1922 | | | 21, Blacket Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1919 | 1922 | His widow continued to live there until late 1920s |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Thomas Sinclair | c. 1899(?) | Before 1905(?) | Assistant | Probably assisted in this office |
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1888 | 3-37 Jeffrey Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Initially as assistant to Lessels, latterly as partner | | 1890 | Grassmarket Mission Hall | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1890 | Craigpark | Ratho | | Midlothian | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | After 1890 | Fosswell | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | After 1890 | Hawkshaw | | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | After 1890 | Parsonage | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | After 1890 | Printing Works for Ballantyne, Hanson & Co | | | | | Additions | | After 1890 | St Leonard's Works | Parkside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions | | After 1890 | Stonefield House and estate | | | Argyll | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | After 1890 | The Lodge | Ratho | | Midlothian | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1891 | Design for Free Library | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design exhibited - perhaps 1887 competition design for Edinburgh Central Library | | 1891 | Tenement, 4-18 Jeffrey Street and 3-9 Cranston Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1893 | Nelson Hall and West Branch Library | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1897 | Boroughloch Brewery | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1897 | Warehouse for John Crabbie & Co | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Front warehouse | | 1898 | Nelson Hall | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1900 | Biscuit Factory, Slateford Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1900 | Falkirk Public Library | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Second premiated competition design (£25 premium) | | 1900 | Penicuik House stables | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | Conversion of stables to new house | | 1901 | Nelson Hall and Library | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1901 | Stirling Public Library | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Won in competition | | 1902 | Carnegie Public Library | Rutherglen | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Second premiated competition design | | 1902 | Tenement, south corner of Nicolson Square and Nicolson Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction with half-timbered upperworks | | 1903 | Bookshop for John Grant, Chambers Street and George IV Bridge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal alterations and new building | | 1903 | Chambers Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Completion, still conforming to original Cousin-Lessels design | | 1903 | Maryhill Public Library | Maryhill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Competition design by Lessels and Taylor | | 1904 | Cloan House | Auchterarder | | Perthshire | Scotland | Reconstruction | | After 1906 | Edinburgh Royal Infirmary | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Nurses' quarters (possibly a conversion of terraced houses on Archibald Place?) and additions | | After 1906(?) | Elibank | | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | After 1906(?) | Glen Etive Lodge | | | Argyll | Scotland | | | After 1906(?) | Kemback House | | | Fife | Scotland | Remodelling | | After 1906(?) | Sheuchan Parish Church, monument to Rev W M Johnston | Stranraer | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | | | Before 1906 | Ferro-concrete factory | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1906 | Murdostoun | Newmains | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Additions | | c. 1906 | Cowden Castle | Muckart | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions (including picture gallery) | | 1907 | Achara | | | Argyll | Scotland | Remodelling of 19th century farmhouse | | 1910 | Geographical Institute | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Incorporating portico of Falcon Hall | | c. 1910 | Dungavel House | Strathaven | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Enlargement to form permanent ducal seat | | c. 1911 | Stranraer Parish Church, Memorial to Rev H P Charlton | Stranraer | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | | | 1912 | College of Domestic Science | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion of terrace to College. | | 1912 | Large house near Connell Ferry | Connell Ferry (near) | | Argyll | Scotland | | | c. 1912 | Hamilton Palace Mausoleum and keeper's lodge | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Stone repairs, probably arising from mining subsidence | | 1913 | Squash Court, Dean Village | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1913 | Kames House, also Kames Cottages and estate buildings | | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Reconstruction and additions - perhaps also responsible for cottages etc | | 1914 | House near Taynuilt | | | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1914 | Nicolson Square Methodist Church , Epworth Halls | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1916 | MacDuff Institute | Birchcraig, near Ballinluig | | Perthshire | Scotland | Conversion and extension of house as home for boys |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | Middle name misspelt 'Ramsey'; original sources confirm, however, that 'Ramsay' is the correct spelling. | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Scotsman | 7 December 1906 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Harry Ramsay Taylor's Newsaper Cutting Book (report on Charlton monument has a biography & joblist) | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | F v18 p29 no1188 (microfilm reel 12) |
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