Basic Biographical Details Name: | Ebenezer James MacRae | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 18 January 1881 | Died: | 15 January 1951 | Bio Notes: | Ebenezer James MacRae was born on 18 January 1881, 'a son of the manse'. His father was Alexander MacRae, a minister of the Free Church of Scotland and his mother was Annie Macrae. Somewhat surprisingly he was articled to the Roman Catholic Archibald Macpherson in 1899 and remained with him as draughtsman and assistant until December 1907. Macpherson, of whom he wrote in an affectionate memoir, was to remain a close friend for as long as he lived. During his time with Macpherson he studied at the School of Applied Art under Frank Worthington Simon from 1899 to 1904, concurrently attending Edinburgh University (1901-02) under Professor Gerald Baldwin Brown, and Heriot-Watt College (1901-07); from 1904 he attended the classes at the newly merged Edinburgh College of Art, including those in antique figure drawing, completing the course in 1906. During these early years he undertook sketching and measuring tours of York (1902 and 1904), Melrose (1904), Belgium (1905), Cambridge and Lincoln (1907) and Northamptonshire, Cambridge and Oxford (1907).
At the beginning of 1908 he moved to the office of John Kinross to spend six months assisting on his competition entry for the restoration of Kirkwall Cathedral, thereafter accepting a salaried post in the City Architect's Department under James Anderson Williamson. The following year, in collaboration with William Davidson who had been a fellow draughtsman in Macpherson's office, he exhibited designs for the furnishing and restoration of two Norfolk churches at the Royal Scottish Academy. Further collaborative designs were exhibited in 1911 and 1919, but the association between Davidson and MacRae appears to have been a loose one, as there is no evidence of a formal partnership having existed. He made additional tours of Paris in 1909, York in 1911, Norfolk in 1912 and Normandy in 1913.
MacRae was admitted LRIBA in the mass intake of 20 July 1911, proposed by James Bow Dunn and the Edinburgh Architectural Association; but with characteristic determination he passed the qualifying exam in 1914 and was admitted ARIBA late that year, his proposers this time being Macpherson, John Watson, one of the teachers at the School of Applied Art and at Edinburgh College of Art and Alexander Lorne Campbell.
In the First World War MacRae served with the Royal Engineers. He returned to the City Architect's Office in 1918, becoming Depute City Architect at some time prior to 1925 and succeeding Williamson as City Architect in July of the latter year. He was admitted FRIBA in 1934, proposed by Thomas Forbes Maclennan. Later that year he and Wilson were members of the Department of Health fact-finding team led by the Permanent Secretary John Highton which toured the continental housing estates in Rotterdam, Amsterdam, Berlin, Frankfurt, Prague, Vienna and Paris. He compiled much of the analysis that appeared in the subsequent report which had a profound influence on local authority housing in the late 1930s.
MacRae was one of the pioneers of conservation. He renovated a number of Old Town buildings and where that was not practicable he rebuilt several facades in their original form. In his survey of the Old Town he was assisted by a newly qualified planner, William Dey, later of Gordon & Dey, and produced a policy report; and from that he proceeded to produce another policy document, 'The Heritage of Greater Edinburgh', which listed all the traditional buildings in the city which were worthy of retention, very much in parallel with the Marquess of Bute's lists for the country as a whole. A large collection of related papers is preserved in Edinburgh Central Library. His interest also extended to historic statuary, and he published an essay on the 'Lead Equestrian Statue of Charles II' in the Old Edinburgh Club Transactions.
MacRae retired in July 1946, but continued to be influential in a variety of fields, remaining a member of the RIAS Council until 1950. He had a particular interest in the Edinburgh Cripple and Invalid Children's Aid Society to which he gave generously of his time and money and was ornithologist, photographer and watercolourist, exhibiting at the RSA from 1915 until 1940. Several of the subjects record his travels in France c.1914 and Germany c.1930. John Ross McKay wrote of him that 'as an official he was easy of approach. His innate courtesy and charm of manner made it a pleasure to visit him...he was always ready to assist and never adopted the reserve of the official'.
He died on 15 January 1951 at the Deaconess hospital, Edinburgh, his home address then being Taprobane, Ratho. His wiife, Dorothy Craigie, survived him. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 9, Albert Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | | After 1948 | |  | 17, Braid Terrace Crescent, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1911 * | | |  | Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1930 or 1931 * | 1939 or after 1940 | |  | 64, Frederick Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1934 * | | |  | Taprobane, Ratho, Midlothian, Scotland | Private | 1950 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or Pupils* earliest date known from documented sources.
RIBARIBA ProposersRIBA Proposals
Buildings and DesignsThis architect 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 |  | | East Pilton housing estate, phase 2 | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Macrae was the City Architect at the time of East Pilton's establishment. |  | 1903 | Our Lady of Loretto and St Michael RC Church, presbytery and hall | Musselburgh | | Midlothian | Scotland | As assistant to Archibald Macpherson |  | 1907 | Kirkwall Cathedral | Kirkwall | Mainland | Orkney | Scotland | Competition tender for restoration - as assistant to John Kinross |  | 1909 | Church of St Agnes, rood screen | Cawston | | Norfolk | England | Design exhibited - in collaboration with William Davidson |  | 1909 | Church of St Helen | Ranworth | | Norfolk | England | Designs for restoration - in collaboration with William Davidson |  | 1909 | Gorgie Market, corn market, Corporation Slaughterhouse and police station | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As assistant to James Anderson Williamson in City Architect's Office |  | 1920 | 218-240 and 241-243 Ferry Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1921 | Kilcalmonell Churchyard, War Memorial Gateway | | | Argyll | Scotland | |  | 1926 | Gorgie Market, corn market, Corporation Slaughterhouse and police station | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and Extension |  | 1926 | Tram Shelter | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | City Architect |  | 1927 | Lauriston Castle, Stable Court | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1927 | Portobello Power Station | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | MacRae design built, absorbing first section by Williamson. (In 1931 workshops and stores added) |  | 1927 | Prestonfield Housing Scheme | Prestonfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1927 | St Margaret's Park | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Laid out park |  | 1927 | Stenhouse Housing Scheme | Stenhouse | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1929 | 15-19 Grassmarket | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1929 | 40-42 Candlemaker Row | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration - as City Architect |  | 1929 | 74-84 Grassmarket | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration |  | 1929 | Block of buildings, Grassmarket | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1929 | Houses, Plainstanes Close, Grassmarket | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration - as City Architect |  | 1929 | Niddrie Housing Estate | Niddrie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1929 | Old Harrow Inn | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration |  | 1929 | Public Library | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1929 | Richmond Place, West Richmond Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1929 or 1930 | 46-48 Candlemaker Row | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration - as City Architect |  | 1930s | The Pleasance | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Rebuilding - as City Architect |  | 1930s | Warehouses, Dalry | Dalry | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1930s | Westfield Tramway | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1930 | 100-110 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | 204 Houses | Slateford | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | 221-229 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | 24 Houses | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | 25-29 Simon Square, 1-8 Howden Street and 55-59 East Crosscauseway | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Demolition and rebuilding |  | 1930 | 39-43 Candlemaker Row | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration - interior renewed |  | 1930 | 74-96 West Bow | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration |  | 1930 | Arcade of St John's and St Cuthbert's churchyards | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1930 | Canongate Improvement Scheme | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | Clarebank School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Pavilion |  | 1930 | Corstorphine Improvement Scheme | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1930 | East Pilton Housing Estate, layout and phase 1 | East Pilton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Edinburgh City Architect - responsible for layout |  | 1930 | Edinburgh Free Library | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |  | 1930 | Garage at Cleansing Depot | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | Greyfriars Hostel | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | Housing, Easter Road, Dickson Street and Marionville Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930 | Tollcross School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension |  | c. 1930 | 28-36 Cowgate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration |  | c. 1930(?) | 50-54 Candlemaker Row | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Shopfronts |  | c. 1930 | Gorgie Housing Estate | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1930S | Gifford Park Housing | | | Edinburgh | | City Architect |  | 1931 | 206-208 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Bangour Village Hospital, Nurses' Home | Uphall | | West Lothian | Scotland | Extension |  | 1931 | Edinburgh Police boxes | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1931 | Leith Academy and Technical College | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and additions |  | 1931 | Leith Poorhouse | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion to Eastern General Hospital - as City Architect |  | 1931 | Pavilion and house at Ferry Road Recreation Ground | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Royston Mains Housing | | | Edinburgh | | |  | 1931 | St Anne's RC School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect - part restoration, part reconstruction |  | 1931 | St Cuthbert's Public School | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Gym added - as City Architect |  | 1931 | St Leonard's Nursery | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Tractor Shed, Balcarres Street Depot | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Traffic lamps for Edinburgh T-crossings | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1931 | Transformer House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Transformer House | Newcraighall | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1931 | Washhouse | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1931 | Washhouse, Dumbiedykes | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1932 | 76 Morrison Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1932 | Balgreen Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1932 | Braidhills Golf Club, pavilion and tearooms | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1932 | Craigmillar School | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Edinburgh City Chambers | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension of High Street frontage with W & E wings |  | 1932 | Housing Estate, New Saughton | New Saughton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1932 | School in Niddrie Mains Terrace | Niddrie Mains | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1932 | Washhouse, Dalry | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1932 | Watt Institution and School of Arts | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Extension - blocks fronting the Cowgate - as City Architect |  | 1933 | Barony Street, block of council housing on north west | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1933 | Edinburgh Thistle Golf Club | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1933 | Portobello Outdoor Swimming Pool | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | 'Development of Pool and Shelter' |  | After 1933 | Gogarburn Home for Mental Defectives | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Took over the project as City Architect and made additions including two children's villas (1936) |  | 1934 | Bangour Village Asylum | Uphall | | West Lothian | Scotland | Extension |  | 1934 | Hall for Edinburgh Exhibition Association | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Converted to garage |  | 1935 | 49 Buccleuch Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1935 | Craigentinny Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1936 | 28 West Port | Old Town | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1936 | Crewe Road North, Crewe Road Gardens Housing | | | Edinburgh | | |  | 1936 | Edinburgh City Chambers | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Internal alterations - vestibule and stairhall, with panelling and stained glass |  | 1936 | Housing at Piershill | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1936 | Tramway Depot Offices, Smith's Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1936 | West Pilton Housing Scheme | West Pilton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In conjunction with Stewart Kaye |  | 1937 | St Francis RC Primary School | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Attribution in B of S - but this is an error |  | 1938 | 3, 4, 5 St Patrick Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Murrayburn Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1938 | Peffermill School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1939 | City Poorhouse | Craiglockhart | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New additions |  | 1939 | Ferry Road Housing, Edinburgh Corporation | | | Edinburgh | | |  | 1939 | Holy Cross Academy | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | new building |  | 1939 | Primary School | Tanfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 1939 | Tenement, 174 Morrison Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |  | 9 April 1945 | Royal Mile Proposals | | | Edinburgh | | |  | Early 1900s | Lamp standards, Great Stuart Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Johnson, Jim and Rosenburg, Lou | 2010 | Renewing Old Edinburgh: the Enduring Legacy of Patrick Geddes | | Glendaruel: Argyll Publishing | p 151-157 |  | RCAHMS | 1999 | Homebuilders: Mactaggart & Mickel and the Scottish housebuilding industry | | RCAHMS | p 73, 75, 78, 82 |  | RIBA | 1950 | The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Building Industries | February 1951 | | | Obituary |  | RIAS Quarterly | May 1951 | 84 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | p56 Obituary |  | RIBA Journal | July 1951 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | Obituary p370 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Courtesy of Christopher Gordon | Information sent to Dictionary | | Sent September 2011 |  | H M Register House | Death Register | | |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | L v19 no1443; A v22 no2543 (microfilm reel 22); F no3192 (box 18) |
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