Basic Biographical Details

Name: Harbourne Maclennan
Designation:  
Born: 1871
Died: 27 August 1951
Bio Notes: Harbourne Maclennan (whose surname is incorrectly given in some sources as 'MacLennan') was born in 1871, the son of John Maclennan, land surveyor of Ellon and educated at Elgin Academy and Dunfermline High School. Around 1886, he joined the Aberdeen firm of Jenkins & Marr as an apprentice, and from 1888 until 1894 he attended classes at Gray's School of Art and won several Department of Science and Art prizes including a Queen's Prize. He remained with Jenkins & Marr as assistant for one further year after his articles and subsequently made a study tour in Europe: as an academic architect. When his father was appointed Road Surveyor and Master of Works for East Fife, he moved to Dunfermline and commenced independent practice at the age of twenty-three. In 1900 he was invited by Jenkins to return to the Jenkins & Marr practice, Marr having died in 1899. The catalyst was probably the commission to design the Masonic Hall in Crown Street, Aberdeen, which he carried out on his own account in 1908-1910. He was belatedly made a partner in 1915, and became sole partner in 1921. Jenkins had retired by then and died two years later, but Maclennan retained the existing practice title of Jenkins & Marr. In 1935 Maclennan took William Alexander (or Arthur) Davidson, and his own son John Maclennan, into partnership. He was a specialist in paper-making factories and was responsible for designing several distilleries in the north-east, many Local Authority housing schemes, and extensive water supply and drainage schemes throughout Scotland.

Maclennan was active in public and professional life, being President of the Aberdeen Society of Architects from 1916-18 and deeply involved in the founding of the RIAS. He was also an active participant in the Aberdeen Society of Architects, to which he delivered many 'valuable lectures'. He was a member of the Aberdeen Art Gallery committee and was 'a lover and collector of architectural books and works of art', owning several works by Hornel and D Y Cameron. A G R Mackenzie observed of him that 'he was a master of good construction, but had an open mind as to new forms, and while friendly to trade representatives was quite devastating in his questions as to the merits of their products. He was one of those who did not believe in experimenting with his clients' money'.

Maclennan's wife died in 1943 but he remained in active practice until the date of his death, 27 August 1951. His motto, according to A G R Mackenzie, was 'always busy, but never hurried'. He left estate of £50,334 11s 7d + £491 16s 3d.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Beechlee/334, Great Western Road, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate   
Item 2 of 316, Bridge Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessc. 1886After 1930 
Item 3 of 33, Bon Accord Crescent, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusinessc. 1939 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 4Jenkins & Marrc. 18861891 or 1892ApprenticeReturned as assistant, becoming partner in 1915, and continuing the practice in 1923.
Item 2 of 4Jenkins & Marr1891 or 18921892 or 1893Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Jenkins & Marr19001915(?) 
Item 4 of 4Jenkins & Marr19151951PartnerSole partner from 1921

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1Frederick William MorganAugust 19311934Apprentice 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 59 Aberdeen Ice Rink  AberdeenScotlandClaimed for him in obituary - perhaps a forerunner to the Scott Sutherland building?
Item 2 of 59 Paper Mills  LancashireEnglandDate unknown
Item 3 of 591895Aberdour ManseAberdour FifeScotlandReported on repairs required
Item 4 of 591895Carnock Mill, mill buildings, houses and officesCarnock FifeScotlandRepairs to mill, dwelling houses and offices
Item 5 of 591895Isle of Canty, bothyCarnock FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 591897Bakery, High StreetDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 591897Licensed premises, CoaledgeFordell FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 8 of 591897Shops and houses for James AuldAberdour FifeScotland 
Item 9 of 591898Cot houses, West PitcorthieDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 10 of 591898Globe WorksDunfermline FifeScotlandReconstruction after fire
Item 11 of 591898HouseNorth Queensferry FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 591898Model Lodging HouseDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 13 of 591898Stores and painting offices for David WattDunfermline FifeScotland 
Item 14 of 591899CemeteryDunfermline FifeScotlandNew walls
Item 15 of 591899Douglas CottageNorth Queensferry FifeScotlandAlterations
Item 16 of 591899HawthornbankDunfermline FifeScotlandInterior remodelling and conservatory added
Item 17 of 59After 1900Cairnbulg Castle  AberdeenshireScotlandRestoration
Item 18 of 591903162-166 Market Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 19 of 591908Masonic Temple  AberdeenScotlandMainly responsible
Item 20 of 591910HawthornbankDunfermline FifeScotlandSummer house pavilion added (HS list gives a date of 1900 for this)
Item 21 of 591911Inverurie Town Hall, museum and libraryInverurie AberdeenshireScotlandAddition of library and museum
Item 22 of 591913Villa for James Burley, Rubislaw Den North  AberdeenScotland 
Item 23 of 591914Stoneywood Paper MillBucksburn AberdeenScotlandGiant warehouse
Item 24 of 591915Oakbank School, Governor's House  AberdeenScotland 
Item 25 of 59c. 1920Stoneywood Housing EstateStoneywood AberdeenScotland 
Item 26 of 59c. 1920Torry Housing SchemeTorry AberdeenScotlandWas appointed as consultant with William Kelly
Item 27 of 59Before 1923Central Chambers  AberdeenScotland 
Item 28 of 59Before 1923Culter Paper Mills and Housing Scheme  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 29 of 59Before 1923Maritime Chambers  AberdeenScotland 
Item 30 of 59Before 1923Masonic TemplePeterhead AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 31 of 59Before 1923Pirie's Photographic Paper factory and offices  AberdeenScotland 
Item 32 of 59Before 1923Scottish Temperance Chambers  AberdeenScotland 
Item 33 of 59Before 1923Stoneywood Paper MillBucksburn AberdeenScotlandAddition
Item 34 of 59Before 1923Stores and offices for William McEwen & Co  GlasgowScotland 
Item 35 of 59Before 1923Union Paper Mills   ScotlandAdditions
Item 36 of 59Before 1923Valleyfield Paper MillsPenicuik MidlothianScotlandAdditions
Item 37 of 59Before 1923Woodside Paper Mills  AberdeenScotlandAddition
Item 38 of 591925213 Union Street  AberdeenScotlandRefitting
Item 39 of 591927100 Queen's Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 40 of 5919276 Union Row  AberdeenScotland 
Item 41 of 591929Commercial Bank, Aberdeen  AberdeenScotland 
Item 42 of 591930Four HousesBallater AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 43 of 591930Moine-na-VeyBallater (by) AberdeenshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 44 of 591935Abbey National Building Society offices  AberdeenScotland 
Item 45 of 591935Commercial Bank of Scotland  AberdeenScotland 
Item 46 of 591935Commercial Bank of Scotland  AberdeenScotland 
Item 47 of 591935Halls, Classrooms and Offices  AberdeenScotland 
Item 48 of 591935Licensed premises in new housing area  AberdeenScotland 
Item 49 of 591935Warehouse for John Menzie & Co Ltd  AberdeenScotland 
Item 50 of 59After 1935Stoneywood Paper MillBucksburn AberdeenScotlandRebuilding of mill? Large additions?
Item 51 of 591936Church Hall, Holburn  AberdeenScotland 
Item 52 of 591936Offices, Holburn  AberdeenScotland 
Item 53 of 591937St Katharine's Club  AberdeenScotland 
Item 54 of 591938Fife Arms HotelMacduff BanffshireScotland 
Item 55 of 59Before 1951Breweries and/or maltings  EdinburghScotland 
Item 56 of 59Before 1951Breweries and/or maltings  GlasgowScotland 
Item 57 of 59Before 1951Bridge over the River DeeBanchory KincardineshireScotland 
Item 58 of 59Before 1951Culter Paper MillsCulter AberdeenshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 59 of 59Before 1951Paper Mills  YorkshireEngland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Pressp92 - incorrectly gives surname as 'MacLennan' (the capital 'L' is an error)
Item 2 of 5British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914  Incorrectly gives surname as 'MacLennan' (the capital 'L' is an error)
Item 3 of 5RIBA1930The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 5RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 5 of 5Who's Who in Architecture1914    

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIAS QuarterlyNovember 195186Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)p59 - obituary by A G R Mackenzie