Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Rae
Designation:  
Born: 1 October 1811
Died: 5 February 1869
Bio Notes: George Rae was born in St Andrews on 1 October 1811, the elder son of Walter Rae, wright and his wife Janet Smith. He was probably initially apprenticed to his father, but probably had Edinburgh experience before he was admitted as a freeman to the Society of Wrights on 24 December 1832. The first official reference to him as an architect was in the Town Council minutes of 1844 and from that year until 1850 he attended the meetings of the Police Commissioners in that capacity. In 1850 he was elected boxmaster of the wrights and in 1851 was elected to the Town Council, serving on several committees and donating the gold badge of the Convener of the Seven Trades in 1864, a gesture which suggest that the practice was reasonably prosperous.

Rae seems to have been in poor health by the later 1860s as he did not seek re-election in 1868. He died on 5 February 1869 at Kinloch Manse, where his younger brother David Smith Rae, born 1822 had been minister of the combined parishes of Lethendy and Kinloch since 1847.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 175, Market Street, St Andrews, Fife, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1862After 1866 

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 1Walter Raec. 1825(?)Before 1832(?)Apprentice(?) 

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 65183616-17 Greyfriars Garden and 150 North StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 2 of 65184011 North Bell StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandAttribution by John Frew
Item 3 of 651842Bell Street, overall plan and elevationsSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 4 of 651844140-146 North StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandAttributed to Rae in Gifford (1988)
Item 5 of 651844172 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 6 of 65184440-44 North StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandFor himself
Item 7 of 6518451-8 Playfair TerraceSt Andrews FifeScotlandAs City Architect
Item 8 of 65184591 North StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandAddition of drawing room
Item 9 of 651845(?)Balcaskie, gamekeeper's housePittenweem FifeScotlandAttribution uncertain - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 10 of 651845English SchoolSt Andrews FifeScotlandConversion to City Hall
Item 11 of 651845St Andrews Harbour WorksSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 12 of 651847(?)1-4 Lockhart PlaceSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 13 of 651848(?)Forthar Lime Works, draw kilnFreuchie FifeScotlandAttribution uncertain - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 14 of 651849Cassindonald Farmhouse and SteadingCameron FifeScotlandAdditions and alterations to steading and additions to house; two new cottages and repairs to old cottage
Item 15 of 651849Gillespie TerraceSt Andrews FifeScotlandLaid out site and built most of terrace
Item 16 of 651850sCounty Prison, Station RoadCupar FifeScotland7 new airing yards - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae).
Item 17 of 651850s(?)Queens Gardens, overall plan and elevationsSt Andrews Fife  
Item 18 of 651850(?)6 Playfair TerraceSt Andrews FifeScotlandAttribution uncertain - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 19 of 65c. 1850Kingask House  FifeScotland 
Item 20 of 651851(?)Barnturk Farm steading  FifeScotlandAdditions? - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 21 of 651851Cross Keys HotelSt Andrews FifeScotlandProbably designed original building
Item 22 of 65c. 1851Ceres Parish ChurchCeres FifeScotlandAdvised on building up of original openings at belfry stage
Item 23 of 65185277-79 Market StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 24 of 651852South Haugh, feuing planSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 25 of 651853St Andrews Butter MarketSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 26 of 651853St Andrews slaughterhousesSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 27 of 651853Union ClubSt Andrews FifeScotlandOriginal building
Item 28 of 651854HouseSt Andrews FifeScotlandProposed conversion into lock-up (not built - converted into fire engine house instead)
Item 29 of 651855135-137 Market StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 30 of 65185627 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 31 of 6518574 Queen's GardensSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 32 of 651857Royal HotelSt Andrews FifeScotlandOriginal building - 'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 33 of 6518591-7 Gibson PlaceSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 34 of 65185919 Pilmour LinksSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution (on stylistic grounds)
Item 35 of 65185954 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandRebuilding - 'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 36 of 651859Queen's GardensSt Andrews FifeScotlandSome of houses (probably including nos 5 and 13-14) - commission shared with John Milne
Item 37 of 65Early 1850s(?)133-139 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 38 of 65Late 1850s171-173 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 39 of 65186013 Queen's GardensSt Andrews FifeScotlandFrew, J (ed) states that it is 'probably' by Rae
Item 40 of 65186014 Queen's GardensSt Andrews FifeScotlandFrew, J (ed) states that it is 'probably' by Rae
Item 41 of 65186170-72 Market StreetSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 42 of 651861Inchcape HouseSt Andrews FifeScotlandAttribution by John Frew
Item 43 of 65186240-42 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandAlterations including bay window (HS attribution - but B of S and 'Building for a New Age' attribute it to John Milne)
Item 44 of 651862House for Dr J W Maillerdet  FifeScotland 
Item 45 of 651862KinnessburnSt Andrews FifeScotlandStylistic attribution
Item 46 of 6518634-6 Ellice PlaceSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 47 of 651863Golf HotelSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 48 of 651864Cross Keys HotelSt Andrews FifeScotlandEast wing
Item 49 of 651864(?)Dunfermline PrisonDunfermline FifeScotlandAlterations or additions? - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 50 of 651864EdgecliffeSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 51 of 651864(?)Fernie Mill and farmMonimail FifeScotlandFarm steading? - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 52 of 651864Kingsbarns Parish ChurchKingsbarns FifeScotlandSpire - James Gillespie supervised this
Item 53 of 651864Seaton HouseSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 54 of 651864St RegulusSt Andrews FifeScotlandHS gives c1868 as date
Item 55 of 651865Boarhills Parish ChurchBoarhills FifeScotland 
Item 56 of 651865(?)Forth and Tay Bridges  FifeScotlandSurvey plans? - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 57 of 651865Royal HotelSt Andrews FifeScotlandDining room extension
Item 58 of 65186659-61 South StreetSt Andrews FifeScotlandRemodelling as house and office - for himself
Item 59 of 651866Photographic studio for T Rodger, 6 St Mary's PlaceSt Andrews FifeScotland'Building for a New Age' attribution
Item 60 of 6518678-11 Gibson PlaceSt Andrews FifeScotland 
Item 61 of 651867(?)Buckhaven UP ChurchBuckhaven FifeScotlandAttribution uncertain - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 62 of 651867(?)Collairnie, farmhouse, steading and cottagesDunbog FifeScotlandAdditions to steading? - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 63 of 651867(?)Freuchie UP ChurchFreuchie FifeScotlandAttribution uncertain - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 64 of 651868(?)1 Gillespie TerraceSt Andrews FifeScotlandAdditions? - unclear whether early refs in Gillespie & Scott list are to Rae or to Hugh Birrell (it is not yet known whether George Smith Birrell, whose practice was taken over by Gillespie, took over his father's practice or that of Rae)
Item 65 of 651874Markinch Board SchoolMarkinch FifeScotlandSite plan drawn up

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Frew, J (ed.)1984Building for a New Age St Andrews: Crawford Centre for the Arts, University of St Andrews (undated but pub. 1984)p17-24 John Frew gives a list of works attributed on stylistic grounds
Item 2 of 4Pride, Glen L1999The Kingdom of Fife2nd EditionThe Rutland Pressp126, p127, p132, p133, p138, p140
Item 3 of 4Westwood, _____1862Westwood's Parochial Directory of Fife and Kinross Edinburgh: John Menzies 
Item 4 of 4Westwood, _____1866Westwood's Parochial Directory of Fife and Kinross Edinburgh: John Menzies