Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Haslehurst Lawrence (sometimes misspelt George Hazelhurst Lawrence)
Designation:  
Born: 29 February 1912
Died: 31 August 1985
Bio Notes: George Haslehurst Lawrence (his middle name is misspelt Hazelhurst in some sources) was born on 29 February 1912, the son of George Henry Lawrence, civil servant, and his wife, Mary Haslehurst Stewart. He studied at Edinburgh College of Art under John Begg from October 1929. On 12 September 1933 he commenced a year's practical experience in the office of Burnet, Tait & Lorne, working on the Masonic Hospital at Ravenscourt Park, Silver End, and the Curzon Cinema. He returned thereafter to complete his studies, receiving his diploma on 30 June 1935 and passing the Professional Practice exam on 9 July that year to obtain an exemption from the RIBA final exam. This entitled him to be admitted ARIBA on 2 December the same year, his proposers being Thomas Smith Tait, James Alexander Arnott, and Begg, who wrote in his supporting statement : 'His work was invariably of a very high quality'. He was also a member of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, serving as Senior Vice President (see Builder 7 June 1957 - CHECK dates; Builder 1 May 1959 notes him as president elect) and president (1959 - 1961).

In 1936 he returned to Edinburgh to set up his own practice, and designed one good traditional house and a remarkable modernist house. Two years later he returned to London to join the London County Council's Town Planning Department. After war service from 1939 to 1946 he returned once more to Scotland and remained there thereafter, working in the Department of Health for Scotland as Planning Officer, Senior Architect and finally Deputy Chief Architect. In 1950 he is recorded as being Lieutenant Colonel and presumably must have either seen active service in the Second World War or been involved with the Territorial Army.

Lawrence was a member of the Technical Aid Team on Low-Cost Building Survey in Northern Nigeria in 1963, and was appointed Chief Executive of the National Building Agency in July 1964. He remained in this post until at least 1967. He was elected FRIBA on 7 April 1965, hsi proposers being Clive Bain, William Sinclair Gauldie and Stirrat Johnson-Marshall.

He died at home in Edinburgh on 31 August 1985. He was survived by his wife, Angela Beatrix Boyd.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 418, Mansionhouse Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1935c. 1940 
Item 2 of 4London, EnglandBusinessAfter 1938  
Item 3 of 411, Warriston Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1952(?)After 1957 
Item 4 of 42, Dalrymple Crescent, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivateBefore 19701985 

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 6(Sir) John Burnet, Tait & Lorne12 September 1933September 1934Assistant 
Item 2 of 6London County Council Architects' Department (LCC Architects' Department)19381939 In Town Planning Department
Item 3 of 6Department of Health for Scotland (Scottish Board of Health; later Scottish Development Department)19461948 Planning Officer
Item 4 of 6Department of Health for Scotland (Scottish Board of Health; later Scottish Development Department)19481956 Senior Architect
Item 5 of 6Department of Health for Scotland (Scottish Board of Health; later Scottish Development Department)19561964 Deputy Chief Architect
Item 6 of 6National Building Agency1964  George Lawrence was the Chief Executive.

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 6James Alexander Arnott2 December 1935for Associateship
Item 2 of 6Clive Bain7 April 1965For Fellowship
Item 3 of 6John Begg2 December 1935for Associateship
Item 4 of 6William Sinclair Gauldie7 April 1965For Fellowship
Item 5 of 6Stirrat Andrew William Johnson-Marshall7 April 1965For Fellowship
Item 6 of 6Thomas Smith Tait2 December 1935for Associateship

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 101933Curzon CinemaMayfair LondonEnglandAs assistant to Burnet, Tait & Lorne
Item 2 of 101933Royal Masonic Hospital, Ravenscourt ParkHammersmith LondonEnglandAs assistant to Burnet, Tait & Lorne
Item 3 of 101934Masonic HallSilver End EssexEnglandAs assistant to Burnet, Tait & Lorne
Item 4 of 10193643 Ormidale Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 10After 1936Unidentified petrol station   Scotland 
Item 6 of 1019384 Glenlockhart Bank  EdinburghScotland 
Item 7 of 101950Health Centre, SighthillSighthill EdinburghScotlandAs senior architect in the Department of Health for Scotland
Item 8 of 101953Health CentreStranraer WigtownshireScotlandAs senior architect in the Department of Health for Scotland.
Item 9 of 101956Four schools in Stewartry of KirkcudbrightKirkcudbright KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 10 of 101959Kingsway Technical College  DundeeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Glendinning, Miles1997Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75  Tuckwell Press Ltdp11, p164-5 Sighthill Health Centre
Item 2 of 5McKean, Charles1987The Scottish Thirties: An Architectural Introduction Edinburgh: Scottish Academic Pressp195
Item 3 of 5RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 4 of 5RIBA1970RIBA Directory 1970   
Item 5 of 5RIBA1979Directory of members   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder7 June 1957  p1024
Item 2 of 4Builder1 May 1959  'Edinburgh Architectural Association' p832
Item 3 of 4Builder22 May 1959  brief mention in 'Notes of the Week' p912
Item 4 of 4Builder28 April 1961  'Edinburgh Architectural Association: A Lively 1961 Year Book' p803

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3DMW ArchiveInterview with Charles McKean, early 1980s (copy)  
Item 2 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 3 of 3RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers A no5860 (stored under F5710, combined box 96); F no5710 (combined box 96)