Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Forbes Sherar (or Robert Forbes Shearer)
Designation:  
Born: 18 July 1862
Died: 1943
Bio Notes: Robert Forbes Sherar was born on 18 July 1862 at 2 Deanhaugh Street, Edinburgh. He initially practised primarily as a landscape painter in both watercolour and iol, exhibiting at the Royal Scottish Academy between 1885 and 1903, and although he described himself as architect's assistant or architect in the censuses, it is not ye tknown if he served a full articled apprenticeship as an architect. In 1903 he is recorded as being chief assistant to Peter Lyle Barclay Henderson when he won the competition for the Queen Victoria Memorial in Allahabad. During that period he was based at 20 Spittal Street (1885), 297 Morningside Road (1888 to 1889), Jordanburn House (1890), Belhaven Terrace (1891) and 12 Maxwell Street, addresses which suggest steadily improving circumstances. He married Margaret Creighton in 1889.

In 1903 Sherar set up practice and artist's studio at the Peddie-owned office block at 122 George Street. In the same year he lectured to the Edinburgh Photographic Society on the use of perspective and in 1905 Sinclair published his 'Perspective Tables: For Practical Architectural Draughtsmen;, a 69-page volume with 60 diagrams and photographs. In that year Sherar appears in the Burgh Records of Peebles but it is yet unclear what his involvement was in Peebles at that time. By that date, 1905, he had moved office and studio to 14B George Street, and while at that address he entered the Perth City Hall competition of 1907 in association with William Erskine Thomson: both were described as 'of Perth' at that date.

Around 1910 Sherar set up house and office at 6 Ann Street where he remained for the rest of his life, latterly spelling his surname Shearer. He died in 1943, and was survived by his son Roland Creighton Sherar (1889-1999).

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 820, Spittal Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1885 *  
Item 2 of 8257, Morningside Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1888 *  
Item 3 of 8Jordanburn House, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1890 *  
Item 4 of 8Belhaven, Belhaven Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1891 *  
Item 5 of 812, Maxwell Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1898 *  
Item 6 of 8122, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness19031903 or 1904 
Item 7 of 814B, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1903 or 19041909 or 1910 
Item 8 of 86, Ann Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1909 or 19101943 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 5 The Old CrossNorham NorthumberlandEnglandNo date - and this may be a painting rather than a design for the Cross or restoration work.
Item 2 of 51903Queen Victoria Memorial (Clock Tower and Canopy)  AllahabadIndiaAccepted design
Item 3 of 51907Perth Town HallPerth PerthshireScotlandCompetition design - unsuccessful
Item 4 of 51909Offices for Messrs Dobbie, nurserymen  EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 51917Masonic HallRosyth FifeScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Evening Telegraph7 January 1903   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Peebles Town HallPeebles Burgh Records 16 September 1905
Item 2 of 2Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from Stephen Evans (emails 12 July 2006)