Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Guthrie | Designation: | | Born: | 1832 | Died: | 10 September 1903 | Bio Notes: | John Guthrie was born in 1832 in Jedburgh, the son of James Guthrie, plumber and slater. The family moved to Hawick when he was one year old, and there established the firm of James Guthrie & Sons, plumbers, slaters and gasfitters, at 61 High Street. John took over running the business with his two brothers but also trained as an architect; where he did so is unknown, but he became highly accomplished in his new profession. He went on to supervise the feuing of Sunnyill and designed a range of buildings in Hawick including a number of villas. He also acted for many years as the architect for the Hawick Working Men's Building & Investment Company.
A man of wide interests, Guthrie was a founding member of the Hawick Archaeological Society and later served as its President. He was also a painter and art lover and contributed travel accounts to the local press. He painted a view of the High Street from the East End in the 1850s, another in 1893, and one called ‘View of Rachel Anderson’s House, High Street’. He is credited with bringing 'nosey wundis' (an angled mirror positioned outside a window to allow a view along the street without leaning out) to Hawick after he saw devices like this on his travels on the Continent and built one for the business premises of James Guthrie & Sons at 61 High Street. They soon appeared all over Hawick.
A Liberal-Unionist in politics and a lifelong teetotaller, having joined the Rechabites at the age of ten along with Robert Murray, he was an office-bearer in the Congregational Chapel in O'Connell Street, but latterly attended meetings of The Brethren in Oliver Place.
Guthrie married Elizabeth Purdom Borthwick. He died at 61 High Street, Hawick, on 10 September 1903, having suffered a 'paralytic shock' eighteen months earlier and been in poor health ever since. He was buried at Wellogate Cemetery, survived by his second wife who died in 1908, and by two sons and two daughters. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 61, High Street, Hawick, Roxburghshire, Scotland | Private/business | | 1903 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Hawick Advertiser | 15 September 1903 | | | Death announcement and obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Research by Douglas Scott and notes from J Gordon Macdonald. |
|