Basic Biographical Details

Name: Wellesley Cosby Patrick Bailey
Designation:  
Born: 1874
Died: 8 June 1954
Bio Notes: Wellesley Cosby Patrick Bailey was born in 1874 possibly in London, the son of Wellesley Cosby Bailey, who was Secretary of the Zenana Bible and Medical Mission and later Secretary and Superintendent to the Mission to Lepers in India. By 1884 the family were living in Edinburgh in Glengyle Terrace. Bailey junior’s training is not known as he never sought admission to the RIBA. He was in practice from the family’s home address at 17 Greenhill Place, Edinburgh in 1901, and competed for the Soane Medallion in 1902-03, by which date he had visited Italy. This visit seems to have sparked a long-term interest in and affection for Italy and he subsequently married in Florence. By early 1904 he had moved to London and was based at 14 South Square, Gray's Inn. He appears to have obtained a commission for work in Field Court, presumably the sensitive rebuilding of no 4 with a Baroque doorpiece. But by 1905 he had given up his rooms at Gray's Inn and was practising from his home address at 77 Cassio Road, Watford.

Bailey was a good watercolourist and exhibited his work in that field along with his architectural subjects. Sometime after 1905 and before 1927 he moved to South Africa and took a post with the Public Works Department in Pretoria. He continued to exhibit paintings at the South African Academy exhibitions, the subject matter mainly Italian landscapes or townscapes. By about 1935 he was living in Norwood, Johannesburg. Johannesburg Art Gallery has some of his work. He retired from the Institute of South African Architects in 1947. He died on 8 June 1954.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 517, Greenhill Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business1901 *  
Item 2 of 514, South Square, Gray's Inn, London, EnglandBusinessEarly 1904 *  
Item 3 of 577, Cassio Road, Watford, Hertfordshire, EnglandPrivate/business1905 *  
Item 4 of 5Pretoria, South AfricaPrivate/businessc. 1927  
Item 5 of 5Norwood, Johannesburg, South AfricaPrivatec. 1935  

* 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 51901Country House   ScotlandProposed additions-not built
Item 2 of 51901Gogar House  MidlothianScotlandAlterations and restoration
Item 3 of 51904Field CourtGray's Inn LondonEnglandRebuilding of no 4?
Item 4 of 51904Study for façade of a country mansion     
Item 5 of 51904Town Church Design    Perspective view.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Laperriere, Charles Baile de (ed.)1991The Royal Scottish Academy Exhibitors 1826-1990  volume 1, p74
Item 2 of 2www.artefacts.co.za www.artefacts.co.za Website of artefacts, for the recording of South African buildingsAccessed June 2008

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1New Register HouseWills and Testaments