© All rights reserved. The Bailie 8 July 1891 (Feature of Burns Statue, Ayr) (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) 

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Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Kennedy Hunter
Designation: Architect
Born: 1863
Died: 13 February 1929
Bio Notes: James Kennedy Hunter was born in Ayr in 1863, the son of Andrew Hunter, a prosperous builder and Ayr Town Councillorand his wife Elizabeth Clark. He spent two years training as a land-surveyor combined with three years attending drawing and watercolour classes before entering into a shortened apprenticeship with the Ayr architect John Mercer in August 1880. In May 1883 he entered the office of James Archibald Morris as an improver and almost immediately gained exceptional responsibility as Morris had opened an office in London and was spending much of his time there. His RIBA nomination paper records that he spent part of the summer sketching in Scotland and England in those years.

In May 1885 he became partner-in-charge at Ayr as Morris & Hunter, Morris now spending most of his time in the London office. In or about 1896 Morris withdrew from his short-lived partnership with Alfred Chastel de Boinville and returned to Ayr; and in May of the same year the Ayr partnership of Morris & Hunter was dissolved by mutual consent, Hunter setting up practice on his own in Sandgate.

Hunter's land surveying background brought a great deal of estate and feuing work. While very competent his work did not have the individuality of that of Morris and his period as sole practitioner was quite short. In 1899 he engaged James Carrick who had just completed his apprenticeship with Peter Macgregor Chalmers. After only a year Carrick left to gain experience in James Miller's office, probably with Hunter's encouragement, and in 1903 he returned to undertake most of the design work.

Hunter was elected FRIBA on 11 June 1906, his proposers being John Keppie, Thomas Lennox Watson and C J MacLean. In 1910 Hunter promoted Carrick to the position of associate-in-charge rather than partner (a very early instance of such an arrangement). Hunter practised in this period in both Ayr and Glasgow with addresses in both.

Hunter shared Morris's antiquarian interests but his main interest outside the office was politics. At the time of his death he was chairman of the Ayr Unionist Association and president of the Ayr, Newton and Wallacetown Unionist Club. His other main interests were Ayr Cricket Club and Prestwick St Nicholas Golf Club, being at various times president of both; and Ayr Academy Club and the Finlas Angling Club of which he was secretary. Somewhat unusually for a country member he was President of the Glasgow Institute of Architects in 1926-27.

Hunter never married. He retired in 1928 and died of pleurisy following an attack of influenza at 16 Midton Road on 13 February 1929, leaving moveable estate of £16,782 10s 7d plus an eke of £1,308 1s 11d. He left his practice to his assistants Henry Sloan McNair (born 1885) and Andrew Douglas (born 1892), whilst Carrick left to set up practice on his own account. With the exception of war service, both McNair and Douglas had been in Hunter's office since commencing their apprenticeships in 1902 and 1908 respectively. The firm continued at its existing office at 51 Sandgate, under the name of James K Hunter Architects.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 651, Sandgate, Ayr, Ayrshire, ScotlandBusinessBefore 18921929 
Item 2 of 653, Sandgate, Ayr, Ayrshire, ScotlandBusiness19021903 
Item 3 of 616, Midton Road, Ayr, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1906 *  
Item 4 of 6194, St Vincent Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19091915 
Item 5 of 6237, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19191920 
Item 6 of 6227, West George Street, Glasgow, ScotlandBusiness19241925 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3John MercerAugust 1880May 1883Apprentice 
Item 2 of 3James Archibald MorrisMay 1883May 1885Improver 
Item 3 of 3Morris & HunterMay 1885May 1896PartnerBecame a partner in May 1885

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 14James Carrick4 March 1889February 1900AssistantReturned as assistant in 1903
Item 2 of 14John St Clair Williamson18961901Apprentice 
Item 3 of 14Alexander Caldwell Thomson1896April 1904Assistant 
Item 4 of 14Matthew Adam18981898Assistant 
Item 5 of 14John Duncan MacLeod18991899Assistant 
Item 6 of 14George White18991900Assistant 
Item 7 of 14Alexander Young18991904Apprentice 
Item 8 of 14Henry Sloan McNairAugust 1902c. 1907Apprentice 
Item 9 of 14James Carrick3 November 19031915Assistant 
Item 10 of 14Henry Sloan McNairc. 190713 February 1929Assistant(?) 
Item 11 of 14Alexander Young19081908Assistant 
Item 12 of 14Andrew DouglasMay 1908c. 1913Apprentice 
Item 13 of 14Arthur Victor Lobban19101914Apprentice 
Item 14 of 14Andrew Douglasc. 191313 February 1929Assistant(?) 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this architect for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3John Keppie11 June 1906for Fellowship
Item 2 of 3C J MacLean11 June 1906for Fellowship
Item 3 of 3Thomas Lennox Watson11 June 1906for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This architect proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 7David Morton Brown20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 7James Carrick19 December 1910for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 7John Rutherford Johnstone20 March 1911for Licentiateship
Item 4 of 7Gavin Lennox11 March 1928for Fellowship
Item 5 of 7Daniel Walter MacMathMid 1928for Fellowship
Item 6 of 7William Newlands24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 7 of 7John St Clair Williamson24 June 1912for Licentiateship

Buildings and Designs

This architect 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 83After 1885Drill Hall and Headquarters for the 1st Ayr and Galloway Artillery Volunteers  AyrshireScotland 
Item 2 of 831886146 High StreetAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 3 of 831886Edinburgh Municipal Buildings  EdinburghScotlandUnsuccessful competition design
Item 4 of 831888Quarry Green SchoolAyr AyrshireScotlandCompetition design - placed first
Item 5 of 831889Cairn Public SchoolMaybole AyrshireScotland 
Item 6 of 831889Sheffield Municipal BuildingsSheffield YorkshireEnglandCompetition design - not successful
Item 7 of 831891Ayr Public LibraryAyr AyrshireScotlandCompetition design - unplaced
Item 8 of 831891Craighall SchoolTrinity EdinburghScotlandUnsuccessful competition design
Item 9 of 831891Glasgow Art Gallery and MuseumKelvingrove GlasgowScotlandUnsuccessful competition design - Simpson and Milner Allen appointed
Item 10 of 831891Working Men's Unionist ClubNewton on Ayr AyrshireScotland 
Item 11 of 831892BalgarthAlloway AyrshireScotland 
Item 12 of 831892Robert Burns StatueAyr AyrshireScotlandDesign of pedestal exhibited
Item 13 of 831892Savoy CroftAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 14 of 831893Fenwick LodgeAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 15 of 831893Prestwick Golf Club HousePrestwick AyrshireScotlandEnlargement of villa
Item 16 of 831893Scottish Episcopal Church, WallacetownAyr AyrshireScotlandHall
Item 17 of 831893St Andrews Free Church and hallAyr AyrshireScotlandCompetition design - not successful
Item 18 of 831894The GreenMaybole AyrshireScotland 
Item 19 of 8318968 Carrick StreetAyr AyrshireScotlandHunter in independent practice
Item 20 of 831896Industrial School for GirlsAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 21 of 831896Le ClairsAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 22 of 83After 1896Church at BankBank AyrshireScotland 
Item 23 of 83After 1896MiefieldTwynholm KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 24 of 831897Free Church and ManseNew Cumnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 25 of 831898Ayr Town HallAyr AyrshireScotlandReconstruction after fire
Item 26 of 831898Black Clauchrie  AyrshireScotlandHunter in independent practice
Item 27 of 831899Ceannacroc LodgeGlenmoriston Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 28 of 831901Corsock Free ChurchCorsock KirkcudbrightshireScotlandNew chancel arch - design modified in execution. Hunter in independent practice
Item 29 of 831901Dunskey HousePortpatrick WigtownshireScotland 
Item 30 of 831901Morrison Congregational ChurchAyr AyrshireScotlandAdditions- Hunter in independent practice
Item 31 of 831901Templetonburn HouseCrookedholm (by), Kilmarnock AyrshireScotland 
Item 32 of 831902Block of workmen's dwellingsAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 33 of 83190335-39 High StreetAyr AyrshireScotlandAlterations
Item 34 of 831903Belleisle CottagesAlloway AyrshireScotland 
Item 35 of 831903Wallacetown Parish ChurchAyr AyrshireScotlandStair towers added
Item 36 of 831904Ayr Pavilion, Low GreenAyr AyrshireScotlandPlaced first in competition of 1904
Item 37 of 831904GlenfairnAyr AyrshireScotlandAlterations and extensions, including billiard room
Item 38 of 83Before 1904Portpatrick HotelPortpatrick WigtownshireScotland 
Item 39 of 83c. 1904House, 40 Auchinleck RoadCumnock AyrshireScotland'Probably' by J K Hunter (Buildings of Scotland)
Item 40 of 831905Carnegie Free Library, MayboleMaybole AyrshireScotland 
Item 41 of 831905Gordon BuildingsAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 42 of 831905Montgomerie HouseTarbolton (near) AyrshireScotlandInternal reconstruction
Item 43 of 831905Shops and dwelling housesAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 44 of 831905The GablesAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 45 of 831905Villa, 2 Corsehill RoadAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 46 of 83c. 1905Shop and dwelling, 145 High StreetAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 47 of 831906Black ClachrieBarrhill RenfrewshireScotland 
Item 48 of 831906Drill HallIrvine AyrshireScotland 
Item 49 of 831906GadgirthAnnbank AyrshireScotlandMay have been responsible for terrace of estate cottages
Item 50 of 831906The Red HouseAyr AyrshireScotlandAdditions
Item 51 of 83After 1906Ayr County HospitalAyr AyrshireScotlandAddition of new block
Item 52 of 831908Ayr Grammar SchoolAyr AyrshireScotlandMajor reconstruction and extension.
Item 53 of 831908Biggart Memorial Home for Cripple ChildrenPrestwick AyrshireScotlandAdditions
Item 54 of 831908StonegarthPrestwick AyrshireScotlandHunter exhibited design in 1919. Was this the original design for design for further work?
Item 55 of 831908Templetonburn HouseCrookedholm (by), Kilmarnock AyrshireScotlandExtension
Item 56 of 831909Cripples’ Home Prestwick AyrshireScotlandAdditions
Item 57 of 831909Gilmilnscroft HouseSorn, Mauchline AyrshireScotlandExtension - Baronial style. Probably by Hunter
Item 58 of 831909Starch Factory River TerraceAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 59 of 831910Fisherton School  AyrshireScotlandExtension
Item 60 of 831910High Greenan  AyrshireScotland 
Item 61 of 831910St Ann RC ChurchMossblown AyrshireScotlandExtension
Item 62 of 831910St John's TowerAyr AyrshireScotlandRestoration. Miller's house removed for restoration of tower
Item 63 of 831911Furniture store, 19-27 James StreetHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 64 of 831911House, 41 Main StreetPatna AyrshireScotlandIn J K Hunter's style
Item 65 of 831911Old Kirkyard, memorial gatewayBarr AyrshireScotland 
Item 66 of 831912Dolphin LodgeTurnberry AyrshireScotland 
Item 67 of 8319159 Dalrymple StreetGirvan AyrshireScotland 
Item 68 of 831916Earlstoun Lodge and estate buildingsDalry KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 69 of 831919Auchendrane  AyrshireScotlandReconstruction after fire - possibly by Hunter
Item 70 of 831919Hollybush  AyrshireScotlandAlterations?
Item 71 of 831919Lanfine  AyrshireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 72 of 831919Local Authority housing, Vicarlands and Kirkmichael RoadMaybole AyrshireScotland 
Item 73 of 831920County Police HeadquartersAyr AyrshireScotlandAlterations
Item 74 of 831920War Memorial, Memorial parkMaybole AyrshireScotlandCarrick responsible within Hunter's practice.
Item 75 of 83c. 1920Trinity UF Church and hallsAyr AyrshireScotlandWar memorial (executed byHolmes & Jackson)
Item 76 of 831921Craigie HouseAyr AyrshireScotlandAlterations - by Hunter or Carrick working in his office
Item 77 of 831921St Leonard's Parish ChurchAyr AyrshireScotlandWar memorial in gallery
Item 78 of 83c. 1921Brae of AuchendraneMaybole (near) AyrshireScotlandLow south wing added
Item 79 of 831924Ayr War MemorialAyr AyrshireScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 80 of 831924Kirkbride HouseCrosshill (near) AyrshireScotlandMay be responsible for addition of 2-storey wing
Item 81 of 831924Popular Supply StoreAyr AyrshireScotland 
Item 82 of 831925Eglinton TerraceAyr AyrshireScotlandAddition
Item 83 of 831926Toll CottageHollybush AyrshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Johnston, W T2003Artists of Scotland Officina Publications CDROM 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Ayrshire Advertiser21 February 1929  Obituary
Item 2 of 4Ayrshire Post15 February 1929  Obituary
Item 3 of 4Builder22 February 1929  Obituary
Item 4 of 4RIBA Journal13 April 1929 London: Royal Institute of British ArchitectsObituary p449

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this architect:
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F v17 p21 no1107 (microfilm reel 12)

Images

© All rights reserved. The Bailie 8 July 1891 (Feature of Burns Statue, Ayr) (Courtesy of Iain Paterson) 

© All rights reserved. The Bailie 8 July 1891 (Feature of Burns Statue, Ayr) (Courtesy of Iain Paterson)