Basic Biographical Details

Name: David Bryce (junior)
Designation:  
Born: c. 1815
Died: 11 September 1874
Bio Notes: David Bryce Junior was born c.1815, the son of William Bryce, architect, the elder brother of David Bryce. His father died on 5 September 1823 when he was aged about eight. William's much younger brother David then took responsibility for him, his sister Margaret and elder brother William as the second oldest son of the family. They were brought up first in the family development in Hermitage Place, Stockbridge, then in Walker Street and finally at 53 Castle Street which housed the Architectural Academy founded by their father.

David Junior was probably trained initially from c.1830 at the Academy rather than in William Burn's office. He presumably worked on his uncle's private practice before finding a place at 131 George Street as his uncle's assistant: he must certainly have been there from 1841 when Bryce merged his practice with his master Burn's as Burn & Bryce. He followed this with 'many years' as assistant to David Cousin until c.1851 when he commenced practice on his own account at 29 Frederick Street, from which he exhibited a design for a church at the RSA in 1852 and from which he practised as a teacher of architectural drawing from 1851 to 1853. In 1854 he became an architect at the same address. In later years from c.1860 he practised at 26 Elder Street. He married twice, first Margaret Miller who died at the age of thirty-two on 3 June 1857 and secondly, Margaret Bell.

David Bryce's most important clients were Kennington & Jenner: for the Kenningtons he rebuilt the Star Hotel in Princes Street, a pioneer building of its kind in 1861. His architecture was similar in character to his uncle's, and he was particularly skilful in the design of canted bays as can be seen at his City of Glasgow Bank.

David Bryce Junior died on 11 September 1874 at the age of fifty-nine, and was buried in New Calton Cemetery. His second wife, Margaret Robinson Bell, survived him, dying on 23 November 1897 at the age of sixty-two.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 429, Frederick Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 18511861 
Item 2 of 426, Elder Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness18631871 
Item 3 of 48, Abercrombie Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1872 No entry for 1873 in PO Directory
Item 4 of 414, Bath Street, Portobello, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1874 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 2David CousinAfter 1841(?)1851(?)Assistant 
Item 2 of 2David BryceBefore 1841Before 1851(?)Assistant 

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 231852Design for a church     
Item 2 of 231854Meadowhead Farmhouse  EdinburghScotland 
Item 3 of 231858Freemasons' Hall  EdinburghScotlandOriginal building; unclear whether in independent practice or as superintendent under his uncle and namesake
Item 4 of 23c. 18598-12 Castle Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 5 of 231860Villas, Blacket Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 231861Kennington and Jenner (I) Princes Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 7 of 231861Star Hotel  EdinburghScotlandOriginal building, as Star Hotel
Item 8 of 231862Fetteresso HouseStonehaven KincardineshireScotlandUnclear whether with his uncle and namesake, or alone
Item 9 of 231864Ardencaple SchoolHelensburgh (near) DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 10 of 231864LarchfieldHelensburgh DunbartonshireScotland 
Item 11 of 231865City of Glasgow Bank  EdinburghScotlandStarted building
Item 12 of 231865Scottish Union Insurance Office, 47 George Street  EdinburghScotlandRear additions
Item 13 of 23Early 1867St Giles Cathedral, Monument to George Lorimer  EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 23Before 1868Dalmore HouseStair (near) AyrshireScotlandOriginal house? - perhaps incorporated into later phases?
Item 15 of 23Before 1868Eskmill House  Midlothian?Scotland 
Item 16 of 23Before 1868Lasswade Hill HouseLasswade MidlothianScotland 
Item 17 of 23Before 1868Northern Insurance Company Building  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 23Before 1868Threepwood HouseMelrose RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 19 of 23c. 1868Torsonce HouseStow MidlothianScotland 
Item 20 of 231869Longshaw HouseMoffat DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 21 of 231869Luckfield (Larkfield?) House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 22 of 231870Duff House  BanffshireScotlandCorridor block and service pavilion
Item 23 of 23Before 1874Scottish Life Assurance Co  EdinburghScotlandRemodelled

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory1868Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory London, Wyman 
Item 2 of 5Fiddes, Valerie and Rowan, Alistair1976David Bryce 1803-1876 Exhibition Catalogue, University of Edinburgh 
Item 3 of 5Laperriere, Charles Baile de (ed.)1991The Royal Scottish Academy Exhibitors 1826-1990   
Item 4 of 5Post Office Directories     
Item 5 of 5Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills Sc70/4/154 and Inventories Sc70/1/171

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1H M Register HouseDeath Register Testament Jan 1875 v 171 p994