Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Murray Hardie
Designation:  
Born: 1872
Died: May 1937
Bio Notes: Alexander Murray Hardie was born in 1872, the son of Reverend Hardie, first minister of the parish of Newtongrange. He was articled to McArthy & Watson in Edinburgh from 1891 to 1896, remaining as an improver until 1898 and studying at Heriot-Watt College and at the Edinburgh College of Art under Professor Frank Worthington Simon and Stewart Henbest Capper. In 1898 he spent nine months as assistant to McLuckie & Walker in Stirling but he returned to Edinburgh later in the same year to work for Robert Macfarlane Cameron. In 1899 he moved to the office of the School Board architect Robert Wilson where he worked under John Alexander Carfrae, his experience there laying the foundation of his career as an architect of school and welfare buildings. In October 1901, three months after Wilson's death, he set up practice on his own account at 20 George Street and from his house at Newbattle. He remained at the George Street address throughout the rest of his career, which was essentially a Midlothian-based one, reflected in his home at Avon Grove, Muirpark, Dalkeith. He was a Fellow of the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland, and was admitted LRIBA on 24 June 1912, his proposers being John Watson of McArthy & Watson, John Nicol Scott and Alexander Lorne Campbell, fellow students at the School of Applied Art. He was later architect to the Board of Control of Rosslynlee Asylum.

He died in May 1937. His practice was continued by his son, David Gardiner Hardie who remained at the Melville Street, Leith address until about 1939.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 411, Melville Street, Leith, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness c. 1937May be that David Gardiner Hardie actually was at this address (not A Murray Hardie, but kept it on for a time under the latter's name)
Item 2 of 420, George Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1901c. 1937 
Item 3 of 4Avon Grove/22, Muirpark, Dalkeith, Midlothian, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1908c. 1912 
Item 4 of 4St Ninian's, Eskbank, Midlothian, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1913  

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 6McArthy & Watson18911896Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6McArthy & Watson18961898Improver 
Item 3 of 6McLuckie & Walker18981898Assistant 
Item 4 of 6Robert Macfarlane Cameron18981899Assistant 
Item 5 of 6John Alexander Carfrae18991901AssistantIn office of Robert Wilson
Item 6 of 6Robert Wilson18991901AssistantUnder John Alexander Carfrae

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5Thomas Newhall Duncan19141925ApprenticePresumably with the exception of war service
Item 2 of 5Robert BlythNovember 1924June 1925Assistant 
Item 3 of 5Thomas Newhall Duncan19251926Assistant 
Item 4 of 5David Proctor BeeJune 1925January 1929Assistant 
Item 5 of 5James Ferguson 19361937Assistant 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 3Alexander Lorne Campbell24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 3John Nichol Scott24 June 1912for Licentiateship
Item 3 of 3John Watson24 June 1912for Licentiateship

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 27 Gilmerton Welfare InstituteGilmerton EdinburghScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 27 Housing schemes at DalkeithDalkeith MidlothianScotlandDate unknown
Item 3 of 27 School at DalkeithDalkeith MidlothianScotlandDate unknown
Item 4 of 27After 1894CottagesNewtongrange MidlothianScotland 
Item 5 of 27After 1904Business premises for Mr RobinNewtongrange MidlothianScotland 
Item 6 of 27After 1904CottagesJoppa EdinburghScotland 
Item 7 of 27After 1904Mr Young's Motor Garage and WorksEskbank MidlothianScotland 
Item 8 of 27After 1904Tower HotelPortobello EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 271905Newcraighall Infant SchoolNewcraighall EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 271907Crookston SchoolInveresk MidlothianScotlandWorkshop and cookery room - cost £700
Item 11 of 271907Newbattle Public SchoolNewbattle MidlothianScotlandNew infant department and alterations
Item 12 of 271908Gorebridge and Crichton Public SchoolGorebridge MidlothianScotlandAddition
Item 13 of 271909Stobhill Public School  MidlothianScotlandNew infant school and alterations and additions
Item 14 of 271909Wallyford SchoolWallyford MidlothianScotlandAdditions and alterations - cost £1,600
Item 15 of 271910Dalkeith Fever HospitalDalkeith MidlothianScotlandWon limited competition and was appointed
Item 16 of 271910Newtonloan Fever HospitalCockpen MidlothianScotlandAdditions
Item 17 of 271911Newbattle Welfare Institute and New Gothenburg TavernNewtongrange MidlothianScotland 
Item 18 of 271914The Picture HouseNewtongrange MidlothianScotland 
Item 19 of 271919Kilravock LodgeGrange EdinburghScotlandChapel converted from laundry
Item 20 of 271920District Asylum for Midlothian and PeeblesRoslin/Rosslyn MidlothianScotlandStaff accommodation built (in new and converted cottages)
Item 21 of 271924(?)Tranent Welfare InstituteTranent East LothianScotlandSource: The Scotsman, Monday 15 December 1924
Item 22 of 271925Prestongrange Welfare InstitutePrestonpans MidlothianScotland 
Item 23 of 271925Prestonlinks Welfare InstitutePrestonpans MidlothianScotland 
Item 24 of 27c. 1925Pencaitland Miners' Welfare InstitutePencaitland East LothianScotland 
Item 25 of 2719302-8 Greenbank LoanGreenbank EdinburghScotland 
Item 26 of 271931Pair of semi-detached houses, Dundas CrescentEskbank MidlothianScotland 
Item 27 of 27c. 1937(?)Newtongrange Parish ChurchNewtongrange MidlothianScotlandDesigned? (built posthumously in 1939-42)

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Journal11 September 1937v44London: Royal Institute of British Architectsp1009 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L v24 no1955