Basic Biographical Details Name: | Harbourne Maclennan | Designation: | | Born: | 1871 | Died: | 27 August 1951 | Bio Notes: | Harbourne Maclennan (whose surname is incorrectly given in some sources as 'MacLennan') was born in 1871, the son of John Maclennan, land surveyor of Ellon and educated at Elgin Academy and Dunfermline High School. Around 1886, he joined the Aberdeen firm of Jenkins & Marr as an apprentice, and from 1888 until 1894 he attended classes at Gray's School of Art and won several Department of Science and Art prizes including a Queen's Prize. He remained with Jenkins & Marr as assistant for one further year after his articles and subsequently made a study tour in Europe: as an academic architect. When his father was appointed Road Surveyor and Master of Works for East Fife, he moved to Dunfermline and commenced independent practice at the age of twenty-three. In 1900 he was invited by Jenkins to return to the Jenkins & Marr practice, Marr having died in 1899. The catalyst was probably the commission to design the Masonic Hall in Crown Street, Aberdeen, which he carried out on his own account in 1908-1910. He was belatedly made a partner in 1915, and became sole partner in 1921. Jenkins had retired by then and died two years later, but Maclennan retained the existing practice title of Jenkins & Marr. In 1935 Maclennan took William Alexander (or Arthur) Davidson, and his own son John Maclennan, into partnership. He was a specialist in paper-making factories and was responsible for designing several distilleries in the north-east, many Local Authority housing schemes, and extensive water supply and drainage schemes throughout Scotland.
Maclennan was active in public and professional life, being President of the Aberdeen Society of Architects from 1916-18 and deeply involved in the founding of the RIAS. He was also an active participant in the Aberdeen Society of Architects, to which he delivered many 'valuable lectures'. He was a member of the Aberdeen Art Gallery committee and was 'a lover and collector of architectural books and works of art', owning several works by Hornel and D Y Cameron. A G R Mackenzie observed of him that 'he was a master of good construction, but had an open mind as to new forms, and while friendly to trade representatives was quite devastating in his questions as to the merits of their products. He was one of those who did not believe in experimenting with his clients' money'.
Maclennan's wife died in 1943 but he remained in active practice until the date of his death, 27 August 1951. His motto, according to A G R Mackenzie, was 'always busy, but never hurried'. He left estate of £50,334 11s 7d + £491 16s 3d. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Beechlee/334, Great Western Road, Aberdeen, Scotland | Private | | | | | 16, Bridge Street, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | c. 1886 | After 1930 | | | 3, Bon Accord Crescent, Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | c. 1939 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Jenkins & Marr | c. 1886 | 1891 or 1892 | Apprentice | Returned as assistant, becoming partner in 1915, and continuing the practice in 1923. | | Jenkins & Marr | 1891 or 1892 | 1892 or 1893 | Assistant | | | Jenkins & Marr | 1900 | 1915 | (?) | | | Jenkins & Marr | 1915 | 1951 | Partner | Sole partner from 1921 |
Employees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Frederick William Morgan | August 1931 | 1934 | Apprentice | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | | Aberdeen Ice Rink | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Claimed for him in obituary - perhaps a forerunner to the Scott Sutherland building? | | | Paper Mills | | | Lancashire | England | Date unknown | | 1895 | Aberdour Manse | Aberdour | | Fife | Scotland | Reported on repairs required | | 1895 | Carnock Mill, mill buildings, houses and offices | Carnock | | Fife | Scotland | Repairs to mill, dwelling houses and offices | | 1895 | Isle of Canty, bothy | Carnock | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1897 | Bakery, High Street | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1897 | Licensed premises, Coaledge | Fordell | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | | 1897 | Shops and houses for James Auld | Aberdour | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1898 | Cot houses, West Pitcorthie | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1898 | Globe Works | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Reconstruction after fire | | 1898 | House | North Queensferry | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1898 | Model Lodging House | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1898 | Stores and painting offices for David Watt | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1899 | Cemetery | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | New walls | | 1899 | Douglas Cottage | North Queensferry | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations | | 1899 | Hawthornbank | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Interior remodelling and conservatory added | | After 1900 | Cairnbulg Castle | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Restoration | | 1903 | 162-166 Market Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1908 | Masonic Temple | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Mainly responsible | | 1910 | Hawthornbank | Dunfermline | | Fife | Scotland | Summer house pavilion added (HS list gives a date of 1900 for this) | | 1911 | Inverurie Town Hall, museum and library | Inverurie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Addition of library and museum | | 1913 | Villa for James Burley, Rubislaw Den North | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1914 | Stoneywood Paper Mill | Bucksburn | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Giant warehouse | | 1915 | Oakbank School, Governor's House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1920 | Stoneywood Housing Estate | Stoneywood | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | c. 1920 | Torry Housing Scheme | Torry | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Was appointed as consultant with William Kelly | | Before 1923 | Central Chambers | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | Culter Paper Mills and Housing Scheme | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | Maritime Chambers | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | Masonic Temple | Peterhead | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | Pirie's Photographic Paper factory and offices | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | Scottish Temperance Chambers | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | Stoneywood Paper Mill | Bucksburn | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Addition | | Before 1923 | Stores and offices for William McEwen & Co | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1923 | Union Paper Mills | | | | Scotland | Additions | | Before 1923 | Valleyfield Paper Mills | Penicuik | | Midlothian | Scotland | Additions | | Before 1923 | Woodside Paper Mills | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Addition | | 1925 | 213 Union Street | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Refitting | | 1927 | 100 Queen's Road | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1927 | 6 Union Row | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1929 | Commercial Bank, Aberdeen | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1930 | Four Houses | Ballater | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1930 | Moine-na-Vey | Ballater (by) | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Additions and alterations | | 1935 | Abbey National Building Society offices | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1935 | Commercial Bank of Scotland | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1935 | Commercial Bank of Scotland | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1935 | Halls, Classrooms and Offices | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1935 | Licensed premises in new housing area | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1935 | Warehouse for John Menzie & Co Ltd | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | After 1935 | Stoneywood Paper Mill | Bucksburn | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Rebuilding of mill? Large additions? | | 1936 | Church Hall, Holburn | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1936 | Offices, Holburn | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1937 | St Katharine's Club | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1938 | Fife Arms Hotel | Macduff | | Banffshire | Scotland | | | Before 1951 | Breweries and/or maltings | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1951 | Breweries and/or maltings | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | Before 1951 | Bridge over the River Dee | Banchory | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | | | Before 1951 | Culter Paper Mills | Culter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Date unknown | | Before 1951 | Paper Mills | | | Yorkshire | England | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Bailey, Rebecca M | 1996 | Scottish architects' papers: a source book | | Edinburgh: The Rutland Press | p92 - incorrectly gives surname as 'MacLennan' (the capital 'L' is an error) | | British Architectural Library, RIBA | 2001 | Directory of British Architects 1834-1914 | | | Incorrectly gives surname as 'MacLennan' (the capital 'L' is an error) | | RIBA | 1930 | The RIBA Kalendar 1930-1931 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | RIBA | 1939 | The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | | | Who's Who in Architecture | 1914 | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIAS Quarterly | November 1951 | 86 | Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS) | p59 - obituary by A G R Mackenzie |
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