Basic Biographical Details

Name: Louis Harper
Designation:  
Born: 6 June 1868
Died: 26 January 1940
Bio Notes: Louis Harper was born on 6 June 1868, the son of John Harper, a native of Turriff and his second wife Margaret Ross. John Harper with his brother Hugh had established a successful business in the manufacture of wire fences in Edinburgh and subsequently in Glasgow. In 1856 they returned to Aberdeen and continued as gate and fence manufacturers and subsequently established a foundry. In 1863 John Harper patented a device for 'straining the wire' in fence-making which was to become crucial in the development of suspension bridges which the firm subsequently began to design.

Louis attended Nelson College at Lee in Kent from 1880 until about 1881 and Aberdeen Gammar School from 1881-1883. He served his articles from 1883-1887 with Jenkins & Marr who were architects as well as civil engineers. In the latter year he joined Harpers Limited as Manager of the Bridge Department. At this time the business was managed by his older half brother John who has taken over after his father retired, though at this time the latter still acted in an advisory role. He was involved with the design and construction of bridges over the River Nairn, over the Dee at Chester, Darwin Harbour in the Falkland Islands and Tees at Crathorne, Yorkshire. Two years later in 1889 Louis commenced practice on his own account at 115 Union Street as architect and civil engineer, his first known work being stores for Harpers Ltd. He was responsible for the design of a number of bridges at this period: a bridge for the Great Northern Railway at Lincoln and bridges over the Rover Bandon, Co Cork, Ireland, over the Feugh at Banchory and over the Carron at Falkirk.

Louis Harper was elected an Associate Member of the Institute of Civil Engineers 5 December 1893. On Christmas Day 1895 Louis married Alice Edwards. They had five children, though none became architects.

At the beginning of 1896 Harper took into partnership George Sutherland who was then in practice in Elgin but had received at least one commission in Aberdeen. The address of the firm was given as 115 Union Street in Post Office directories and they are described as 'architects and engineers'. The partnership lasted until about 1899 or 1900 when Sutherland withdrew. Harper remained in practice at the same address but transferred his business to Seafield, Aberdeen, his home address, in about 1903. When in partnership with Harper, Sutherland's one major commission was a large block in Bridge Street, the remainder being speculative housing, some of it for himself. Sutherland subsequently formed two other partnerships with James M Pirie in 1902 and after this was dissolved from 1907 with Clement George.

Despite the partnership with Sutherland, Harper was principally an engineer in the 1890s and was responsible for a large number of bridges built to his father's basic design, mainly for private estates initially but later expanding to public work and in the 1890s for an increasing number for foreign countries as far afield as Nepal and the Falkland Islands. After 1905 only one bridge is recorded. Harper died on 26 January 1940, though the business appears to have continued after that date.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2115, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness18901905 
Item 2 of 2Seafield, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1905 Both home and business after this date

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 2Messrs Harpers & Co (later Harpers Ltd)  Engineer 
Item 2 of 2Harper & SutherlandEarly 18961899 or 1900Partner 

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 20After 1889Bridge over the River FeughBanchory KincardineshireScotland 
Item 2 of 20Before 1889Bridge over the River NairnNairn NairnshireScotlandAs Manager of Messrs Harper Ltd
Item 3 of 201890Stores and offices, Albion Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 4 of 201892Ironworks, Craiginches  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 5 of 201892Polhollick Suspension Bridge over the River DeeGlenmuick AberdeenshireScotlandDesigned bridge
Item 6 of 201892Three houses, Mid Stocket Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 7 of 201892Waterworks  AberdeenScotlandPrepared survey and levelling plans and Parliamentary plans and sections
Item 8 of 201895SchoolMaud AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 9 of 201895Two houses, Beaconsfield Place  AberdeenScotlandIn collaboration with George Sutherland prior to partnership
Item 10 of 201896Six houses, Wood StreetTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 11 of 201896Two houses, Beaconsfield Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 12 of 201897Four houses, Gladstone Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 13 of 201897Theatre  AberdeenScotland 
Item 14 of 201897Two houses, Victoria RoadTorry AberdeenScotland 
Item 15 of 201898Buildings in Bridge Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 16 of 201898Six houses, Gladstone Place  AberdeenScotland 
Item 17 of 201898Two houses, Fonthill Road  AberdeenScotland 
Item 18 of 201899House, Causewayend  AberdeenScotland 
Item 19 of 201905Cambus O'May Suspension Bridge over River DeeGlenmuick AberdeenshireScotlandDesigned bridge
Item 20 of 201924Ballochbuie BridgeCrathie AberdeenshireScotlandDesign

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1www.harperbridges.com www.harperbridges.com [accessed April 2007]  Information per Mr Douglas Harper

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information via website from Douglas Harper