Basic Biographical Details Name: | Robert Philip Andrew Hurd | Designation: | | Born: | 29 July 1905 | Died: | 17 September 1963 | Bio Notes: | Robert Philip Andrew Hurd was born on 29 July 1905, the fourth son of Sir Percy Angier Hurd MP and his wife Hannah Swan Cox who came from Dundee. He was educated at Marlborough, where he was a year ahead of Ian Lindsay, and at the LCC Central School of Arts. Thereafter he went up to Emmanuel College, Cambridge, when he renewed his school friendship with Lindsay and became a member of the circle centred on Mansfield Forbes and Raymond McGrath. While there he was engaged to be married to a fellow student, Elizabeth Ryan of Roy Bridge, but she died before the marriage could take place.
Hurd came to Scotland in 1930 or 1931 (he was elected a student member of the RIBA in the latter year) to complete his studies at Edinburgh College of Art and work for two of the staff there, Frank Charles Mears and Charles Denny Carus-Wilson. His intention was to 'write about architecture and investigate national traditions', a subject almost certainly inspired by Mansfield Forbes, resulting in the architectural sections in 'Scotland in Quest of her Youth' (1934) and 'The Scots Weekend Book' (1937). In 1932 during the course of these studies Hurd entered into a partnership with a colleague in Mears's office, the modernist architect Norman Alexander Gordon Neil (born 1899), who was deeply influenced by modern German and Scandinavian architecture. In those early years he lived in George Square, his love of which was later to bring him into conflict with both Basil Spence and Robert Matthew.
Hurd early became involved in conservation issues. Like Lindsay he early secured the patronage of the 4th Marquess of Bute. In July 1936 he was a member of the National Trust for Scotland delegation to the Under Secretary of State Colonel John Colville on the issue of the preservation of Scotland's urban architectural heritage, then rapidly being cleared away under the housing acts, and in 1938 he was the author of the first book on the Trust's holdings, 'Scotland under Trust'. In the same year, together with Bute's brother Lord David Crichton-Stuart and the author Ian C Hannah MP, he obtained an interim interdict against the demolition of the Tailor's Land in the Cowgate which the city architect Ebenezer James Macrae had originally hoped to restore as housing. He was ultimately unsuccessful, but he did undertake three restorations for the 4th Marquess's personal 'Little Houses' scheme before the war. The partnership with Neil was suspended when Neil left for India, his engagement to the practice's secretary having caused some embarrassment.
Because of polio in early life one of Hurd's feet was weak, tired quickly and sometimes caused him to stumble. He was thus unfit for active service when the Second World War broke out, and was instead attached to the Royal Engineers, for a time being responsible for the removal of railings and gates for the war effort in the Edinburgh area. It was not a popular activity and he often had difficult decisions to make. But remaining in Edinburgh enabled him to continue his campaign for good design as co-author with Alan Reiach of 'Building Scotland', first issued in 1941 and reprinted in 1944, and through BBC broadcasts. From 1943 until 1948 he was President of the Saltire Society and for the following eight years he was its honorary secretary.
Neil returned to practice after the war, the practice retaining the title of Neil & Hurd until Neil finally left altogether in 1950. Although post-war conditions were difficult the practice quickly recovered, Hurd being appointed, along with Lindsay, an architect member of the Secretary of State's Hydro-Electric Amenity Committee. This brought work on the architectural aspects of a number of hydro schemes and membership of the successor Architectural Panel of the North of Scotland Hydro-Electric Board; and from 1947 until 1959 he was Planning Consultant for Lewis, Ross and Cromarty County Council.
In 1952 Hurd was commissioned to reconstruct large sections of the Canongate as local authority housing and quickly found himself in the same difficulty with the Highways Department as Macrae had done fourteen years earlier. Whole facades had to be taken down and rebuilt on a set-back building line, and historic closes completely disappeared. While Hurd tried hard to make both the rear elevations and the new-build elements architecturally interesting, his involvement in it brought about his estrangement from Lindsay. Hurd did much better in his reconstruction of the greater part of Old Aberdeen for the University of Aberdeen where the work was much more generously funded by the MacRobert Trust. To assist with these projects Hurd's chief assistant Ian McKerrow Begg was taken into partnership in 1953, the practice then becoming Robert Hurd & Partners.
During the 1950s, Hurd campaigned in opposition to the University's plans for George Square, however he did accept a commission in 1959 from the University (on Basil Spence's recommendation) to report on rehabilitation of the west side of the square. By this time, in spite of his conservationist tendencies, he was considered by some as a 'reactionary' designer, due to protests against his new building for Emmanuel College, Cambridge by the 'Anti-Ugly Action' group in 1959.
Hurd never sought membership of the RIBA and was content to remain FRIAS only. He was Vice-President of the Scottish Georgian Society from its foundation, and an honorary member of the Georgian Group in London, while his lifelong interest in broadcasting and the performing arts brought him membership of the Scottish Advisory Panel of the BBC and of the Council of the Edinburgh Festival Society. Alan Reiach described him as 'personally a man of great charm, a witty and sometimes irreverent companion. [He] had a strong determination, and while always concerned with broader issues affecting affairs in Scotland no cause that he thought worthwhile was too small for his support.'
Hurd never married. From the late 1930s Iain Paul lived with him. They first met on a McBrayne steamer through a shared interest in Iona and the western seaboard which subsequently extended to the Saltire Society, The National Trust for Scotland (where Paul was briefly a temporary secretary) and other bodies Hurd was interested in. Paul was a man of wide interests who had attended the University of Edinburgh but left without a degree. In earlier years the arrangement may have had its uses when Hurd was over-stretched on his interests outwith the practice but he rarely had a job in the ordinary sense of the word, only occasional fee-paid research work for Dr David Russell, and his post-war intention of establishing himself as an upmarket antique dealer by acquiring the best pieces in the showrooms of other dealers was out of touch with reality. For much of the post-war period their relationship was not a happy one, not least because of his habit of accompanying Hurd when his presence was not appropriate. Nevertheless Hurd felt some responsibility for him and left him his house.
Hurd died suddenly while on holiday in Zurich, Switzerland on 17 September 1963. His body was brought home and buried in Canongate Churchyard. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 6, Upper Dean Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | | | | | 3, Forres Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1932 | 1944(?) | | | 49, George Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Early 1930s * | After 1948 | | | 12, Randolph Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1944 | 1950 | | | 41, Charlotte Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1950 | 1963 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Antony Curtiss Wolffe | 1947 | 1953 | Assistant | Planning assistant | | Ian McKerron Begg | 1950 | 1953 | Assistant | |
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 | | 1934 | Buckholm Farm | | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1934 | Oxenfoord Estate, Sanatorium | Oxenfoord | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1934 | Parish Church Manse | | Iona | Argyll | Scotland | Addition | | 1934 | Torwoodlee House | Galashiels | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1935 | Cnoc Mor | | Iona | Argyll | Scotland | | | 1935 | Council Chambers | Inverness | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Probably competition design | | 1935 | Ravelston Flats | Ravelston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1935 | Alderside | Gullane | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1936 | Acheson House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | | 1936 | Royal Hotel | North Berwick | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | c. 1936 | Duncan of Jordanstone College of Art | | | Dundee | Scotland | Competition designs | | 1937 | Eaglescairnie | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | Rebuilding | | 1937 | Hamilton House | Prestonpans | | East Lothian | Scotland | Restoration | | 1937 | Highland Home Industries | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1937 | House | Corpach | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1937 | Lamb's House | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration (completed in 1959-61 as Robert Hurd & Partners) | | 1938 | Coirechoille | Spean Bridge | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | | | 1938 | West Highland Hotel | Mallaig | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Alterations? | | 1939 | 5 Charlotte Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1939 | Loudoun Hall | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Restoration | | 1940 | Woodend | | Bute | Bute | Scotland | | | 1946 | Culzean Castle | | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Restoration begun | | 1948 | Dungavel House | Strathaven | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Residential training centre for National Coal Board | | 1950 | Blackie House, Wardrop's Close, Lawnmarket | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Further alterations | | 1950 | Public House, Lawnmarket | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and restoration | | 1950 | Tenements, 17-20 Bank Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | 'The fussy rubble stair replacing the mounlded doorpiece at the rear of No 435 Lawnmarket and the flat rood on the adjoining rear wing of Nops 17-20 Bank Street' are part of Hurd's work | | c. 1950(?) | Cakemuir Castle | Crichton | | Midlothian | Scotland | Alterations | | 1952 | Burns Tavern | Galston | | Ayrshire | Scotland | | | 1952 | Development, Chessels Court & Morocco Land | Royal Mile | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Redevelopment | | 1952 | South End Community Centre | Daliburgh | South Uist | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Designed as power station | | 1953 | Tolbooth Area redevelopment | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1953 | Sandford Cottage | Wormit | | Fife | Scotland | NW extension | | 1954 | Culross Abbey House | Culross | | Fife | Scotland | Restoration | | 1954 | House of Nisbet of Dirleton, Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Rebuilding | | 1955 | Tenement, 246 -248 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | | 1955 | Tenement, 250-254 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | | 1956 | Bible Land | Royal Mile | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | | 1956 | Library and Village Centre | Skelmorlie | | | Scotland | | | 1956 | Shoemaker's Land | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1957 | Emmanuel College | Cambridge | | Cambridgeshire | England | New kitchens and dining hall and restoration and reconstruction. | | 1957 | Tenements, 189-191 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | | 1958 | 202-254 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | | 1958 | Aigas Hydro-electric Power Station and Dam | Beauly | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Given as architect by Glendinning and Gifford | | 1958 | Chessel's Court Redevelopment | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Restoration | | 1958 | Kilmorack Hydro-Electric Power Station (Combined Dam and Power House) | | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Given as architect by Glendinning | | 1958 | Tenement, 191 Canongate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1959 | Kyle of Lochalsh Primary School | Kyle of Lochalsh | | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | | | 1959 | Newtonmill House | | | Angus | Scotland | Restoration | | 16 January 1959 | Kyle of Lochalsh Primary School | Kyle of Lochalsh | | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | project architect, accepting tender applications per Builder p165 | | 1960 | Canongate Redevelopment, Tolbooth and Morocco Land Areas | Tolbooth and Morocco Land | | Edinburgh, Midlothian | Scotland | | | c. 1960 | Surgeons' Hall | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Council room flush-panelled. | | 1963 | Chessel's Court Redevelopment | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | North block restoration |
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 | p112-14 & 212 | | Glendinning, Miles | 1997 | Rebuilding Scotland: The Postwar Vision, 1945-75 | | Tuckwell Press Ltd | p7 Tolbooth Area Redevelopment; Morocco Land; Chessel's Court p8 Image of Chessel's Court when newly completed in 1966 p160-1 Chessel's Court | | Glendinning, Miles | 2008 | Modern architect: the life and times of Robert Matthew | | RIBA Publishing | p58,67,69,172,255-6 | | Johnson, Jim and Rosenburg, Lou | 2010 | Renewing Old Edinburgh: the Enduring Legacy of Patrick Geddes | | Glendaruel: Argyll Publishing | p208-213 (Hurd's Canongate developments) | | RIBA | 1948 | The RIBA Kalendar 1948-1949 | | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 15 February 1952 | | | Hurd commenting on the future of Edinburgh's Royal Mile, suggesting that it should once again become a residential area, and that buildings of twentieth-century design should be erected in the gaps where old buildings once stood.
An argument is made that, while the rhythm of the street must be preserved, provision must also be made for innovation.
Hurd also criticises the McRae report, and calls for an Old Town populated by all classes of people (p276) | | Builder | 1 August 1952 | | | p180 - Hurd commenting on Royal Mile's Second Stage, explaining why certain approaches have been adopted | | Builder | 15 August 1952 | | | p248 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | NMRS Manuscripts | | Drawings | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Personal information from Ian Begg (letter, 20 January 2005) |
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