Basic Biographical Details

Name: Henry Sloan McNair
Designation:  
Born: 22 March 1885
Died: 26 February 1956
Bio Notes: Henry Sloan McNair was born on 22 March 1885, the son of William McNair, butcher, and his wife Jane McMurtrie. He was apprenticed to James Kennedy Hunter of 51 Sandgate, Ayr in August 1902, remaining there thereafter with the exception of five years' war service. He attended day classes at the Glasgow School of Art and Glasgow Technical College under Eugène Bourdon and Charles Gourlay for two years. Hunter died on 13 February 1929, leaving his practice to McNair and his fellow assistant Andrew Douglas, who continued the firm in partnership under the name of James K Hunter Architects. At this time McNair was also teaching Building Construction in the Ayr Academy continuation classes. McNair and Douglas were both admitted LRIBA on 15 October 1930, their proposers being James Archibald Morris, George Arthur Boswell and William Maclean, who was then secretary of the Glasgow Institute of Architects. At that time the firm's office was still at 51 Sandgate, and McNair was living at Lynwood, 2 Holmston Road, Ayr. Sloan mentions in his nomination papers that he was placed first in an Ayrshire County Council competition 'for Measured Work'.

McNair died on 26 February 1956 aged 70, survived by his wife Agnes Houston Lindsay.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Lynwood/2, Holmston Road, Ayr, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate1929 *1939 or after 1940(?) 
Item 2 of 251, Sandgate, Ayr, Ayrshire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)1950 *  

* 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 4McNair & Douglas  Partner 
Item 2 of 4James Kennedy HunterAugust 1902c. 1907Apprentice 
Item 3 of 4James Kennedy Hunterc. 190713 February 1929Assistant(?) 
Item 4 of 4James K Hunter Architects13 February 1929 Partner 

RIBA

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate proposedNotes
Item 1 of 2George Arthur Boswell15 October 1930for Licentiateship
Item 2 of 2James Archibald Morris15 October 1930for 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 71929Ayr Public LibraryAyr AyrshireScotlandChildren's Library added at rear
Item 2 of 71932Ayr Public LibraryAyr AyrshireScotlandLecture Theatre added (now Reference Library)
Item 3 of 71938Gaiety TheatreAyr AyrshireScotlandRe-fronted
Item 4 of 719486-10 Newmarket StreetAyr AyrshireScotlandAlterations
Item 5 of 71948MacNeille Buildings, Newmarket StreetAyr AyrshireScotlandVitriolite shop fronts added 6-10.
Item 6 of 71949Bus StationAyr AyrshireScotlandVehicle entrances altered
Item 7 of 71952Muirkirk Parish ChurchMuirkirk AyrshireScotlandInterior reconstructed

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2RIBA1939The RIBA Kalendar 1939-1940 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 
Item 2 of 2RIBA1950The RIBA Kalendar 1950-1951 London: Royal Institute of British Architects 

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers L no3448 (box 11)