Basic Biographical Details | Name: | Harry Davies | | Designation: | | | Born: | | | Died: | | | Bio Notes: | Harry Davies was probably the son of Scottish locomotive engineer Charles Davies. He worked as a civil engineer on railway construction projects in India from the mid-1870s to the mid-1890s, returning to Scotland in or shortly after 1896 and entering into partnership with engineer and architect Archibald Leitch. The following years were spent mainly on industrial commissions, but other work included the ground of Sheffield United Football Club.
Leitch & Davies' most important commission, that from Rangers Football Club for the design of their new Ibrox Park stadium, came in March 1899. It was to be the largest purpose-built football venue the world had ever seen, and it opened in April 1900. Leitch proved his devotion to the team by claiming no fees for the design of the stadium. Disaster struck on 5 April 1902 when a section of the south-west terrace collapsed. It is not clear whether it was just after this event, or nearer the beginning of the year, that Davies left Glasgow and returned to India, leaving Leitch to continue to practise alone. | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | India | Private/business | Mid 1870s | Mid 1890s | | | 40, St Enoch Square, Glasgow, Scotland | Business | c. 1896(?) | 1902(?) | | | India | Private/business | 1902 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployers| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Leitch & Davies | After 1896 | Early 1902 | Partner | |
Buildings and Designs| This 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 | | 1899 | Rugby Park grandstand | Kilmarnock | | Ayrshire | Scotland | In collaboration with the Clyde Structural Iron Company | | Late 1890s | Caledonian Tube Works | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Probably in conjunction with the Clyde Structural Iron Company | | Late 1890s | Chemical works for Alexander Hope Junior | Provanmill | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably in conjunction with the Clyde Structural Iron Company | | Late 1890s | New works for Stirling Boiler Company | Govan | | Glasgow | Scotland | Probably in conjunction with the Clyde Structural Iron Company | | Late 1890s | Union Tube Works | Coatbridge | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Probably in conjunction with the Clyde Structural Iron Company | | 1900 | Bramall Lane football ground | Sheffield | | Yorkshire | England | In conjunction with the Clyde Structural Iron Company |
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this : | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Inglis, Simon | 2005 | Engineering Archie: Archibald Leitch - football ground designer | | London: English Heritage | p15 |
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