Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Guthrie
Designation:  
Born: 1832
Died: 10 September 1903
Bio Notes: John Guthrie was born in 1832 in Jedburgh, the son of James Guthrie, plumber and slater. The family moved to Hawick when he was one year old, and there established the firm of James Guthrie & Sons, plumbers, slaters and gasfitters, at 61 High Street. John took over running the business with his two brothers but also trained as an architect; where he did so is unknown, but he became highly accomplished in his new profession. He went on to supervise the feuing of Sunnyill and designed a range of buildings in Hawick including a number of villas. He also acted for many years as the architect for the Hawick Working Men's Building & Investment Company.

A man of wide interests, Guthrie was a founding member of the Hawick Archaeological Society and later served as its President. He was also a painter and art lover and contributed travel accounts to the local press. He painted a view of the High Street from the East End in the 1850s, another in 1893, and one called ‘View of Rachel Anderson’s House, High Street’. He is credited with bringing 'nosey wundis' (an angled mirror positioned outside a window to allow a view along the street without leaning out) to Hawick after he saw devices like this on his travels on the Continent and built one for the business premises of James Guthrie & Sons at 61 High Street. They soon appeared all over Hawick.

A Liberal-Unionist in politics and a lifelong teetotaller, having joined the Rechabites at the age of ten along with Robert Murray, he was an office-bearer in the Congregational Chapel in O'Connell Street, but latterly attended meetings of The Brethren in Oliver Place.

Guthrie married Elizabeth Purdom Borthwick. He died at 61 High Street, Hawick, on 10 September 1903, having suffered a 'paralytic shock' eighteen months earlier and been in poor health ever since. He was buried at Wellogate Cemetery, survived by his second wife who died in 1908, and by two sons and two daughters.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 161, High Street, Hawick, Roxburghshire, ScotlandPrivate/business 1903 

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 1Hawick Working Men's Building & Investment Company  Architect 

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 12 Linden ParkHawick RoxburghshireScotlandOriginal building
Item 2 of 12After 1850Deanfield HouseHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 3 of 12After 1850Feuing of SunnyhillHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 4 of 12After 1850HazelwoodHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 5 of 12After 1850Housing for Hawick Working Men's Building & Investment CompanyHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 6 of 12After 1850KilmenyHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 7 of 12After 1850LindesfarneHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 8 of 121880(?)Langlands with East Langlands LodgeHawick RoxburghshireScotlandLodge dated 1880 - so probable that house is of the same date.
Item 9 of 121880WestwoodHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 10 of 12c. 1880Howlands MillHawick RoxburghshireScotlandor John Manuel?
Item 11 of 121881WoodnortonHawick RoxburghshireScotlandAttribution - as Guthrie made the feu plan for the estate and designed several other houses at around this time.
Item 12 of 12c. 1886Buccleuch Memorial and Science and Art SchoolHawick RoxburghshireScotlandResponsible for the design

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Hawick Advertiser15 September 1903  Death announcement and obituary

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 Research by Douglas Scott and notes from J Gordon Macdonald.