Basic Site Details

Name: St Mary's Free Church and Manse
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: Demolished
Grid ref:
Notes: This structure has just been opened for services. The edifice was built from a design by Mr J T Rochead of Glasgow. In style it is what may be termed mixed Perpendicular of the time of Henry VII. The principal entrance, over which is a tall tower and spire, is in Albany-street. The exterior exhibits some fine work, with here and there perhaps an excess of detail, especially in the spire, which loses somewhat of its artistic character when viewed from a distance. The interior is seated for nearly 1,000 persons. [Building News 24 January 1862 p62]

Manse at no 56 survives

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Free St Mary'sYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Church  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2Albany StreetYesCorner
Item 2 of 2Broughton StreetYesCorner

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 31858  Competition
Item 2 of 318581861 Church opened late 1861 or early 1862
Item 3 of 3c. 1910  Alterations and new organ

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 12J, W H & J M Hay ('The Hays of Liverpool')Architectural practiceD1856 Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
Item 2 of 12James Murdoch HayArchitectD1856 Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
Item 3 of 12John HayArchitectD1856 Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
Item 4 of 12William Hardie HayArchitectD1856 Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
Item 5 of 12John Thomas RocheadArchitect 18581860Won competition, then was dismissed, but church and manse were built to his design
Item 6 of 12Charles George Hood KinnearArchitectC1858 Second place competition design
Item 7 of 12John Dick PeddieArchitectC1858 Second place competition design
Item 8 of 12Peddie & KinnearArchitectural practiceC1858 Second place competition design
Item 9 of 12A & G ThomsonArchitectural practiceAc. 1858 Unexecuted competition design
Item 10 of 12Alexander ThomsonArchitectAc. 1858 Unexecuted competition design
Item 11 of 12George ThomsonArchitectAc. 1858 Unexecuted competition design
Item 12 of 12John McIntyreArchitect c. 1910 Alterations and new organ

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 6APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 2 of 6McFadzean, Ronald1979The Life and Work of Alexander Thomson London: Routledge & Kegan Paul 
Item 3 of 6McKean, John Maule1985The Architectonics and Ideals of Alexander Thomsonno 9, Summer 1985AA Files (Annals of the Architectural Association School of Architecture), Summer 1985 
Item 4 of 6RSA1859   678 (Peddie & Kinnear design)
Item 5 of 6Stamp, Gavin1999Alexander Thomson: The Unknown Genius London: Lawrence King, in association with Glasgow 1999 
Item 6 of 6Walker, David M2002Presbyterian Variations on Themes by Sharpe and Pugin:The Scottish Work of the Hays of Liverpool Architectural Heritage XIII, Journal of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, pp99-127pp120-22

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Alexander Thomson Society NewsletterMay 1994no 10 Article by David M Walker
Item 2 of 3Building Chronicle1 May 1856II p55 - Hays of Liverpool design
Item 3 of 3Building News24 January 1862  p62 - opening

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 4Glasgow School of ArtDrawings Collection Prespective drawing and ground plan
Item 2 of 4National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Managers' Minutes and Deacons' Court Minutes CH3/721/5 (Peddie & Kinnear)
Item 3 of 4National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDick Peddie and McKay Collection DPM/1850/63/1
Item 4 of 4RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers John McIntyre: L v5 no306 (microfilm reel 30)