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Basic Biographic Details

Hippolyte Jean Blanc
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
17/03/1917
Hippolyte Jean Blanc was born in Edinburgh on 18 August 1844, the third son of the four children of Victor Jacques Blanc of Privas in the Ardèche area of France and his wife Sarah (Sartia) Bauress, whose parents, also French, had moved to Dublin some time before. Between 1840 and 1842 Hippolyte's parents moved to Edinburgh where they opened a business at 33 George Street, importing and making 'every description of French boots and shoes' for ladies. Advertisements for the business say that it was established in 1840 but it is unclear whether this was in Edinburgh or intially Dublin. When Hippolyte was born the family resided at 37 North Frederick Street, (other sources say 37 Thistle Street) but they had moved to 69 George Street two years later, thus being opposite the business which by this time was located at number 68. The business prospered and by 1851 six men were employed in it.

Hippolyte was enrolled at George Heriot's School and appears to have been a gifted pupil, being awarded when he left in 1859 the dux medal for 'pre-eminence in scholarship and good conduct'. That year he was articled to David Rhind and in 1863 he won a 'first book' in the Prespective Drawings competition run by the Architectural Institute of Scotland. He remained in Rhind's office until 1864, attending the School of Art and Design in Edinburgh and being awarded the national medal in 1866. Thomas Ross was a fellow student at the School of Design and they formed a friendship which lasted all their lives, sharing as they did a passion for medieval architecture. By this date (after 1866 and before 1868) the family business was being run by Hippolyte's mother as it appears under the name 'Madame Blanc et Fils'; his father seems to have fallen ill and returned to France, where he still owned some property, and to have died there. At least one brother, Auguste was involved in the business. After the completion of his articles in 1864 Blanc worked in various other unspecified offices in Edinburgh but later in the same year he entered HM Office of Works as an assistant to Robert Matheson and rose to the position of chief draughtsman in 1869 after passing the Civil Service Technical Examination. In his Nomination Paper he described his post becoming permanent at this point. During this period he travelled in England, Normandy and Brittany and he was elected President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association for the years 1871-72 at the relatively young age of twenty-seven. He later served two further terms of office.

While still employed by the Office of Works he obtained various private commissions, one of which was a house near Edinburgh which was 'in the course of erection' in 1873. His office (and house?) was at 40 Frederick Street. On 21 August 1873 with the security of a permanent post he married Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Shield of London and together they set up house at 12 St Vincent Street. His first recorded competition entry was for the Sailors' Home at Leith in 1872 which was not successful but in 1875 he won the competition for what was subsequently to be named Christ Episcopal Church, Morningside, working from home and in a private capacity (he was still employed full-time at the Office of Works); and in the following year, 1876, he won another competition, for Mayfield Free Church. In 1878 he left the employ of the Office of Works and commenced full-time independent practice at 73 George Street. From 1880 he was in constant demand, with a series of commissions from well-to-do patrons which included the Coats family in Paisley but it was his competition wins which brought him into public notice, in particular the restoration work at Edinburgh Castle, sponsored by the publisher William Nelson, where Blanc put the experience gained from his years with Matheson at the Office of Works to good use. In 1886 or 1887 Blanc took his former assistant James Gordon into partnership: he was made a partner because of the increasing workload and widespread nature of the practice at this time. In addition to his own practice Blanc was also in demand as an assessor, judging the competition for hospitals at Ayr (1892), Galashiels (1893) and churches at Arbroath and Clydebank (both 1893).

Blanc was meticulous in finding suitable sources for his restoration work and was involved in various antiquarian societies including the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland where he was a Fellow from 1879, a member of the Old Edinburgh Club and the Berwickshire Naturalists Club where in all cases he was an active member and 'nothing delighted him more than to head a large company of visitors over some ancient building…and [he] was in great request amongst learned societies in this capacity'. Moreover despite the demands of a busy practice he found time to 'deliver many lectures on subjects connected with architecture, especially in connection with medieval churches'. He was a prolific writer, having by 1901 penned some 'thirty papers on collegiate churches, castles and suchlike' in addition to a number articles on professional subjects. In 1902 he published jointly with Clement B Gunn and Charles Henry Bedford an illustrated account of his alma mater, George Heriot's School. On 1 April of the previous year he had been elected FRIBA, his proposers being John McKean Brydon, Alfred Waterhouse and William Howard Seth-Smith. In fact he was a keen supporter of the Institute almost from its inception and according to Ross 'owe[d] as much to him as any other member'. His support for aspiring younger architects is demonstrated by the number of Nomination Papers he signed. Blanc was unafraid of commitment and was actively involved also in the Royal Scottish Society of Arts where he was Vice-President in 1888-90. He was elected Associate of the Royal Scottish Academy in 1892 and full academician in 1896 and was deputy President and Treasurer 1907-17. He was also President of the Edinburgh Photographic Society. In 1910 Blanc, along with Ernest George, was on the British Fine Art Executive Committee for the Japan British Exhibition held at Shepherds Bush that year. Again with George he served on the two-person Architecture sub-committee. His activities achieved an international dimension when he became one of the Royal Commissioners appointed by the Government in connection with the International Exhibitions held in Brussels, Rome and Turin in 1910-11.

By 1912 Blanc was joined in practice by his son Francis (Frank) Edward Belcombe Blanc who was born on 27 February 1890 and educated at Merchiston Castle School. Hippolyte Blanc died on 12 March 1917 at his then home, The Neuk, Strathearn Place, leaving moveable estate of £12,061 6s 2d. Frank continued the practice, which had moved to 25 Rutland Square in 1901, under the name Hippolyte J Blanc & Son and was still working in the 1950s, by which time the practice was based in Carlisle.

Hippolyte Jean Blanc, left £12,061.

Victor H Blanc was the son of Blanc's brother Auguste, who had carried on the family business as a boot and shoe maker. Victor H Blanc was appointed dental surgeon to the King and Queen of Romania in 1900. He seerved as a captain with the Royal Army Medical Corps during the First World War and died on 22 July 1921.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
37 (or 39?) Thistle Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business
37 North Frederick Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate
69 George Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate
2 Thirlestane Road Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate
The Neuk/17 Strathearn Place Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
37 (or 39?) Thistle Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business1844
40 Frederick Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness1872
6 Howe Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness1873
12 St Vincent Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness18741878
73 George Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness18791900
The Neuk/17 Strathearn Place Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 18891917
25 Rutland Square Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness19001917FEB Blanc thereafter

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Hippolyte J Blanc & Son204287Before 1912In year 1917Partner
David Rhind100331In year 1859In year 1864Apprentice
Robert Matheson100271In year 1864In year 1869Draughtsman
H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)201531In year 1869In year 1878Chief DraughtsmanIn Edinburgh office
Blanc & Gordon100131c. 1881After 1890Partner

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
(Sir) Thomas Duncan Rhind1003341887/10/03In year 1892Apprentice
Erskine Seaton Cummings2034681889/08In year 1892
Louis David Blanc2004991893/051898/10Apprentice
James Herbert Belfrage2021431893/10In year 1899Apprentice
James Morris2034991899/10In year 1900Improver
Alexander Cochran Denny2007401899/111900/06Assistant
William Patterson202886After 1897In year 1901Assistant
Robert John Macdonald204328After 1901Assistant
Sydney Houghton Miller202743After 1907Before 1909Assistant
James McLellan Fairley200802In year 18751880 or 1881Apprentice
John Begg200375In year 1884In year 1889Apprentice
Robert Watson200753In year 18841887/02Assistant
John Nichol Scott203335In year 1885In year 1896Senior Assistant
John Wittet202328In year 1888In year 1892Assistant
John Alexander Russel Inglis203485In year 1891c. 1893Assistant

RIBA Proposers

The following individuals proposed this person for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic

ProposerProposer LinkDate ProposedNotes
Alfred Waterhouse2003761901/04/01for Fellowship
John McKean Brydon2005231901/04/01for Fellowship
William Howard Seth-Smith2041091901/04/01for Fellowship

RIBA Proposals

This person proposed the following individuals for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details):

RIBA PROPOSALS2 classic

PersonDate ProposedNotes
James Herbert Belfrage1902/12/01for Associateship
James Macintyre Henry1903/03/02for Fellowship
David Robertson1905/12/03for Fellowship
George Lennox Beattie1906/12/03for Fellowship
Peter Lyle Barclay Henderson1906/12/03for Fellowship
John Watson1906/12/03for Fellowship
Walter Wood Robertson1906/12/03for Fellowship
Archibald Macpherson1906/12/03for Fellowship
Henry ('Harry') Ramsay Taylor1906/12/03for Fellowship
Alexander Cochran Denny1907/03/04for Associateship
John Nichol Scott1907/03/04for Fellowship
Alexander Lorne Campbell1907/03/04for Fellowship
James Thomas Baillie1907/12/02for Fellowship
Thomas Tolmie Paterson1907/12/02for Fellowship
George Wilson1907/12/02for Fellowship

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
East Queen Street GardensIn year 1867EdinburghScotlandAs assistant in charge in HM Office of Works
Jedburgh Parish ChurchIn year 1871JedburghRoxburghshireScotlandAppears to have prepared a scheme prior to Wyatt
Suburban VillaIn year 1873Edinburgh (near)Scotland
Christ Church EpiscopalIn year 1875MorningsideEdinburghScotlandWon competition to secure job; also designed memorial tablet to Mr Alcock the organist
Mayfield Free ChurchIn year 1876MayfieldEdinburghScotlandChurch and hall
Mayfield Free Church ManseIn year 1876MayfieldEdinburghScotland
Kinnaird ChurchIn year 1879KinnairdPerthshireScotland
St Margaret's Episcopal ChurchIn year 1879EdinburghScotland
Greenbank UP ChurchIn year 1880GreenockRenfrewshireScotland
Broxburn UP ChurchIn year 1880BroxburnWest LothianScotland
Tenement, Marchmont RoadIn year 1880MarchmontEdinburghScotland
St Cuthbert's Wholesale Co-operative Association HeadquartersIn year 1880EdinburghScotland
Free Church, KirklistonIn year 1880KirklistonWest LothianScotlandSpire
Villa for John BellIn year 1881MorningsideEdinburghScotland
39-41 George StreetIn year 1881EdinburghScotlandRemodelling of ground floor of no.41

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Walker, Frank ArneilSouth Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew1986p16, p20, p136
Japan British ExhibitionJapan British Exhibition 19101910

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Builder1863/03/28*p227 (report of prize at Architectural Institute
Building News1918/01/16p60 - estate
Building News1917/03/21p247 - obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005F v13 p142 no844 (microfilm reel 11)