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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Henry Wylie (or Harry Wylie)
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
24/08/1996
Henry (Harry) Wylie was born on 25 April 1914, the son and fourth of the five children of Henry Wylie, civil engineer, and his wife Janit Capie. He was educated at george Watson's College where he excelled in rugby. He was also a dilgent pupil. He trained as an architect in the 1930s at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art and also studied there for the diploma in Town Planning. He was Hew Lorimer's brother-in-law. Whilte studying at the College he worked in the office of Rowand Anderson Paul & Partners. In September 1937 he spent a month travelling through France, Swu]itzerland and Italy. The following year he spent another month in France in the chateaux district at the Loire and in 1939 he travelled in England studying town planning and was in Paris for a week for the same purpose. In 1939-40 he was a member of the Edinburgh Architectural Association and had an address at 29 Barnton Gardens, Davidsons Mains, Edinburgh. In 1940 he was admitted ARIBA, proposed by Alexander Alan Foote, Thomas Forbes MacLennan and Frank R Mears.

During the years 1940-46 he served with the Royal Engineers and reached the rank of Captain. He was posted to Rangoon in January 1942. When it was realised that the city could not withstand the Japanese he and his small band of engineers were tasked with destroying the docks and oil terminal to prevent them from being captured. After leaving Rangoon, the Royal Engineers began the long retreat north on foot. Many including, Henry Wylie, were seriously ill on arrival in India and spent many months in hospital before being sent home.

After demobilisation he took a post as exhibitions' manager, Council of Industrial Design (Scottish Committee). He was always particularly interested in interior design. Between 1948 and 1957 he had a post as senior assistant instructor at Edinburgh College of Art while at the same time working as an 'associate partner' with Leslie Grahame Thomson. In 1957 he set up practice on his own account as Henry Wylie & Partners in which he was senior partner. Concurrently he ran another firm, Design and Industrial Styling Consultants, in which he was Principal Consultant Designer. Showrooms, shops and interiors were executed (by Henry Wylie & Partners?) on behalf of Design & Industrial Styling Consultants.

Wylie was elected FRIAS in 1954 and FRIBA on 2 October 1968, his proposers being Robert Hogg Matthew (who described Wylie as a personal friend), Andrew Renton and William Hardie Glover. During the 1960s the practice undertook a wide range of work. Alongside those listed individually they designed a housing development of 150 houses, extensions to a school building, imrpovements and alterations in offcies, as well as an improvement and interior scheme elsewhere and new houses to the value of £9,000.

Outwith his professional life, Wylie was a founder member of the Scottish Arts Club and served as lay president. He was also a keen golfer and member and past captain of Bruntsfield Links Golfing Society, a member of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers and a member of the Senior Golfers Society. He had the reputation of being the best dressed member of the Bruntsfield Club.

He died in Murrayfield Nursing Home on 24 August 1996. His wife Ethna West Little, consultant gynaecologist, had predeceased him but he was survived by his son, a potter, and his daughter, a graphic artist.

'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

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
29 Barnton Gardens Davidsons Mains Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business
19 Douglas Crescent Edinburgh ScotlandPrivateIt is not clear if this is an error for ( Douglas Crscent or 19 rather than 9 was his address.
9 Douglas Crescent Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate
15 Moray Place Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
29 Barnton Gardens Davidsons Mains Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business1939After 1950
15 Moray Place Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessBefore 1968After 1970Became home address

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
Henry Wylie & Partners402113Before 1964Partner
Henry Wylie Frank White & Partners407385In year 1975Partner

RIBA Proposers

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

RIBA PROPOSERS2 classic

ProposerProposer LinkDate ProposedNotes
Alexander Allan Foote2011971940/01/09For Associateship
(Sir) Frank Charles Mears2024021940/01/09For Associateship
Thomas Forbes Maclennan1004041940/01/09For Associateship
Robert Hogg Matthew2020671968/10/02For Fellowship
Andrew Renton2078261968/10/02For Fellowship
John Hardie Glover2064021968/12/02For 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
Leith Public Health HospitalAfter 1957LeithEdinburghScotlandUpgrading of three wards
Eglinton HotelsAfter 1957EdinburghScotlandInterior upgrade and installation of bathrooms
Kellie CastleIn year 1959PittenweemFifeScotlandRestoration
British Olivetti Company ShowroomIn year 1959EdinburghScotland
McCallum Advertising ShowroomsIn year 1959EdinburghScotland
Office premises for Equity & LawIn year 1959EdinburghScotland
Bank of Scotland, New Town Branch1960sEdinburghScotlandInterior reorganisation and improvement scheme - in full charge.
Private house1960sEdinburghScotland
Office premises for JW and RN Oswald CA1960sEdinburghScotland
Private house1960sScotland
Kames Development Scheme1960sButeButeScotland
Falkirk Metropolitan Hotel1960sFalkirkStirlingshireScotlandComplete interior design
British Olivetti Showroom1960sGlasgowScotland
J C White Ltd office development1960sScotlandIn full charge
Cator Consolidated Properties Ltd office1960sGlasgowScotlandPartnership responsibility.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Willis, PeterNew architecture in Scotland1977p11 George Hotel/Caledonian Insurance, Edinburghp12 Showrooms for Justerini & Brooks
RIBAThe RIBA Kalendar 1939-19401939London: Royal Institute of British Architects
RIBAThe RIBA Kalendar 1950-19511950London: Royal Institute of British Architects
RIBARIBA Directory 19701970

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
RIAS Newsletter1996/11v7, no9Death notice

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
NMRS ManuscriptsNational Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS100055Office papers - fairly complete. Acc No 1997/94
Records of membershipRIAS, Rutland Square201006Obituary written by his grandson and other records.
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005A no7425 (Combined Box 190); F no 6138 (Combined Box 139)