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Buildings

Basic Site Details

Free High Church and Free Church College
Edinburgh
A Listed
Scotland
Some information re. Lorne Campbell and Gordon & Dey unclear.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:

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NameCurrent NameNotes
Rainy HallYes
New College and Assembly HallNo

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

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ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
CollegeNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

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AddressCurrent AddressNotes
Mound PlaceYes
CastlehillYes

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

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Event TypeFromToNotes
1844Competition held for Free Church College
18451850Free High Church and Free Church College built
18581859Assembly Hall added
1858/03/13Purchase of site for Assembly Hall
1883Alterations
1899Rainy Hall and other additions
1901Further alterations
1903Reconstruction of UF Church Assembly Hall
19341935Woodwork provided in old Free High Church on its conversion to library
1936c1957cAlterations including sub-division of students' common room and alterations in examination rooms
Restoration1954APerhaps also additions and alterations?

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.

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PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
Jonathan Anderson Bell18431844Unsuccessful competition design (exhibited at RA)
James MatthewsB1844Won competition (although Playfair's design actually used)
John Thomas Rochead1844Two competition designs: 'early decorative' and 'collegiate'
Mackenzie & MatthewsB1844Won competition (although Playfair's design actually used)
Thomas MackenzieB1844Won competition (although Playfair's design actually used)
James RaeburnC1844cCompetition design (exhibited in James's name)
Robert Reid RaeburnC1844cCompetition design (exhibited in James's name)
William Henry PlayfairFArchitect18451850Did not win compeition but was awarded the job for Free High Church and Free Church College - date of construction.
David Cousin1846Unsuccessful competition design exhibited
David Bryce18581859Assembly Hall added
Charles George Hood KinnearD1883Alterations
John More Dick PeddieD1883Alterations
Kinnear & PeddieD1883Alterations
Arthur George Sydney MitchellE1899Rainy Hall and other additions
George WilsonE1899Rainy Hall and other additions

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

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NameNotes
University of Edinburgh

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

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AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland)Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp184-5
Grant, James1883Old and New Edinburgh1885, pp97-8
RIBA1981Directory of Practices 1981
RSA1847527 and 528 (Rochead's designs)
RSA1846459 (David Cousin); 484 (Robert Reid Raeburn under James Raeburn)
Royal Academy exhibitorsJonathan Anderson Bell design exhibited. 1845, no 1206

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

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Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Builder1858/03/15XVI
Building News1900/12/28*
Builder1903/05/23LXXXIV
Building News1900/09/14*
Building News1901/11/01*
Journal of Decorative Art1901/12XXIp344

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

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SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild28 October 1846, 17 July 1858 and 10 November 1899
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersJohn Galt Mitchell: L v1 no91 (microfilm reel 29); John Herdman Reid F no6267 (Combined Box 129)
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDick Peddie and McKay CollectionDPM/1880/42/14
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSSydney Mitchell & Wilson CollectionSMW1890/5/1
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSIan G Lindsay CollectionIGL W533/49
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register27689
Edinburgh University LibraryPlansSupplementary
RIAS, Rutland SquareRecords of membershipJohn Herdman Reid's RIAS papers