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Buildings

Basic Site Details

St Mary's Free Church and Manse
Edinburgh
Demolished
Scotland
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:

Alt classic

NameCurrent NameNotes
Free St Mary'sYes

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

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ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
ChurchNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

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AddressCurrent AddressNotes
Broughton StreetYesCorner
Albany StreetYesCorner

Events

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

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Event TypeFromToNotes
18581861Church opened late 1861 or early 1862
1858Competition
1910cAlterations 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.

design classic

PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
J, W H & J M Hay ('The Hays of Liverpool')D1856Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
James Murdoch HayD1856Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
John HayD1856Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
William Hardie HayD1856Received original commission and went through several stages of design; subsequently dropped, and a competition held
Charles George Hood KinnearC1858Second place competition design
John Dick PeddieC1858Second place competition design
John Thomas Rochead18581860Won competition, then was dismissed, but church and manse were built to his design
Peddie & KinnearC1858Second place competition design
A & G ThomsonA1858cUnexecuted competition design
Alexander ThomsonA1858cUnexecuted competition design
George ThomsonA1858cUnexecuted competition design
John McIntyre1910cAlterations and new organ

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

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AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
APSDThe Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892)
McFadzean, Ronald1979The Life and Work of Alexander ThomsonLondon: Routledge & Kegan Paul
McKean, John Maule1985The Architectonics and Ideals of Alexander Thomsonno 9, Summer 1985AA Files (Annals of the Architectural Association School of Architecture), Summer 1985
RSA1859678 (Peddie & Kinnear design)
Stamp, Gavin1999Alexander Thomson: The Unknown GeniusLondon: Lawrence King, in association with Glasgow 1999
Walker, David M2002Presbyterian Variations on Themes by Sharpe and Pugin:The Scottish Work of the Hays of LiverpoolArchitectural Heritage XIII, Journal of the Architectural Heritage Society of Scotland, pp99-127pp120-22

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

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Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Alexander Thomson Society Newsletter1994/05no 10Article by David M Walker
Building News1862/01/24p62 - opening
Building Chronicle1856/05/01IIp55 - Hays of Liverpool design

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Managers' Minutes and Deacons' Court MinutesCH3/721/5 (Peddie & Kinnear)
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDick Peddie and McKay CollectionDPM/1850/63/1
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersJohn McIntyre: L v5 no306 (microfilm reel 30)
Glasgow School of ArtDrawings CollectionPrespective drawing and ground plan