George Mackie Watson
George Mackie Watson RIBA (1860-1948) was a Scottish architect in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His masterpiece is the total rebuilding of Eilean Donan 1912-1914.
Life
He was born at 1 Teviot Row[1] in Edinburgh's South Side, the fourth son of George Watson, cabinetmaker, and his wife, Agnes Shaw. He was educated at George Watsons College.[2] In 1876 he was articled as an apprentice architect to Robert Rowand Anderson working on the McEwan Hall and National Portrait Gallery projects in Edinburgh. He was promoted to Chief Assistant in 1884.
In 1892 he began teaching architecture at Anderson's Edinburgh School of Applied Art but continued to do some work for Rowand Anderson. In 1899 he set up independently as an architect at 4 Hope Street, just off Charlotte Square in Edinburgh. From 1911 his office was at 50 Queen Street.[3]
He died on 7 May 1948. He is buried in Grange Cemetery in southern Edinburgh. The grave lies on the south side of the main north path and is marked by a simple small marker stone.
Family
He was married to Jean Steedman Mirylees (d.1949). They lived first at 8 Scotland Street in the Second New Town then they moved to 17 East Claremont Street.
Principal works
See[2]
- Holy Trinity Episcopal Church, Stirling (for Rowand Anderson) (1876)
- McEwan Hall, Edinburgh (for Rowand Anderson) (1876- 1897)
- Glasgow Central Station Hotel (for Rowand Anderson) (1877)
- Mount Stuart House, Bute (for Rowand Anderson) (1879)
- Ballochmyle House, Mauchline (for Rowand Anderson) (1885)
- Restoration of Dunblane Cathedral (for Rowand Anderson) (1889)
- Kings College Chapel, Aberdeen University (for Rowand Anderson) (1890)
- Restoration of Paisley Abbey (for Rowand Anderson) (1898)
- Restoration of Strachur church (1899)
- Feuing plan for the Hailes Estate on Lanark Road, Edinburgh (1900)
- St Serfs Church, Goldenacre, Edinburgh (1901)
- Peace Palace in The Hague (1907) unsuccessful competition entry
- Restoration of Kirkwall Cathedral (1908)
- St James Church, Portobello, Edinburgh (1910)
- Remodelling of Castle Lachlan (1910)
- Remodelling of Falkirk Old Parish Church (1910)
- Restoration and consolidation at Eilean Donan Castle (1912)
- Knockdown House, Toward (1919)
References
- ↑ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1860-61
- 1 2 Goold, David. "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (January 25, 2017, 5:05 pm)". Retrieved 25 January 2017.
- ↑ Edinburgh and Leith Post Office Directory 1911-12