Ebenezer James MacRae (18 January 1881 – 15 January 1951) was a

Scottish Scottish usually refers to something of, from, or related to Scotland, including: *Scottish Gaelic, a Celtic Goidelic language of the Indo-European language family native to Scotland *Scottish English *Scottish national identity, the Scottish ide ...

architect serving as City

Architect An architect is a person who plans, designs, and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...

for

Edinburgh Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. The city is located in southeast Scotland and is bounded to the north by the Firth of Forth and to the south by the Pentland Hills. Edinburgh ...

for most of his active life.

Life

He was the son of Rev Alexander MacRae of the Free Church of Scotland. To family and friends he was generally known as Ben MacRae. He studied architecture under Archibald MacPherson from 1899 to 1907, remaining good friends until death. He trained at both Heriot-Watt College, the

University of Edinburgh The University of Edinburgh (, ; abbreviated as ''Edin.'' in Post-nominal letters, post-nominals) is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. Founded by the City of Edinburgh Council, town council under th ...

and later

Edinburgh College of Art Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) is one of eleven schools in the College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences at the University of Edinburgh. Tracing its history back to 1760, it provides higher education in art and design, architecture, histor ...

. He did various sketching tours around the country in his twenties:

York York is a cathedral city in North Yorkshire, England, with Roman Britain, Roman origins, sited at the confluence of the rivers River Ouse, Yorkshire, Ouse and River Foss, Foss. It has many historic buildings and other structures, such as a Yor ...

, England (1902 and 1904),

Melrose Melrose may refer to: Places United Kingdom * Melrose, Scottish Borders, a town in the Scottish Borders, Scotland ** Melrose Abbey, ruined monastery ** Melrose RFC, rugby club Australia * Melrose, Queensland, a locality in the South Burnett R ...

(1904),

Belgium Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Northwestern Europe. Situated in a coastal lowland region known as the Low Countries, it is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeas ...

(1905),

Cambridge Cambridge ( ) is a List of cities in the United Kingdom, city and non-metropolitan district in the county of Cambridgeshire, England. It is the county town of Cambridgeshire and is located on the River Cam, north of London. As of the 2021 Unit ...

(1907),

Lincoln Lincoln most commonly refers to: * Abraham Lincoln (1809–1865), the 16th president of the United States * Lincoln, England, cathedral city and county town of Lincolnshire, England * Lincoln, Nebraska, the capital of Nebraska, U.S. * Lincoln (na ...

(1907),

Northamptonshire Northamptonshire ( ; abbreviated Northants.) is a Ceremonial counties of England, ceremonial county in the East Midlands of England. It is bordered by Leicestershire, Rutland and Lincolnshire to the north, Cambridgeshire to the east, Bedfordshi ...

(1907), and

Oxford Oxford () is a City status in the United Kingdom, cathedral city and non-metropolitan district in Oxfordshire, England, of which it is the county town. The city is home to the University of Oxford, the List of oldest universities in continuou ...

(1907). In 1908 he trained further, under John Kinross. Late in 1908 he got a post as an assistant in the City Architect's Department of the then Edinburgh Corporation, serving under James Anderson Williamson. He qualified as an architect in 1914. He served in the Royal Engineers during World War I then returned to Edinburgh as Depute City Architect. In 1925 he was promoted to City Architect, a role he held until retiral in 1946. In 1926 he took over the Director of Housing post from the retiring City Engineer Adam Horsburgh Campbell. From this date onwards the main thrust of his workload would be the provision of high-quality social housing with good space standards and light levels. His team provided around 12,000 houses in the city, many of which in central locations to save tenants travel costs. His housing work is discussed in detail in Volume 13 (2017) of the Book of the Old Edinburgh Club. In 1936, the young William Gordon Dey worked under MacRae undertaking the city survey of the

Canongate The Canongate is a street and associated district in central Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The street forms the main eastern length of the Royal Mile while the district is the main eastern section of Edinburgh's Old Town. David ...

. In the mid-1940s he compiled "The Royal Mile" and "The Heritage of Greater Edinburgh": studies of the Old Town and remainder of the city. This document identified buildings worthy of preservation, including several within the Edinburgh New Town, Edinburgh Old Town and suburbs. It formed the basis of later works such as The Abercromby Plan and influenced the statutory lists. A keen historian, MacRae wrote a paper on the statue of Charles II in Parliament Square.Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, 1930 p. 82 His final years as City Architect were relatively unproductive since most public building works ceased during World War II, an exception being the completion of West Pilton to a much depleted specification. MacRae was noted for his championing of the tenement and for his sensitive infill developments within the Old Town and central Edinburgh. These were designed in a weak C17th Scots style, faced in stone with steep slate roofs, and include the Pleasance development, designed by Thomas Smith (1931-7) and Gifford Park (1935) designed by James Aitken. A few historic buildings were reconditioned, but Government housing policies were focused on new build. Outside the centre he built traditional housing in rendered brick, again with steep slate roofing. He resisted building more modern flats with shared facilities and only one housing development, Royston Mains Crescent (1935), designed by George C Robb, was built in facing brick. Other housing developments include Prestonfield, Niddrie Mains (now demolished), Stenhouse, Redbraes, Saughton Golf Course (Whitson), Craigentinny, Granton and Craigmillar. In 1934 he toured Europe as part of a delegation from the Department of Health. The result was the influential 'Report on Working Class housing on the Continent' (1935), also known as the Highton Report. Perhaps his most European influenced development was Piershill (1935-8), a large development of 342 flats in U-shaped south-facing courts, designed by MacRae, Andrew Rollo, James Tweedie and Malcolm Murchison. After retirement he moved out of the city to live at Taprobane in

Ratho Ratho () is a village in the rural west part of the City of Edinburgh council area, Scotland. Its population at the 2011 census was 1,634 based on the 2010 definition of the locality. It was formerly in the old county of Midlothian (historic), ...

where he lived with his wife Dorothy Craigie, affectionately known as Mopsy. His hobbies included

ornithology Ornithology, from Ancient Greek ὄρνις (''órnis''), meaning "bird", and -logy from λόγος (''lógos''), meaning "study", is a branch of zoology dedicated to the study of birds. Several aspects of ornithology differ from related discip ...

, photography and watercolour painting. He died at the Deaconess Hospital in the Pleasance Edinburgh after a short illness. He was cremated at Warriston Crematorium on 22 January 1951 and his ashes were scattered in the Garden of Remembrance there. A memorial plaque to his memory stands in the south arcade of the crematorium. Edinburgh City police box 001

List of works

* Our Lady of Loretto and St Michael RC Church,

Musselburgh Musselburgh (; ; ) is the largest settlement in East Lothian, Scotland, on the coast of the Firth of Forth, east of Edinburgh city centre. It had a population of as of . History The name Musselburgh is Old English language, Old English in ...

, works to presbytery and hall whilst working under Archibald MacPherson (1903) * Repairs at Kirkwall Cathedral,

Orkney Orkney (), also known as the Orkney Islands, is an archipelago off the north coast of mainland Scotland. The plural name the Orkneys is also sometimes used, but locals now consider it outdated. Part of the Northern Isles along with Shetland, ...

, whilst working under John Kinross (1907) *

Gorgie Gorgie ( ) is a densely populated area of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located to the west of the city centre, and borders Murrayfield, Ardmillan and Dalry, Edinburgh, Dalry. Name The name is thought to be British language (Celtic), Brythonic in ...

Cattle Market, Corporation Slaughterhouse and a police station, whilst assisting J A Anderson (1909) * Kilcalmonell Churchyard, War Memorial Gateway (1921) as a private commission (probably unpaid) * Further extensions to Gorgie Market and Slaughterhouse (now as City Architect) (1926) * Edinburgh's Tram shelters and waiting rooms (1926) all lost but a waiting room (now converted to a house) still survives at 6 Liberton Gardens * Stable court/curator's offices at

Lauriston Castle Lauriston Castle is a 16th-century tower house with 19th-century extensions overlooking the Firth of Forth, in Edinburgh, Scotland. It lies on Cramond Road South, between Cramond, Davidson's Mains, and Silverknowes. The substantial grounds, La ...

soon after the city's acquisition of this property (1927) * His tour de force, Portobello Power Station (1927–34), together with the linked Portbello Lido which borrowed its hot water from the station's cooling pipes. This was the major landmark in Portobello until its demolition 1977 to 1979 (it took 18 months to demolish this giant structure) * Slateford Housing Scheme (1925-7) Layout by Campbell * Prestonfield Housing Scheme (1925-7) Layout by Campbell. * Layout of St Margarets Park,

Corstorphine Corstorphine (Scottish Gaelic: ''Crois Thoirfinn'') ( ) is an area of the Scottish capital city of Edinburgh. Formerly a separate village and parish to the west of Edinburgh, it is now a suburb of the city, having been formally incorporate ...

(1927) * 40-42 Candlemaker Row, remodelling of Candlemakers Hall (1929) * 15-19 and 74-84 Grassmarket (1929) * Public Library in

(1929) * Niddrie Mains Housing Scheme (1929)(largely demolished) * Stenhouse Housing Scheme (1930) * 24 houses in

Gilmerton Gilmerton is a suburb of Edinburgh, about southeast of the city centre. The toponym "Gilmerton" is derived from a combination of – a personal name and later surname meaning "Servant of he VirginMary", from which comes the first element, ...

on the edge of Edinburgh (1930) * Greyfriars Hostel, 2-12 Cowgate (1930) * Restoration of 74-96 West Bow (1930) * Stenhouse Housing Scheme (1930) - 470 houses * Restoration of 39-43 Candlemaker Row (1930) including a new interior * Pavilion at Clarebank School,

Leith Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith. The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...

(1930) * Widening of Lothian Road onto an arcade over the graveyards at St Cuthberts and St Johns (1930) * Several tenements on the Canongate as part of the Canongate Improvement Scheme (1930) * Alterations to Edinburgh City Library on George IV Bridge (1930) *

Poorhouse (converted to hospital use in 1939 and renamed the Eastern General Hospital) (1931) now demolished. * Numerous combined traffic signs/ street lamps at various T-junctions (still surviving in West End) (1931) * Public wash-house on Junction Place,

(1931) now demolished * Redbraes Housing Estate (1931) Layout by DG Bannerman * Saughton Golf Course Housing Scheme (Whitson) (1931) layout by GC Robb * Craigentinny Housing Estate (1932) Layout by GC Robb * Wardie Primary School (1931) *

Craigmillar Craigmillar (from Gaelic ''Creag a' Mhaol Àird'', "rock of the bare summit") is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland, about south east of the city centre, with Duddingston to the north and Newcraighall to the east. History Despite the relati ...

Primary School (Former School Building) (1932) * Saughton Housing Scheme (1932–1933) * Balgreen Primary School (1932) * Granton Housing Estate - Granton (1932–33) * Braidhills Golf Club pavilion and tearoom (1932) Designed by AG Forgie * School at Niddrie Mains Terrace (1932) Mural inside * Portobello Outdoor Swimming Pool ("Lido") (1933) * Granton Housing Estate - Wardieburn (1933) layout by GC Robb * Pleasance development, Richmond Place, West Richmond Street etc. (1934) By Tom Smith. * Additions to Nurses Home at Bangour Village Asylum (

Bangour Hospital Bangour Village Hospital was a psychiatric hospital located west of Dechmont in West Lothian, Scotland. During the First World War it formed part of the much larger Edinburgh War Hospital. History The hospital was modelled on the village system ...

) near

Uphall, West Lothian Uphall (, ) is a village in West Lothian, Scotland. It forms a conurbation with Broxburn to the east, Dechmont to the west and the major town of Livingston to the south west. Uphall is 30 miles from Glasgow and 14 miles from Edinburgh in the ...

(1934) * Addition of east and west wings to the City Chambers (facing the

Royal Mile The Royal Mile () is the nickname of a series of streets forming the main thoroughfare of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. The term originated in the early 20th century and has since entered popular usage. The Royal ...

) (1934) *

Craigentinny Craigentinny is a suburb in the north-east of Edinburgh, Scotland, east of Restalrig and Lochend. Its name may be a corruption of the Gaelic ''Creag an t-Sionnaich'', meaning "the fox's rock". History Previously moorland, the first major hou ...

Primary School (1935) * Tenement infill at 49 Buccleuch Street (1935) * Gifford Park housing (1932) designed by J Aitken * Georgian replica tram depot offices at 3-5 Smiths Place (off

Leith Walk Leith Walk is one of the longest streets in Edinburgh, Scotland, and is the main road connecting the east end of the city centre to Leith. Forming most of the A900 road, it slopes downwards from Picardy Place at the south-western end of the str ...

(1936) * Edinburgh City Chambers, internal refit largely remodelling main stair and increasing height of windows there (adding stained glass) (1936) * Recessed block at 28 West Port for Housing Association (1936) *

Piershill Piershill is a suburb of north east Edinburgh, Scotland, in the shadow of Arthur's Seat. It is mainly residential, with local amenities including a large supermarket and filling station, bank, public library, optician, pharmacy, several takeaw ...

housing scheme (1936) By MacRae, Andrew Rollo, James Tweedie and Malcolm Murchison *

housing scheme (1936) Layout by Tom Smith * Granton Housing Estate - Royston Mains (1936-8) Layout by GC Robb * Crewe Road Gardens Housing Scheme,

West Pilton Pilton is a residential area of northern Edinburgh, Scotland. It is to the north of Ferry Road, immediately east of Muirhouse, and to the west and south of Granton (the Boswall, Royston Mains and Wardieburn neighbourhoods). Description Some ...

(1936) * Edinburgh's Police Boxes (around ninety in number) (c.1937) with A Rollo * Royston Primary School (1937) (Demolished in 2010/2011) * Granton Primary School (1937) * Mount Lodge Housing Estate, Portobello (1937) *

Housing Estate inc Ferry Road Housing,

(1937–1951) * Murrayburn Primary School (1938) * Craigmuir Primary School,

(late 1930s) (Now Demolished) * 3,4, 5 St Patrick Street (1938) In traditional style to match Square * Peffermill School (1939) Demolished * Housing at Barony Street (1939) designed by RS Ellis * Blocks 24 and 25 at

(1939) * Holy Cross Academy (1939) * Tanfield Primary School (1939) * Extensions to the City Poorhouse at

Craiglockhart Craiglockhart (; ) is a suburb in the south west of Edinburgh, Scotland, lying between Colinton to the south, Morningside to the east Merchiston to the north east, and Longstone and Kingsknowe to the west. The Water of Leith is also to the w ...

(1939) * Tenement at 174 Morrison Street (1939) Designed by RS Ellis. Flat roof through wartime restrictions. MacRae appears to have been involved in several projects promoting the history of Edinburgh: a series of bronze plaques at the head of the various historic closes along the

, explaining their history; works at the Marquis of Huntly's house removing ground floor shops and addition of faux stone inscriptions; works in

Greyfriars Kirkyard Greyfriars Kirkyard is the graveyard surrounding Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh, Scotland. It is located at the southern edge of the Old Town, Edinburgh, Old Town, adjacent to George Heriot's School. Burials have been taking place since the late 1 ...

, consolidating tombs and organising recarving of several panels on the tops of tombs (leading to their current homogeneity).

References

* Dictionary of Scottish Architects. * Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker * Buildings of Scotland: Lothian by Colin McWilliam * Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Volume 13 (2017) * Granton History. {{DEFAULTSORT:MacRae, Ebenezer James 1881 births 1951 deaths Alumni of the University of Edinburgh Architects from Edinburgh