John Ross McKay RIBA (1884–1962) was a 20th-century Scottish architect. He was also President of the

Clan MacKay Clan Mackay ( ; ) is an ancient and once-powerful Scottish Highlands, Highland Scottish clan from the far north of the Scottish Highlands, but with roots in the old Mormaer of Moray, Kingdom of Moray. They supported Robert I of Scotland, Rober ...

Society. He gives his name to the J R McKay Medal for architectural students. His work covers a diverse range: from villas to major factories and department stores. He was also responsible for several cinemas and public houses.

Early life

He was born in

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 ...

on 11 June 1884 the son of William McKay and his wife Elizabeth Anderson. He was apprenticed as an architect in 1899 also studying at Edinburgh School of Applied Art and

Heriot-Watt College Heriot-Watt University () is a Public university, public research university based in Edinburgh, Scotland. It was established in 1821 as the School of Arts of Edinburgh, the world's first mechanics' institute, and was subsequently granted univers ...

Career

In 1903 he joined the office of

Francis William Deas Francis William Deas (1862 –13 November 1951) was a Scottish Arts and Crafts architect and landscape designer in the late 19th century and first half of the 20th century. He was a keen amateur painter, largely of landscapes. His most important ...

and, after gaining his Diploma in 1905, in 1906 he became a junior architect in the office of

Robert Lorimer Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer, Order of the British Empire, KBE (4 November 1864 – 13 September 1929) was a prolific Scotland, Scottish architect and furniture designer noted for his sensitive restorations of historic houses and castles, f ...

at 49

Queen Street, Edinburgh Queen Street is the northernmost east-west street in Edinburgh's New Town, Edinburgh#The First New Town, First New Town. It begins in the east, at the Scottish National Portrait Gallery. It links York Place, Edinburgh, York Place with the Moray ...

. He served in the

First World War World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

from 1917 to 1919: both at VIII Corps headquarters and in the

Royal Scots Fusiliers The Royal Scots Fusiliers was a line infantry regiment of the British Army that existed from 1678 until 1959 when it was amalgamated with the Highland Light Infantry (City of Glasgow Regiment) to form the Royal Highland Fusiliers (Princess Ma ...

(Labour Corps) as a lieutenant in France but mainly involved in military mapping and creating panoramas for planning purposes. In 1920 he returned to Lorimer's office as "chief assistant". His employment with Lorimer ended somewhat abruptly when he informed Lorimer that he had been invited to stay at Hunterston House, as a guest of his former commanding officer, General

Aylmer Hunter-Weston Lieutenant General Sir Aylmer Gould Hunter-Weston, (23 September 1864 – 18 March 1940) was a British Army officer who served in the First World War on the Western Front, at Gallipoli in 1915, and in the very early stages of the Somme Offensi ...

. Lorimer had an issue with this as the general was a current client, and he felt an assistant should not attend where he himself had not been invited. Lorimer failed to acknowledge that this was not the reason for invitation. McKay ignored Lorimer's warnings and attended the function. Lorimer fired him on his return.Dictionary of Scottish Architects: J R McKay Soon after leaving Lorimer he went into partnership with James Smith Richardson in his office at 4 Melville Street. However, Richardson more or less left all architectural work to McKay, as he had been appointed a full time Inspector for the Ancient Monuments Directorate. From 1930 McKay was Vice President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association. In the

Second World War World War II or the Second World War (1 September 1939 – 2 September 1945) was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War II, Allies and the Axis powers. World War II by country, Nearly all of the wo ...

, other than designing some emergency hospitals, and military HQs all work dried up. In 1942 Richardson officially left the partnership and Mckay was instead joined by Walker Todd, but this was short-lived as Walker Todd died in 1944. Suffering from mental illness, his final years were spent in

Craig House, Edinburgh Craig House is a historic house and estate located on Easter Craiglockhart Hill, between the Craiglockhart and Morningside, Edinburgh, Morningside areas of Edinburgh, Scotland. Old Craig House dates back to the 16th century, and it succeeded an ...

, a private asylum. He died there on 2 August 1962.

Family

He was married to Dora Kennedy.

Main projects

*Villa, 4 Grant Avenue,

Colinton Colinton is a suburb of Edinburgh, Scotland situated southwest of the city centre. Up until the late 18th century it appears on maps as Collington. It is bordered by Dreghorn to the south and Craiglockhart to the north-east. To the north-w ...

(1913) *Factory for

George F. Merson George Fowlie Merson FRSE FPS FCS (1866–1959) was a Scottish pharmacist who produced an artificial surgical catgut called Mersuture. In authorship he appears as G. F. Merson. Life He was born in Fraserburgh in Aberdeenshire in 1866. He traine ...

, Edinburgh (1920) *C & J Brown premises, Edinburgh (1920) *Douglas & Foulis printworks, Edinburgh (1920) *Mayfield Garage,

Mayfield, Edinburgh Mayfield is an area of Edinburgh, Scotland Scotland is a Countries of the United Kingdom, country that is part of the United Kingdom. It contains nearly one-third of the United Kingdom's land area, consisting of the northern part of th ...

(1920) *West Acres,

Balerno Balerno () is a village on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland situated south-west of the city centre, next to Currie and then Juniper Green. Traditionally in the county of Midlothian it now administratively falls within the jurisdiction o ...

(1920) *Lochote House,

Linlithgow Linlithgow ( ; ; ) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It was historically West Lothian's county town, reflected in the county's historical name of Linlithgowshire. An ancient town, it lies in the Central Belt on a historic route between Edi ...

(1921) *New wing, Belhaven House, near

Dunbar Dunbar () is a town on the North Sea coast in East Lothian in the south-east of Scotland, approximately east of Edinburgh and from the Anglo–Scottish border, English border north of Berwick-upon-Tweed. Dunbar is a former royal burgh, and ...

(1922) *Caley Picture House,

Tollcross, Edinburgh Tollcross is a major road junction to the south west of the city centre of Edinburgh, Scotland which takes its name from a local historical land area. It lies between the more affluent area of Bruntsfield and the Grassmarket. Origin of the nam ...

(1922) *Hillend Farmhouse, south of Edinburgh (1922) *Oldfields,

North Berwick North Berwick (; ) is a seaside resort, seaside town and former royal burgh in East Lothian, Scotland. It is situated on the south shore of the Firth of Forth, approximately east-northeast of Edinburgh. North Berwick became a fashionable holi ...

(1923) *St Ninian's Church,

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 ...

(1923) *Belton (villa) in

Gullane Gullane ( or ) is a town on the southern shore of the Firth of Forth in East Lothian on the east coast of Scotland. There has been a church in the village since the ninth century. The ruins of the Old Church of St. Andrew built in the twel ...

(1924) *New frontage, 67-81 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh (1924) *Gate Lodge,

Saughton Saughton () is a suburb of the west of Edinburgh, Scotland, bordering Broomhouse, Edinburgh, Broomhouse, Stenhouse, Edinburgh, Stenhouse, Longstone, Edinburgh, Longstone and Carrick Knowe. In Scots language, Lowland Scots, a "sauch" is a will ...

Cemetery (1924) *Nungate,

(1924) *The Gatehouse,

(1924) *Auchindoune,

Liberton, Edinburgh Liberton is a suburb of Edinburgh the capital of Scotland. It is in the south of the city, south of The Inch, east of the Braid Hills and west of Moredun. Liberton Community council's area includes Liberton, Gracemount, Kaimes, Alnwic ...

(1925) *Garage for Bruce Lindsay & Co, St Leonards, Edinburgh (1925) *Kinleith Mill near

Currie Currie is a village and suburb on the outskirts of Edinburgh, Scotland, situated south west of the city centre. Formerly within the County of Midlothian, it now falls within the jurisdiction of the City of Edinburgh Council. It is situated be ...

(1925) *Ravelrig House,

(1925) *16 Brights Crescent, Edinburgh (1926) *Blanerne,

(1926) *Edinburgh Cat and Dog Home (1926) *Carlton Cinema, Edinburgh (1927) *

Corstorphine Hill Corstorphine Hill is a low ridge-shaped hill rising above the western suburbs of Edinburgh, Scotland. Although there has been residential and commercial development on its lower slopes, especially in the south and west, most of the hill is occu ...

Cemetery (1927) *Tigh na Coille, Fearnan,

Loch Tay Loch Tay () is a freshwater loch in the central Scottish Highlands, highlands of Scotland, in the Perth and Kinross and Stirling (council area), Stirling Subdivisions of Scotland#Council areas, council areas, the largest body of fresh water in ...

(1927) *MacAndrews, Edinburgh (1928) *Ravensworth,

(1928) *Dornock Mill,

Crieff Crieff (; , meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth, Scotland, Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 road, A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy, Scotland, Aberfeldy. The A822 road, A822 joins ...

(1929) *West Mills,

(1929) *Garage for G C MacAndrew, Edinburgh (1930) *49/51 High Street,

Tranent Tranent is a town in East Lothian (formerly Haddingtonshire), in the south-east of Scotland. Tranent lies 6 miles from the boundary of Edinburgh, and 9.1 miles from the city centre. It lies south of the A1 road (Great Britain), A1 road that r ...

(1932) *Aithernie,

Davidsons Mains Davidson's Mains is a former village and now a district in the north-west of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is adjacent to the districts of Barnton, Cramond, Silverknowes, Blackhall and Corbiehill/House O'Hill. It was absorbed into Edinburgh as pa ...

(1932) *House for Miss W D Renwick,

Peebles Peebles () is a town in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. It was historically a royal burgh and the county town of Peeblesshire. According to the United Kingdom census, 2011, 2011 census, the population was 8,376 and the estimated population in ...

(1932) *House for William Thynne,

Aberlady Aberlady (, Gaelic: ''Obar Lobhaite'') is a coastal village in the Scottish council area of East Lothian. The village had an estimated population of in . Etymology The name ''Aberlady'' has Brittonic origins. The first part of the name is t ...

(1932) *Nicolson Street Church, rebuilding all except frontage after a fire (1932) now Southside Community Centre * 3 to 21 Kenmure Avenue,

Duddingston Duddingston is an affluent, historic village in the east of Edinburgh, Scotland, next to Holyrood Park.It is a conservation area, not to be confused with the rest of Duddingston, which stretches down towards Portobello. Duddingston Village bo ...

(1933) *House for W A Scott Douglas ("Solsgirth"),

(1933) *Office bloch, Roseburn Terrace/Russell Road, Edinburgh (1933) *Tea rooms at

Loch Striven Loch Striven () is a sea loch in Argyll and Bute, Scotland. The loch meets the Firth of Clyde and the Kyles of Bute just north of the Isle of Bute, and forms a narrow inlet about long extending north into the Cowal Peninsula. The hamlet of ...

(1933) *Victoria Hotel,

Bamburgh Bamburgh ( ) is a village and civil parish on the coast of Northumberland, England. It had a population of 454 in 2001, decreasing to 414 at the 2011 census. Bamburgh was the centre of an independent north Northumbrian territory between 867 a ...

(1933), a traditional design *7 Craigmillar Park, Edinburgh (1933) *Castlekemp House,

(1933) *"Industrial Bar", Edinburgh (1934) *"Moat Bar", Moat Place, Edinburgh (1934) *National Bank,

Inverkeithing Inverkeithing ( ; ) is a coastal town, parish and historic Royal burgh in Fife, Scotland. The town lies on the north shore of the Firth of Forth, northwest of Edinburgh city centre and south of Dunfermline. A town of ancient origin, Inverke ...

(1934) *Factory for Morton Sundour Fabrics,

Carlisle Carlisle ( , ; from ) is a city in the Cumberland district of Cumbria, England. Carlisle's early history is marked by the establishment of a settlement called Luguvalium to serve forts along Hadrian's Wall in Roman Britain. Due to its pro ...

(1935) *Riddell Mill,

Roxburgh Roxburgh () is a civil parish and formerly a royal burgh, in the historic county of Roxburghshire in the Scottish Borders, Scotland. It was an important trading burgh in High Medieval to early modern Scotland. In the Middle Ages it had at lea ...

(1935) *Thomson & Norris Factory at Turnhouse near Edinburgh (1935) *12 Mortonhall Road, Edinburgh (1935) *Department store,

Princes Street Princes Street () is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, Edinburgh, New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three quar ...

/Hope Street (1935) converted into the Johnnie Walker Experience in 2021 *"Motor Bar", 133 Lothian Road, Edinburgh (1935) *Daimler showroom, 14-16 Shandwick Place, Edinburgh (1936) *Binns Furniture Repository, Edinburgh (1936) *Carfraemill Hotel,

Oxton, Scottish Borders Oxton is a small rural village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, just off the A68. It is north of Lauder, and southeast of the centre of Edinburgh, yet in a quiet rural position. History The village of Oxton lies in the parish of ...

(1936) *Harp Hotel,

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 ...

(1936) *Lorrisden House,

Midlothian Midlothian (; ) is registration county, lieutenancy areas of Scotland, lieutenancy area and one of 32 council areas of Scotland used for local government. Midlothian lies in the east-central Lowlands, bordering the City of Edinburgh council ar ...

(1936) *"Powderhall Arms", Edinburgh (1936) *SMT garages and offices, Edinburgh (1936) *SMT garages at

(1936) *SMT garages at Airdrie (1936) *11 Church Hill in Edinburgh (1937) *138

Constitution Street Constitution Street is a thoroughfare in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. It runs north from the junction of Leith Walk, Great Junction Street and Duke Street to the Albert Dock in Leith Docks. History The street takes its name from Constitutio ...

(1937) *55-59 High Street,

(1937) *7 St Margarets Road, Edinburgh (1937) *9/11 Hope Street (off

Charlotte Square file:Charlotte Square - geograph.org.uk - 105918.jpg, 300px, Robert Adam's palace-fronted north side Charlotte Square is a garden square in Edinburgh, Scotland, part of the New Town, Edinburgh, New Town, designated a UNESCO World Heritage Site ...

, Edinburgh (1937) *Cloverhill,

Broughton, Scottish Borders Broughton is a village in Tweeddale in the historical county of Peeblesshire in the Scottish Borders council area, in the south of Scotland, in the civil parish of Broughton, Glenholm and Kilbucho and Upper Tweed Community Council. Broughton ...

(1937) *Craigend,

(1937) *House for W N Murphy,

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 ...

(1937) *Playhouse Cinema,

(1937) *Public House, 127-132 High Street,

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 ...

, Edinburgh (1937) *20 Mansionhouse Road, Edinburgh (1938) *Flats at Falcon Avenue,

Morningside, Edinburgh Morningside is a district and former village in the south of Edinburgh, Scotland. It lies alongside the main arterial Morningside Road, part of an ancient route from Edinburgh to the south west of Scotland. The original village served several ...

(1938) *"Haymarket Bar", Edinburgh (1938) *House for Mrs Stevenson,

(1938) *

McVitie's McVitie's () is a British snack food brand owned by United Biscuits. The name is derived from the original Economy of Scotland, Scottish biscuit maker, McVitie & Price, Private company limited by shares, Ltd., established in 1830 on Rose Street ...

Bakery, Edinburgh (1938) *Premises for Croall & Son, Edinburgh (1938) *Riverside block, Quayside Mills,

demolished 1990 *Regal Cinema,

Shotts Shotts is a small town in North Lanarkshire, Scotland. It is located almost halfway between Glasgow () and Edinburgh (). The town has a population of about 8,840. A local story has Shotts being named after the legendary giant highwayman Bertra ...

(1938) *Flats at Falcon Park,

(1938) *Territorial Army Drill Hall, Firrhill, Edinburgh (1939) *Garage at Falconhall, Edinburgh (1939) * 52nd Searchlight Regiment HQ, Edinburgh (1939) *Emergency Military Hospital,

Bellsdyke Hospital Bellsdyke Hospital, also known as Stirling District Lunatic Asylum (SDLA) or Stirling District Asylum, is a former psychiatric hospital at Larbert, Falkirk council area, that was opened in June 1869 and largely closed in 1997. It was an asylum se ...

Larbert Larbert (, ) is a town in the Falkirk (council area), Falkirk council area of Scotland. The town lies in the Forth Valley above the River Carron (Forth), River Carron which flows from the west. Larbert is from the shoreline of the Firth of Fo ...

(1939) *Emergency Military Hospital,

Clovenfords Clovenfords is a village in the Scottish Borders area of Scotland, north of the hamlet of Caddonfoot and west of the town Galashiels. The village sits on undulating grasslands and surrounding rolling hills. The 2011 census gave it a population ...

(1939) *Factory for British Vacuum Cleaner Co,

Broxburn Broxburn (, ) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland. It is from the West End of Edinburgh, from Edinburgh Airport and to the north of Livingston. Originally a village known as Easter Strathbock in the medieval period, by 1600, the village ha ...

(1947) *Factory for Telegraph Condenser Co.,

Bathgate Bathgate ( or , ) is a town in West Lothian, Scotland, west of Livingston, Scotland, Livingston and adjacent to the M8 motorway (Scotland), M8 motorway. Nearby towns are Linlithgow, Livingston, and West Calder. A number of villages fall under ...

(1947) *8 St Andrew Square, Edinburgh (1954) demolished 2015

Gallery

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:McKay, John Ross 1884 births 1962 deaths 20th-century Scottish architects