Skip to main content

Playfair, William Henry, 1790-1857 (architect)

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1790 - 1857

Biography

The architect William Henry Playfair was born in Russell Square, London, July 1789. On the death of his father, Playfair was sent to reside with his uncle in Edinburgh. Professor John Playfair, mathematician and geologist and a leading figure in the Edinburgh Enlightenment, took control of his nephew's education. Following his father's profession, the young Playfair studied under William Starke of Glasgow. His first public appointment was the laying out of part of the New Town in Edinburgh in 1815.

Then, after a visit to France in 1816, he established himself professionally by winning the commission in 1817 to complete the unfinished University buildings (leaving the front as designed by Robert and James Adam). He also designed the city's Royal Terrace and Regent Terrace on the Calton Hill estate; the unfinished National Monument on Calton Hill; and, the Royal Scottish Academy and the National Gallery on the Mound. While Playfair's most important works in Edinburgh have been executed in the Greek revivalist or classical style - earning for Edinburgh the title of 'Athens of the North' - he was competent in other styles too. He designed New College for the ten newly established Free Church of Scotland, a jagged-lined rendering of the Gothic style. He also built country houses and mansions in the Italianate and Tudor styles.

Playfair died in Edinburgh after a long illness on 27 May 1857.

Found in 163 Collections and/or Records:

Elevation (Full Size) of Capitol of Pilasters for Lower Museum, 6th March 1819

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/97
Scope and Contents

Elevation of pilaster capitol with dimensions

Dates: 6th March 1819
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation (Full Size) of Ionic Cornice for Upper Museum, 18th August 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/70
Scope and Contents

Line drawing with areas of shading showing decorative detail

Dates: 18th August 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of Base & Capital of Columns & Pilasters of Venetian Window in the Building at the South Western Angle, 24th February 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/44
Scope and Contents Elevation showing the outline of a pilaster beside a venetian window at the south western angle little holes along the outer line of base and capital suggest that the drawing might have been used by artisans realizing the stone pieces. the continuos lines designs the outline of the colums while dhased lines make reference to the position of hidden elements. slopy line at the bottom for weathering. Pink watercolor...
Dates: 24th February 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of Cabinet of Upper Museum Explaining their Interminal Construction, 19th May 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/56
Scope and Contents elevation of lower cabinet supporting the door to be removed section of lower cabinet showing the elevation of upper carcase ( two pictures) section of lower cabinet which is indicated the wooden construction and also shows the depth of the cabinet at the centre of the museum. also in the section, we can see how different type of woods are constructed together (also see the wooden decorations at the top and bottom of...
Dates: 19th May 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of Cabinets for the Upper Museum, 2nd February 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/34
Scope and Contents Elevation of Cabinets for the Upper Museum showing details and decoration pattern of the cabinets foliage pattern the cabinets is strictly symmetrical. the left side of this drawings illustrates the Greek decoration pattern of architrave and pilasters. Also showing the details of balusters and freize using grey colour to indicate the shadow and thick of small details On the reverse of the drawing:...
Dates: 2nd February 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of Cabinets for the Upper Museum Side, 2nd February 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/35
Scope and Contents Elevation of Cabinets for the Upper Museum showing details and decoration pattern of the cabinets foliage pattern the cabinets is strictly symmetrical. the left side of this drawings illustrates the Greek decoration pattern of architrave and pilasters. Also showing the details of balusters and (name?) using grey colour to indicate the shadow and thick of small details On the reverse of the...
Dates: 2nd February 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of ionic Capitol for Columns in Upper Museum, 2nd July 1819

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/122
Scope and Contents

Partial full size elevation of Ionic volute and capitol ornament

Dates: 2nd July 1819
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of Southern Front of the Building at the South Western Angle, 13th September 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/14
Scope and Contents

elevation is simplified (compared with other kind of drawings) no details of windows or doors showing the roof and skylight chemistry class showing details of decoration of the façade showing the masonry work at the pavement level

 On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour layers (different grey colour showing the light and shadow )

Dates: 13th September 1817
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of the Baluster &c below Venetian Window, 16th December 1817

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/26
Scope and Contents

Elevation of the Baluster &c below Venetian Window

little holes on the paper indicates it might have been used by the artisans realizing the detail

showing the outline of baluster showing the measurement detail of the craftsman showing the slope of windowsill

 On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen watercolour layers (pink )

Dates: 16th December 1817
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Elevation of the Cabinets for the Upper Museum - Northern and Southern Ends, 8th May 1818

 Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/55
Scope and Contents

elevation drawing of cabinets

elevation of the east end cabinets of the museum showing the perfectly symmetrical arrangement both below and above the gallery

 On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen, light pencil traits outlining parts of decoration

Dates: 8th May 1818
Found in: University of Edinburgh Library Heritage Collections / William Henry Playfair Architectural Drawings / College of Edinburgh / College of Edinburgh: Museum, Natural History class, and classrooms for the Practice of Physic, Chemistry, etc.

Privacy & Cookies | Takedown Policy | Licensing & Copyright | Accessibility | Centre for Research Collections | LHSA | Contact us at HeritageCollections@ed.ac.uk

ArchivesSpace release-v3.5.x

Unless explicitly stated otherwise, all material is copyright © 2018 University of Edinburgh.