Dates
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 158 Collections and/or Records:
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/76
Scope and Contents
Outline of ceiling plan and moulding with shaded detail of ceiling ornament
Dates:
26th August 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/8
Scope and Contents
Plan of Roofing of the Building at the South Western Angle showing detials of roof framework three section details of different roof structure (wood framework and iron details) texts on the back of this plan Edinburgh 24th January 1818 This is number seven of the seventy two and referred to in the contract for certain work at the college signed by us of this date and of the 14th instant (signature) Kincaid Mackenzie (Lord Provost), Peter Lorimer, John Inglis (builders) 1 paper...
Dates:
7th September 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/99
Scope and Contents
Plan of the skylight showing wrought iron details with corresponding section showing copper ventilator detail. Playfair writes, “N.B The cills, the bars in the ring at the top of the skylight to be of wrought iron. The cill is to be firmly bolted to the timbers of the roof. The ventilator to be of copper secured in a firm manner to the skylight. The under side of the ventilator to be pierced with holes tending to the centre,...
Dates:
12th April 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/68
Scope and Contents
plan of the east museum longiludinal section of museum on line CD transverse section of museum on line AB no reference of line AB and line CD in the plan, we see the arrangement of columns, main walls, rubble walls, arches. there are two sections of two directions and in these sections, we can see the open space which allow the air coming in. this drawing does not indicate scales but all the plan and sections have...
Dates:
4th July 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/42
Scope and Contents
Floorplan, Section and Elevation of the doors and surrounding framing in upper museum the elevation and section drawings highlith the decorative, geometric pattern that should decorate the doors. In the floorplan and section the focus is on the intersection between the wooden frame of the door with the wall and plasterwork. In the section in partiular is highlited the continuity between the door's frame and the floor of the...
Dates:
26th February 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/54
Scope and Contents
1.section showing the iron work of (??) girder for National History classroom 2. plan of top of guide for national history museum 3. plan of bottom of girder for national history museum 4. elevation showing the iron work of (??)girder over Lower Laboratory 5. section showing the manner of supporting the floor of Chemistry class with cart iron columns (two pictures) 6. plan showing cap of column screwed to joint 7. plan showing bale of column resting on front pier 8. section showing iron...
Dates:
6th May 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/52
Scope and Contents
Plan of capital of the column with section of the shaft elevation of capital of the column elevation of two columns of small size section of the upper part of column on line AB section of the lower part of column on line AB molding CD and shaft indicated the iron columns in two different scales.The five which are in full size show details (outline, shaft) of these iron column while the two which are in small scale show the...
Dates:
4th May 1818
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/21
Scope and Contents
Floorplan illustrating the bearing structure supporting the paving of Museum the little apertures in the walls indicates the exact position and dimensions of the ventilation openings the drawing illustrates the disposition of the walls at the basement level as well as the form of the arches supporting the ground floor of the museum On the reverse of the drawing: Black ink pen, watercolour layer...
Dates:
1st July 1817
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/96
Scope and Contents
Three different ceiling plans showing moulding detail
Dates:
24th February 1819
Item
Identifier: Coll-13/1/1/75
Scope and Contents
Finely detailed line drawing of ceiling with measurements and descriptions of each element
Dates:
23rd August 1818
