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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.
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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
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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
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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)
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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
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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
158:. 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
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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.
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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
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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.
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201:. 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.
650:, explaining their history; works at the Marquis of Huntly's house removing ground floor shops and addition of faux stone inscriptions; works in
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Edinburgh City
Chambers, internal refit largely remodelling main stair and increasing height of windows there (adding stained glass) (1936)
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and influenced the statutory lists. A keen historian, MacRae wrote a paper on the statue of Charles II in Parliament Square.
654:, consolidating tombs and organising recarving of several panels on the tops of tombs (leading to their current homogeneity).
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Edinburgh's Tram shelters and waiting rooms (1926) all lost but a waiting room (now converted to a house) still survives at 6
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342 flats in U-shaped south-facing courts, designed by MacRae, Andrew Rollo, James Tweedie and Malcolm Murchison.
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Poorhouse (converted to hospital use in 1939 and renamed the Eastern General Hospital) (1931) now demolished.
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Numerous combined traffic signs/ street lamps at various T-junctions (still surviving in West End) (1931)
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He died at the Deaconess Hospital in the Pleasance Edinburgh after a short illness. He was cremated at
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Tenement at 174 Morrison Street (1939) Designed by RS Ellis. Flat roof through wartime restrictions.
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Cattle Market, Corporation Slaughterhouse and a police station, whilst assisting J A Anderson (1909)
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Lido which borrowed its hot water from the station's cooling pipes. This was the major landmark in
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690:"Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (January 25, 2017, 4:50 pm)"
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Widening of Lothian Road onto an arcade over the graveyards at St Cuthberts and St Johns (1930)
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Ebenezer MacRae and Interwar housing in Edinburgh by Steven Robb, BOEC Volume 17 (2017)
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until its demolition 1977 to 1979 (it took 18 months to demolish this giant structure)
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Pleasance development, Richmond Place, West Richmond Street etc. (1934) By Tom Smith.
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Several tenements on the Canongate as part of the Canongate Improvement Scheme (1930)
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Further extensions to Gorgie Market and Slaughterhouse (now as City Architect) (1926)
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housing scheme (1936) By MacRae, Andrew Rollo, James Tweedie and Malcolm Murchison
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Churchyard, War Memorial Gateway (1921) as a private commission (probably unpaid)
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where he lived with his wife Dorothy Craigie, affectionately known as Mopsy.
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Edinburgh's Police Boxes (around ninety in number) (c.1937) with A Rollo
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Braidhills Golf Club pavilion and tearoom (1932) Designed by AG Forgie
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Saughton Golf Course Housing Scheme (Whitson) (1931) layout by GC Robb
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166:. He did various sketching tours around the country in his twenties:
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3,4, 5 St Patrick Street (1938) In traditional style to match Square
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Restoration of 39-43 Candlemaker Row (1930) including a new interior
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Granton Housing Estate - Royston Mains (1936-8) Layout by GC Robb
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After retirement he moved out of the city to live at Taprobane in
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Addition of east and west wings to the City Chambers (facing the
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Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker
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Memorial plaque to Ebenezer James MacRae, Warriston Crematorium
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40-42 Candlemaker Row, remodelling of Candlemakers Hall (1929)
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Recessed block at 28 West Port for Housing Association (1936)
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Georgian replica tram depot offices at 3-5 Smiths Place (off
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One of the bronze plaques erected under Macrae (Anchor Close)
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Granton Housing Estate - Wardieburn (1933) layout by GC Robb
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and suburbs. It formed the basis of later works such as The
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soon after the city's acquisition of this property (1927)
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Prestonfield Housing Scheme (1925-7) Layout by Campbell.
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Royston Primary School (1937) (Demolished in 2010/2011)
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Niddrie Mains Housing Scheme (1929)(largely demolished)
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worked under MacRae undertaking the city survey of the
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Redbraes Housing Estate (1931) Layout by DG Bannerman
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Slateford Housing Scheme (1925-7) Layout by Campbell
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Housing at Barony Street (1939) designed by RS Ellis
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Additions to Nurses Home at Bangour Village Asylum (
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Craigentinny Housing Estate (1932) Layout by GC Robb
51:. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed.
366:Power Station (1927–34), together with the linked
716:Buildings of Scotland: Lothian by Colin McWilliam
540:Gifford Park housing (1932) designed by J Aitken
719:Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, Volume 13 (2017)
127:One of Macrae's wings on Edinburgh City Chambers
479:Primary School (Former School Building) (1932)
311:Our Lady of Loretto and St Michael RC Church,
154:He was the son of Rev Alexander MacRae of the
590:Mount Lodge Housing Estate, Portobello (1937)
537:Tenement infill at 49 Buccleuch Street (1935)
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422:Stenhouse Housing Scheme (1930) - 470 houses
702:Book of the Old Edinburgh Club, 1930 p. 82
488:Granton Housing Estate - Granton (1932–33)
134:(18 January 1881 – 15 January 1951) was a
565:housing scheme (1936) Layout by Tom Smith
111:Learn how and when to remove this message
293:MacRae's Police Box design for Edinburgh
285:Gifford Park- a small city infill scheme
263:, photography and watercolour painting.
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596:Housing Estate inc Ferry Road Housing,
416:Greyfriars Hostel, 2-12 Cowgate (1930)
746:Alumni of the University of Edinburgh
504:Outdoor Swimming Pool ("Lido") (1933)
457:Public wash-house on Junction Place,
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635:Extensions to the City Poorhouse at
419:Restoration of 74-96 West Bow (1930)
49:adding citations to reliable sources
616:Peffermill School (1939) Demolished
571:Crewe Road Gardens Housing Scheme,
482:Saughton Housing Scheme (1932–1933)
710:Dictionary of Scottish Architects.
498:Mains Terrace (1932) Mural inside
393:15-19 and 74-84 Grassmarket (1929)
355:Stable court/curator's offices at
197:In 1908 he trained further, under
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603:Murrayburn Primary School (1938)
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413:on the edge of Edinburgh (1930)
406:Stenhouse Housing Scheme (1930)
36:needs additional citations for
632:Tanfield Primary School (1939)
485:Balgreen Primary School (1932)
428:Pavilion at Clarebank School,
16:Scottish architect (1881–1951)
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610:(late 1930s) (Now Demolished)
383:Layout of St Margarets Park,
146:for most of his active life.
473:Wardie Primary School (1931)
170:, England (1902 and 1904),
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606:Craigmuir Primary School,
445:on George IV Bridge (1930)
138:architect serving as City
751:Architects from Edinburgh
629:Holy Cross Academy (1939)
164:Edinburgh College of Art
670:Diary of Dorothy MacRae
326:, whilst working under
160:University of Edinburgh
156:Free Church of Scotland
60:"Ebenezer James MacRae"
443:Edinburgh City Library
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587:Primary School (1937)
534:Primary School (1935)
461:(1931) now demolished
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268:Warriston Crematorium
259:His hobbies included
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132:Ebenezer James MacRae
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622:Blocks 24 and 25 at
519:Uphall, West Lothian
45:improve this article
652:Greyfriars Kirkyard
362:His tour de force,
396:Public Library in
320:Kirkwall Cathedral
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223:Edinburgh Old Town
219:Edinburgh New Town
207:William Gordon Dey
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515:Bangour Hospital
357:Lauriston Castle
188:Northamptonshire
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62: –
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56:Find sources:
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34:This article
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532:Craigentinny
398:Corstorphine
385:Corstorphine
340:Kilcalmonell
328:John Kinross
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199:John Kinross
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190:(1907), and
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101:January 2018
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43:Please help
38:verification
35:
18:
741:1951 deaths
736:1881 births
608:West Pilton
600:(1937–1951)
598:West Pilton
594:West Pilton
573:West Pilton
563:Craigmillar
477:Craigmillar
318:Repairs at
313:Musselburgh
261:ornithology
730:Categories
658:References
648:Royal Mile
545:Leith Walk
526:Royal Mile
502:Portobello
494:School at
372:Portobello
364:Portobello
162:and later
71:newspapers
557:Piershill
411:Gilmerton
368:Portbello
277:Piershill
211:Canongate
180:Cambridge
144:Edinburgh
140:Architect
528:) (1934)
350:Liberton
194:(1907).
186:(1907),
182:(1907),
178:(1905),
174:(1904),
136:Scottish
585:Granton
517:) near
496:Niddrie
352:Gardens
184:Lincoln
176:Belgium
172:Melrose
85:scholar
639:(1939)
626:(1939)
575:(1936)
547:(1936)
521:(1934)
432:(1930)
400:(1929)
387:(1927)
334:Gorgie
330:(1907)
324:Orkney
192:Oxford
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459:Leith
449:Leith
430:Leith
254:Ratho
92:JSTOR
78:books
168:York
150:Life
142:for
64:news
47:by
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108:(
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99:(
89:·
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