402:
46:
201:
255:
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from a field of 30 entrants, this being the first public library in
Edinburgh. It led to commissions to design many more public libraries in Scotland and beyond. He went on to become a recognised authority on library design, and later published a paper on the subject and acted as adviser and assessor
409:
In 1881, Browne married Jessie
Brownlie, the eldest daughter of Robert Brownlie of Glasgow. The couple had five children, only one of whom survived Browne. Their two younger sons, George Brownlie Browne and Hew Edwards Browne, were both killed in action in 1916 (aged 24 and 19 respectively). Their
309:. The partnership was initially successful, thanks mainly to commissions for banks, particularly for the British Linen Bank. But by 1907 this work had sharply declined and the partnership was formally dissolved, although Peddie and Browne continued to share the Albyn Place office.
455:
lists 297 projects on which Browne was engaged between 1878 and 1934, either as sole architect or in collaboration with others (including several unsuccessful competition entries). All but five of these are in
Scotland. The following are some notable examples from that list:
227:, the first Scotsman to do so. The prize enabled him to study and travel in France and Belgium. As part of his preparation for the prize, he published a large collection of drawings of domestic and ecclesiastical buildings in Scotland and England.
427:
In 1938, failing health and diminishing finances obliged Browne to leave his flat in
Randolph Cliff and move to the home of his surviving daughter, Jessie Agnew Preston, the wife of Norman Preston, in
152:, although his work can be found throughout Scotland and beyond. He was involved in nearly 300 projects, including many public and commercial buildings. One of his most notable buildings is Edinburgh's
414:
in 1916. Their eldest daughter, Christina, who had married James
Strachan McLeod, died of heart disease in 1920 (aged 37). Jessie Browne died at the age of 43 in 1900 as the result of appendicitis.
1011:
363:(RSA). He became a full Academician in 1902, and the academy's treasurer in 1917. In 1924, he was elected 10th President of the RSA, the first architect to hold that post.
266:
In 1885, Browne established an independent practice in
Edinburgh, with an office at 5 Queen Street. Two years later, he won the competition to design Edinburgh's
156:, and he became recognised as an authority on library planning and design. He came to national attention after winning a competition to design a bridge over the
176:
George
Washington Browne was born in Glasgow on 21 September 1853, the eldest child of Samuel Brown, a cabinet maker, and his wife Sarah Agnew. He attended the
312:
For the remainder of his career, Browne had few commissions, and concentrated instead on competitions. In 1907, he was a finalist in the competition to design
328:, which was erected, in a reduced form, between 1912 and 1922. In 1914 he achieved UK-wide by prominence by winning the competition for a bridge across the
188:
and
William Flockhart, both of whom went on to have successful careers in architecture. In 1872, the three friends unsuccessfully entered a competition in
125:
424:
In 1905, Browne married his second wife, Louisa Emma Adams, youngest daughter of Rev. D.D.L. Adams. She died of cancer in 1931, at the age of 59.
436:. He died there on 15 June 1939, at the age of 85. The RSA took charge of his funeral, the service being conducted in the academy's library.
385:
He was also involved in the
Edinburgh Architectural Association, serving as its president from 1884 to 1886. He was Head of Architecture at
246:. In 1881, Browne became Anderson's partner. Two years later, the firm merged with Hew M Wardrop to become Wardrop, Anderson & Browne.
129:
401:
279:
216:
prize for measured drawing. This led to a move to London, where he obtained a place in
Stevenson's firm (then Stevenson & Robson).
1006:
1001:
20:
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239:
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along with his second wife and eldest son. A monument on his grave also commemorates his first wife and his two younger sons.
367:
224:
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846:"32 Princes Street, Edinburgh, in use as Redfern Ltd, Ladies Tailors, entrance and main shop window. Since demolished"
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546:
452:
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1021:
164:. He also served as President of the Edinburgh Architectural Association, and was instrumental in setting up the
685:
320:, described as "one of the most notable competitions of a generation". In 1910, he submitted a design for the
440:
287:
417:
In the mid-1890s, Browne designed his own family home, The Limes, at 17 Blackford Road (now number 35) in
405:
The grave of George Washington Browne and his second wife and eldest son in the Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh
160:
in London, although this was never realised. He was the first architect to be elected as President of the
646:
Browne, George (1890). "Planning of Public Libraries". A paper given to the Architectural Section of the
267:
185:
153:
1016:
561:
732:
351:. During this time, his only significant project was the YMCA building in St Andrew Street in 1915.
386:
299:
274:
His other notable works during this period include premises for Redfern Ltd, a "ladies tailors" in
45:
599:
374:, and played a role in organising the RSA's Centenary Exhibition. The following year he received
371:
243:
336:, and was appointed the project's principal architect. However, the project was delayed by the
360:
333:
235:
161:
418:
344:
317:
306:
231:
996:
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429:
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eldest son, Leslie Aitchison Browne, died in 1922 (aged 32) as a result wounds suffered at
348:
324:, but this was not successful. He won the competition for the King Edward VII Memorial at
8:
313:
177:
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527:
501:
485:
295:
223:. In 1878, while still with Blomfield, he won the prestigious Pugin Studentship of the
970:
291:
884:"Sir George Washington Browne Death of Former President of Royal Scottish Academy".
219:
After two years with Stevenson, Browne moved to the office of the church architect,
962:
580:
570:
220:
209:
366:
Browne was knighted in 1926. In the same year, he was admitted as a Fellow of the
613:
553:
549:
411:
337:
325:
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and his office, he moved his home and place of work to a ground-floor flat at 1
200:
275:
760:
343:
From 1913, his work was considerably reduced. Obliged to give up his house in
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The former Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh, which closed in 2021
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302:. These successes enabled him to move to a larger office at 8 Albyn Place.
157:
583:, Lothian Road, Edinburgh (1899-1903) (now the Waldorf Astoria Caledonian)
510:
Edinburgh City Library, George IV Bridge (1887) (as a competition winner)
463:
Reconstruction of the Conservative Club, Princes Street, Edinburgh (1879)
609:
433:
321:
567:
Standard Life Assurance Building, 1-31 George Street, Edinburgh (1896)
924:
899:
491:
149:
137:
953:
Mays, Deborah (1992). "A Profile of Sir George Washington Browne".
574:
478:
375:
283:
134:
234:, he returned to Scotland, where he became principal assistant to
180:. At the age of 16, he became articled to the Glasgow architects,
520:
208:
On completion of his articles in 1873, Browne joined the firm of
141:
145:
587:
540:
Remodelling of 1 Randolph Cliff as his own family home (1891)
543:
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Sciennes, Edinburgh (1891)
516:
Solicitors Buildings/Library, Edinburgh Supreme Court (1888)
111:
Royal Hospital for Sick Children, Edinburgh Central Library
900:"Edinburgh, Holyrood Palace, Memorial To King Edward VII"
421:. He occupied the house from approximately 1896 to 1914.
792:"Sir George Browne, Library Planning and Construction".
1012:
Fellows of the Royal Institute of British Architects
370:(RIBA), was awarded an honorary LL.D. degree by the
359:
In 1892, Browne was admitted as an Associate of the
238:, who was at the time working on designs for the
983:
871:Post Office Directory Edinburgh and Leith 1896-7
832:Post Office Directory Edinburgh and Leith 1886-7
605:Bank of Scotland, 69 George St, Edinburgh (1905)
586:North British and Mercantile Insurance Office,
305:In 1895 or 1896, he went into partnership with
619:Nine World War I war memorials (1918-1924)
632:"General indifference to modern architecture"
513:Bruntsfield Place tenements, Edinburgh (1887)
195:
552:Glasgow (1895) (not to be confused with her
686:"U: George Washington Browne (1853 – 1939)"
354:
171:
507:Braid Church, Nile Grove, Edinburgh (1886)
446:
230:In 1879, after a brief period working for
44:
481:(1883) (now the Craigiebield House hotel)
184:, where he worked alongside two friends,
133:(21 September 1853 – 15 June 1939) was a
961:(1). Edinburgh University Press: 52–63.
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389:from 1914 to 1922. He helped set up the
253:
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820:. Edinburgh. 8 January 1924. p. 4.
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783:
781:
596:and Library (1901) (competition winner)
262:) Library on George IV Bridge Edinburgh
249:
984:
925:"Edinburgh, 14 South St Andrew Street"
888:. Edinburgh. 16 June 1939. p. 10.
727:
629:
439:George Washington Browne is buried in
391:Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland
286:; several operating theatres for the
240:University of Edinburgh Medical School
166:Royal Fine Art Commission for Scotland
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460:Central Station Hotel, Glasgow (1879)
368:Royal Institute of British Architects
225:Royal Institute of British Architects
192:to design a detached suburban villa.
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778:
504:Parish Church Hall and School (1885)
796:. London. 16 June 1939. p. 16.
13:
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750:
704:
14:
1048:
737:Dictionary of Scottish Architects
453:Dictionary of Scottish Architects
148:. He spent most of his career in
1007:20th-century Scottish architects
1002:19th-century Scottish architects
648:Philosophical Society of Glasgow
396:
280:Royal Hospital for Sick Children
50:George Washington Browne in 1932
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892:
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484:St Margarets Episcopal Church,
382:on their visit to the academy.
1037:Burials at the Grange Cemetery
863:
838:
824:
608:Scottish National Memorial to
210:Campbell Douglas & Sellars
1:
816:"Election of New President".
658:
74:Sambrook, Shropshire, England
16:British architect (1853-1939)
765:The James M MacLaren Society
288:Royal Infirmary of Edinburgh
122:Sir George Washington Browne
7:
1027:Royal Scottish Academicians
144:, and trained there and in
10:
1053:
733:"George Washington Browne"
466:St Andrews Parish Church,
316:, the headquarters of the
212:. While there, he won the
196:Early architectural career
83:Grange Cemetery, Edinburgh
18:
571:Public (Carnegie) Library
562:Charles Rennie MacKintosh
547:Miss Cranston's Tea Rooms
533:Drumsheugh Toll House in
294:; and an office for the
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30:
1032:Edinburgh College of Art
967:10.3366/arch.1992.3.1.52
387:Edinburgh College of Art
355:Honours and appointments
182:Salmon Son & Ritchie
172:Early life and education
35:George Washington Browne
19:Not to be confused with
1022:Architects from Glasgow
636:The Scottish Art Review
630:Browne, George (1889).
616:(1911 but built 1920–2)
447:List of principal works
372:University of Edinburgh
290:; the extension of the
271:to library committees.
244:Glasgow Central Station
21:George Washington Brown
955:Architectural Heritage
526:Eight branches of the
406:
361:Royal Scottish Academy
263:
236:Robert Rowand Anderson
205:
162:Royal Scottish Academy
650:and later printed in
602:Public Library (1905)
404:
340:and later abandoned.
318:London County Council
307:John More Dick Peddie
257:
232:William Eden Nesfield
203:
519:Maison Dieu Church,
473:House for Professor
250:Independent practice
214:John James Stevenson
334:St Paul's Cathedral
332:in London opposite
690:Grange Association
558:Sauchiehall Street
528:British Linen Bank
486:Biel, East Lothian
407:
296:British Linen Bank
264:
206:
594:Bo'ness Town Hall
292:Advocates Library
140:. He was born in
119:
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62:Glasgow, Scotland
59:21 September 1853
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1017:Knights Bachelor
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537:Edinburgh (1891)
530:(1890- 1907)
221:Arthur Blomfield
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947:Further reading
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761:"George Browne"
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614:Holyrood Palace
554:Willow Tearooms
550:Buchanan Street
494:Parish Church,
449:
441:Grange Cemetery
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357:
338:First World War
326:Holyrood Palace
268:Central Library
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178:Glasgow Academy
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154:Central Library
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91:Glasgow Academy
88:Alma mater
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873:. p. 372.
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834:. p. 33.
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934:23 September
932:. Retrieved
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909:23 September
907:. Retrieved
903:
894:
886:The Scotsman
885:
879:
870:
865:
855:23 September
853:. Retrieved
849:
840:
831:
826:
818:The Scotsman
817:
793:
770:22 September
768:. Retrieved
764:
742:20 September
740:. Retrieved
736:
696:26 September
694:. Retrieved
689:
651:
639:
635:
624:Publications
535:Dean Village
523:Angus (1890)
475:Cossar Ewart
450:
438:
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423:
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365:
358:
342:
330:River Thames
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158:River Thames
121:
120:
71:15 June 1939
25:
997:1939 deaths
992:1853 births
652:The Builder
314:County Hall
38:FRIBA PPRSA
986:Categories
659:References
610:Edward VII
434:Shropshire
419:The Grange
380:Queen Mary
345:The Grange
322:Usher Hall
96:Occupation
975:1350-7524
794:The Times
492:Stornoway
393:in 1927.
258:Central (
150:Edinburgh
138:architect
108:Buildings
99:Architect
642:: 57–59.
575:Jedburgh
502:Hamilton
479:Penicuik
430:Sambrook
284:Sciennes
260:Carnegie
135:Scottish
929:Canmore
904:Canmore
850:Canmore
521:Brechin
142:Glasgow
973:
590:(1900)
577:(1898)
498:(1884)
488:(1884)
470:(1880)
278:; the
146:London
600:Kelso
588:Leeds
412:Ypres
130:PPRSA
128:
126:FRIBA
971:ISSN
936:2022
911:2022
857:2022
772:2022
744:2022
698:2022
451:The
378:and
242:and
68:Died
56:Born
963:doi
612:at
560:by
556:on
298:in
282:in
32:Sir
988::
969:.
957:.
927:.
902:.
848:.
802:^
780:^
763:.
752:^
735:.
706:^
688:.
667:^
638:.
634:.
573:,
477:,
432:,
168:.
977:.
965::
959:3
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913:.
859:.
774:.
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700:.
654:.
640:1
564:)
23:.
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