Harry Edward Clifford
Harry Edward Clifford | |
|---|---|
 Clifford circa 1900 | |
| Born | Henry Edward Clifford 12 September 1852 North Naparima, Trinidad |
| Died | 14 October 1932 (aged 80) Campbeltown, Scotland |
| Occupation | Architect |
| Awards | FRIBA |
Henry Edward Clifford FRIBA (12 September 1852 – 14 October 1932) was a Scottish architect, prominent in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[1] His design genre was wide, from churches to schools to golf clubhouses, but he was focussed in the Glasgow area and the west coast of Scotland.[2]
Early life
Clifford's family was originally from Wexford, Ireland, but settled in Trinidad not long after its capture in 1797.[1]
Clifford was born on 12 September 1852 at Woodbrook estate in North Naparima, Trinidad, into a Scots-Irish family. He was the second son and fourth child of F. Henry Clifford, a sugar planter, and Rebecca Anderson. He and his siblings were raised in Glasgow by their single mother after the death of their father in 1859.[2][1]
Career
In 1867, Clifford was articled to John Burnet for five years. He remained with him for an additional five years as draughtsman.[1]
Clifford began his own practice, firstly at 113 West Regent Street in Glasgow, then at 196 St Vincent Street.[1]
He achieved national fame in 1901, when he won he Glasgow Royal Infirmary competition, but an internal disagreement led to its commission instead being given to James Miller.[1]
In 1909, Clifford began a partnership with his principal assistant Thomas Lunan, who was connected in the golfing world;[1] however, Lunan fought in the Great War and returned with post-traumatic stress disorder and found himself unable to work. Clifford bought him out and continued alone.[1]
Clifford retired on medical advice in December 1923. His practice was merged with that of Watson & Salmond.[1]
Selected works
- Bellahouston Park gate lodge
- Craigard (house), Campbeltown 1882[3]
- Rectory for St Kiaran's Episcopal Church, Campbeltown 1885[4]
- Royal Troon Golf Club clubhouse 1886
- Victoria Holl, Kinloch Road, Cambeltown 1886
- Mission Hall, Lochend, Campbeltown 1886
- Kiloran Church, Carradale 1887
- Christian Institute, Campbeltown 1887
- Pollokshields Burgh Hall 1890
- Ladies’ Golf Clubhouse, Machrihanish 1890[5]
- Killean Home Farm Buildings 1890
- Kirn Pier buildings 1895
- Club, Main Street, Campbeltown 1895
- Auchinelee (house), Campbeltown 1896[6]
- Knockbay (house), Campbeltown 1896
- Redholme (house), Campbeltown 1896[7]
- The Hall, Dalintober 1896 (alterations)[8]
- Redcliffe (house), Kilkerran Road, Campbeltown 1897
- Bellview (Ravescraig) (house), Campbeltown 1897
- Norwood (house), Campbeltown 1898
- Eastcliffe (house), Kilkerran Road 1898 (rebuilt)[9]
- Dalintober Infant School 1899
- The Grammar School, Campbeltown 1899
- Lochhead Distillery Warehouse, Cambeltown 1899 (demolished)
- Dunlossit (house), Machrihanish 1900
- Torrisdale Castle, Carradale 1900 (north wing)
- Swallowholme (house), Machrihanish 1901
- Glasgow Victoria Infirmary 1902
- Campbeltown and Kintyre District Combination Hospital 1903 (additions)
- Hall for Highland Parish Church, Kirk Street, Campbeltown 1904
- St Kieran’s Primary School, Campbeltown 1906
- Torrisdale Castle, Carradale 1910 (south wing)
- Masonic Lodge, St John’s Street, Campbeltown 1912 (additions)
- Perth City Hall 1914
- Campbeltown Cottage Hospital 1914 (additions)[10]
- Hall for Lorne Street Church, Campeltown[11]
Personal life
Clifford's mother was from Campbeltown, Argyll and Bute, and it was there that he met his wife, Alice Gibson, who was twenty years his junior. They married on 7 December 1904 at Longrow Free Church in Campbeltown. Their only child, William Henry Morton Clifford, was born in 1909.[2][1]
In the early 1890s, Clifford built himself a weekend house, namely Redclyffe in Troon, but he lived with his mother and sisters in Pollokshields during the week.[1]
Upon retiring in 1923, he bought a two-acre plot in the English town of Reigate, Surrey, on which he built a "substantial house" which he also named Woodbrook.[1]
He came out of retirement to design Crosshill, at Wendover, for friends from Campbeltown.[1]
Clifford's health improved somewhat, but his fortune was diminished by the 1929 Wall Street Crash and the subsequent impact on the London Stock Exchange.[1] He suffered a severe heart attack in July 1930, and his wife endured phlebitis the following year.[1]
Death
Due to nursing costs, Clifford put Woodbrook on the market, but before it could be sold he died of a stroke on 14 October 1932, aged 80.[2] Alice died the following summer.[1]
Clifford was buried in Kilkerran Cemetery in Campbeltown.[1]
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m n o p q Henry Edward Clifford Archived 1 October 2021 at the Wayback Machine - Dictionary of Scottish Architects
- ^ a b c d Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland: A Graphic and Accurate Description of Every Place in Scotland, Francis Hindes Groome (1901)
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Low Askomil, Craigaird, with Boundary Walls and Railings (LB43111)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Arygll Street, Episcopal Church Rectory, with Boundary wall, Gates and Gatepiers (LB43046)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Ladies' Gold Clubhouse, Machrihanish Gold Club, Machrihanish (LB52262)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "High Askomil, Auchinlee, with Boundary Walls, Gate and Gatepiers (LB43076)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Kilkerran Road, Redholme, with outbuilding, boundary walls, gates and gatepiers (LB43088)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "High Street Dalintober, The Hall, with boundary walls and gatepiers (LB22932)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Kilkerran Road, East Cliff, with garage, boundary wall, gates and gatepiers (LB22960)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Witchburn Road, Former Cottage Hospital, with steps, retaining wall, and boundary walls (LB43139)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.
- ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Big Kiln Street, Heritage Centre (formerly Lorne Street Free Gaelic Church) with hall, boundary walls, railings, gates and gatepiers (LB43053)". Retrieved 29 November 2025.