Edith Mary Wardlaw Burnet HughesHonFRIAS (7 July 1888 – 28 August 1971) was a Scottisharchitect, and is considered Britain's first practising female architect, having established her own architecture firm in 1920.[1][a]
Edith Hughes
Glasgow Mercat Cross (left), designed by Edith Hughes in 1930
Edith Mary Burnet was born in Edinburgh, the daughter of May Crudelius and George Wardlaw Burnet, an advocate. The family lived at 6 West Circus Place in the Stockbridge district.[3] The family moved to 59 Queens Road in Aberdeen when her father was created Sheriff Substitute for Aberdeenshire around 1890.[4]
Her grandmother Mary Crudelius campaigned for women's education.[5] Following her father's death in 1901 she was raised by her uncle, John James Burnet, a prominent architect.[1] They lived at 18 University Gardens in Glasgow.[6]
She travelled in Europe, studying art and architecture, and attending lectures at the Sorbonne, until around 1911, when she joined Gray's School of Art, Aberdeen. Initially studying garden design, she switched to architecture, and was awarded a diploma in 1914. The following year she was appointed a lecturer at the School. She briefly worked in the office of Jenkins and Marr, before marrying her former tutor, architect Thomas Harold Hughes (1887–1949), in 1918.[1]
Career
The grave of Edith Hughes, Warriston Cemetery, Edinburgh
Hughes and her husband were refused a place in Burnet's London office, partly because there was no female lavatory.[7] However, her husband joined Burnet's Glasgow office as a partner in 1919. Disagreement with another partner led to his departing the following year, to take up teaching at the Glasgow School of Art, where he later became head of architecture.[1] She set up her own practice in Glasgow in 1920. In 1927, she became the first woman nominated for membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects (RIBA), the nominators including John Begg and her uncle, John Burnet. However, RIBA's legal advisers stated that she could not be elected, and RIBA remained an all-male institution until the election of Josephine Miller in 1938. She was similarly denied access to the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS).[1] After the Second World War, Hughes re-established her practice in Edinburgh. She was elected an Honorary Fellow of the RIAS in 1968. She retired from practice soon after receiving her fellowship, and moved to Kippen, dying of pneumonia in Stirling in 1971.
She is buried with her parents in Warriston Cemetery in north Edinburgh. The grave lies on the main west path on its east side, where the ground level drops to the lower south section.
Family
Hughes and her husband had three daughters. She and her husband lived mostly separately after the Second World War until his death in 1949.[7]
Works
Coatbridge War Memorial (1924)
Her first commission was for the "Rutherford Memorial" in 1916, although the location and nature of this work are unknown.[8] In her own work, she concentrated on domestic commissions, including many residential alterations, and specialised in kitchen design.[1] Her public works included the Coatbridge War Memorial (1924), and the Glasgow Mercat Cross (1930), a replica of a medieval mercat cross located at Glasgow Cross.[9] She carried out alterations to the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists' building in Blythswood Square, Glasgow, and was responsible for the conversion of several Edinburgh townhouses into flats. She was engaged on works at St Mary's Episcopal Cathedral and Music School, Edinburgh, from 1956 to 1965.[10] Her most important commissions for the Cathedral were the stone font, with its wrought iron cover, and a wrought iron screen to the Chapel of St Margaret of Scotland.[11]
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Edith Mary Wardlaw Burnet Hughes HonFRIAS 7 July 1888 28 August 1971 was a Scottish architect and is considered Britain s first practising female architect having established her own architecture firm in 1920 1 a Edith HughesGlasgow Mercat Cross left designed by Edith Hughes in 1930BornEdith Mary Burnet 1888 07 07 7 July 1888Edinburgh ScotlandDied28 August 1971 1971 08 28 aged 83 NationalityScottishOther namesEdith Mary Wardlaw Burnet HughesAlma materGray s School of ArtOccupationArchitectSpouseThomas Harold HughesChildren3Parent s George Wardlaw Burnet May CrudeliusAwardsthe first woman nominated for membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA elected an Honorary Fellow of the RIAS in 1968 BuildingsGlasgow Mercat Cross and Mercat Building Contents 1 Early life 2 Career 3 Family 4 Works 5 See also 6 Notes 7 ReferencesEarly life EditEdith Mary Burnet was born in Edinburgh the daughter of May Crudelius and George Wardlaw Burnet an advocate The family lived at 6 West Circus Place in the Stockbridge district 3 The family moved to 59 Queens Road in Aberdeen when her father was created Sheriff Substitute for Aberdeenshire around 1890 4 Her grandmother Mary Crudelius campaigned for women s education 5 Following her father s death in 1901 she was raised by her uncle John James Burnet a prominent architect 1 They lived at 18 University Gardens in Glasgow 6 She travelled in Europe studying art and architecture and attending lectures at the Sorbonne until around 1911 when she joined Gray s School of Art Aberdeen Initially studying garden design she switched to architecture and was awarded a diploma in 1914 The following year she was appointed a lecturer at the School She briefly worked in the office of Jenkins and Marr before marrying her former tutor architect Thomas Harold Hughes 1887 1949 in 1918 1 Career Edit The grave of Edith Hughes Warriston Cemetery Edinburgh Hughes and her husband were refused a place in Burnet s London office partly because there was no female lavatory 7 However her husband joined Burnet s Glasgow office as a partner in 1919 Disagreement with another partner led to his departing the following year to take up teaching at the Glasgow School of Art where he later became head of architecture 1 She set up her own practice in Glasgow in 1920 In 1927 she became the first woman nominated for membership of the Royal Institute of British Architects RIBA the nominators including John Begg and her uncle John Burnet However RIBA s legal advisers stated that she could not be elected and RIBA remained an all male institution until the election of Josephine Miller in 1938 She was similarly denied access to the Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland RIAS 1 After the Second World War Hughes re established her practice in Edinburgh She was elected an Honorary Fellow of the RIAS in 1968 She retired from practice soon after receiving her fellowship and moved to Kippen dying of pneumonia in Stirling in 1971 She is buried with her parents in Warriston Cemetery in north Edinburgh The grave lies on the main west path on its east side where the ground level drops to the lower south section Family EditHughes and her husband had three daughters She and her husband lived mostly separately after the Second World War until his death in 1949 7 Works Edit Coatbridge War Memorial 1924 Her first commission was for the Rutherford Memorial in 1916 although the location and nature of this work are unknown 8 In her own work she concentrated on domestic commissions including many residential alterations and specialised in kitchen design 1 Her public works included the Coatbridge War Memorial 1924 and the Glasgow Mercat Cross 1930 a replica of a medieval mercat cross located at Glasgow Cross 9 She carried out alterations to the Glasgow Society of Lady Artists building in Blythswood Square Glasgow and was responsible for the conversion of several Edinburgh townhouses into flats She was engaged on works at St Mary s Episcopal Cathedral and Music School Edinburgh from 1956 to 1965 10 Her most important commissions for the Cathedral were the stone font with its wrought iron cover and a wrought iron screen to the Chapel of St Margaret of Scotland 11 See also EditWomen in architectureNotes Edit Hughes was not Britain s first woman architect this may have been Elizabeth Wilbraham who was active in the early 1660s 2 References Edit a b c d e f Edith Mary Wardlaw Burnet Hughes Dictionary of Scottish Architects Retrieved 5 May 2009 Merrick Jay 16 February 2011 Elizabeth Wilbraham the first lady of architecture The Independent Retrieved 12 April 2011 Edinburgh Post Office Directory 1888 Aberdeen Post Office Directory 1900 There are more Edinburgh memorials to remarkable women than you might think The Scotsman 26 July 2012 Retrieved 26 January 2022 Glasgow Post Office Directory 1902 a b Thomas Harold Hughes Dictionary of Scottish Architects Retrieved 12 May 2009 Rutherford memorial Dictionary of Scottish Architects Retrieved 5 May 2009 Mercat Cross The Gazetteer for Scotland Retrieved 5 May 2009 Glendinning Miles McKechnie Aonghus 1996 A History of Scottish Architecture Edinburgh University Press p 573 ISBN 0 7486 0849 4 McWilliam Colin Gifford John Walker David 1984 Edinburgh The Buildings of Scotland Penguin pp 365 366 ISBN 014071068X Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Edith Hughes architect amp oldid 1127787509, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
