James Ireland

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James Ireland (4 December 1846 – 29 June 1886) was a short-lived but productive 19th-century Scottish architect, specialising in schools.

Life[edit]

Balfour Street Public School, Dundee
The grave of James Ireland, Western Cemetery, Dundee

He was born on 4 December 1846 at Hawkhill Place in Dundee the son of George Ireland and his wife, Janet Leslie. His father was a partner in George and James Ireland, owners of the Temple Mill on Tay Street, a flax mill.[1]

His family moved to "Tay View" at 287 Perth Road in Dundee (then a new house) around 1860. This is a large mid-terraced house overlooking the River Tay. In 1865/1866 his father went into partnership with Henry Samuel Boase to buy the Wellfield juteworks and created Boase & Ireland.[2]

In 1876 he went into partnership with David Maclaren designing new schools in the wake of the Education (Scotland) Act 1872.[3]

He lived at "Beechwood" in Dundee in his final years.[4]

He died in a friend's house at Blairgowrie of either gangrene and/or tuberculosis at on 29 June 1886, aged only 39.[5] He is buried with his siblings in the Western Cemetery, Dundee. The grave lies on the west side of the central path just before the first terrace.

Family[edit]

In October 1884 he married Ada Greenhaigh at Manchester Cathedral.

Main works[edit]

(works are in Dundee unless otherwise stated)

  • Ancrum Road School (1874)
  • Braeknowe House (1874)
  • North Dudhope Mill (1874)
  • Clepington School (1875)
  • Primary School, Coupar Angus (1875)
  • Damacre Road School, Brechin (1875)
  • Dyehouse at Wellfield Works (1875) for Boase and Ireland.
  • Dudhope School (1875)
  • St David's School (1875)
  • Balfour Street School (1876)
  • Primary School, Newport-on-Tay (1876)
  • Primary School, Carnoustie (1876)
  • High Free Church, Hilltown of Dundee (1877)
  • Primary School, Monifieth (1877)
  • "Mount Pleasant" (1879)
  • Sailors Home (The Angel, Dundee) (1879)
  • "Great Eastern" Public House, Dock Street (1880)
  • Grosvenor Terrace (1882)
  • Mitchell Street School (1883)
  • Chemistry Laboratories, University College (1883)
  • Butterburn School (1883)
  • Dundee and District Female Rescue Home, Lochee (1883)
  • Harris Academy (1884) original Park Place building
  • Glebelands School (1884)
  • Rosebank School (1885)

References[edit]

  1. ^ Dundee Post Office Directory 1846
  2. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "Former Wellfield Works (LB25018)".
  3. ^ "Ireland & Maclaren". Dictionary of Scottish Architects.
  4. ^ Dundee Post Office Directory 1885
  5. ^ Grave of James Ireland, Western Cemetery, Dundee