Scottish architect (1846-1934) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
James Graham Fairley FRIBA MSGS (1846–1934) was a 19th/20th century Scottish architect working mainly in the West Lothian area, specialising in churches and schools.
Deanbrae House, EdinburghJuniper Green Parish ChurchSt David's Church. George Street, BathgateLorne Street Church, Leith
He was born in West Calder in West Lothian the son of William Fairley, a mill-wright and engineer, and his wife, Elizabeth Graham. He was educated at Edinburgh Academy. He was then apprenticed as an architect to Robert Thornton Shiells at 7 Gilmore Place in Edinburgh.[1] He did further training in the City Engineer's Department under Robert Matheson,[2] whilst also taking engineering classes at the University of Edinburgh alongside Robert Louis Stevenson (who briefly trained as an engineer in his family's tradition). He then went to London for six months in 1873, working under Sir Edmund Frederick du Cane, before returning to Edinburgh to set up his own practice at 21 Rintoul Place in the Stockbridge Colonies.[3]
In 1875 he moved to larger and grander offices at 1 India Buildings at the head of Victoria Street.