John Leonard (architect)

John Leonard (1857 – 6 November 1932) was an English architect.[1] He designed several notable buildings in Scotland, mostly in the Pitlochry area of Perthshire, several of which are now listed buildings.

John Leonard
Leonard designed part of Pitlochry's Holy Trinity Church, the kirkyard of which is now his resting place
Born1857
Died6 November 1932 (aged 74–75)
Glasgow, Scotland
OccupationArchitect

Career edit

 
84–104 Atholl Road, pictured in 2020

Leonard practised in Pitlochry as an architectural surveyor. He later formed a partnership, Leonard & Morris,[2] with David Morris,[3] of Echt, Aberdeenshire. From around 1908 they had an office in Bank Street, Aberfeldy, Perthshire.[1] One of their works, St Helen's Villa, on Taybridge Drive in Aberfeldy, was part of a townscape analysis by Perth and Kinross Council in 2008.[4]

Notable works edit

(1902) – built church hall; converted vestry to organ chamber and built a new vestry[1]
(1910) – minor alterations[1]

In 1898, Pitlochry Public Hall, as it was originally known, was the subject of a design competition won by Dundee architect Alexander Ness, ahead of another Pitlochry architect, John Menzies. Leonard placed third.[9][10]

In 1902, Leonard was involved in a lawsuit, on behalf of the pursuer Thomas Russell, against "Mrs Jane Blair or Menzies and others, trustees and executors of the late Adam Menzies, plumber, Pitlochry", for the non-fulfilment of a contract for plumbing work. The following March, the Perth sheriff found in favour of the defence, and stated that they were "entitled to expenses on the higher scale". The verdict was appealed in July, but was upheld.[11]

Personal life edit

Leonard was born in Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1857. He lived on Tweed Street, and later named his home in Moulin "Tweed Villa".[1] In 1895, he married Catherine McDonald (1852–1921), from Blair Atholl in Perthshire.[1] It was his second marriage, his first being to Grace Hopper in 1888.

Death edit

Leonard died on 6 November 1932 in Glasgow, aged 74 or 75. He is interred in the kirkyard of Pitlochry's Holy Trinity Church, which he partly designed.

References edit

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j John Leonard - Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  2. ^ Leonard & Morris - Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  3. ^ David Morris - Dictionary of Scottish Architects
  4. ^ Aberfeldy Conservation Area AppraisalPerth and Kinross Council, November 2008
  5. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "PERTH ROAD, HOLY TRINITY EPISCOPAL CHURCH INCLUDING, CHURCH HALL, LYCHGATE, GRAVEYARD AND BOUNDARY WALLS (LB39854)". Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  6. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "84 -104 (EVEN NOS) ATHOLL ROAD AND UNITS 1, 2 AND 2A MILL LANE, ALBA PLACE (LB47512)". Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  7. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "GOLF COURSE ROAD, TORRDARACH HOTEL, INCLUDING ANCILLARY BUILDING, BOUNDARY WALLS AND GATEPIERS (LB47518)". Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  8. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "PERTH ROAD, DUNDARACH HOTEL WITH ANCILLARY BUILDING AND GATEPIERSS (LB47533)". Retrieved 15 January 2022.
  9. ^ Historic Environment Scotland. "West Moulin Road, Town Hall, Including Boundary Walls (LB47549)". Retrieved 14 January 2022.
  10. ^ The Builder, volume 75 (23 July, 1898), p. 79
  11. ^ The Scottish Law Review and Sheriff Court Reports, volume 20 (1904), p. 41–42

External links edit