Reginald Fairlie

Who was Reginald Fairlie?

Reginald Francis Joseph Fairlie FRSE FRIAS FRIBA RSA was a Scottish architect. He served as a commissioner of RCAHMS and on the Ancient Monuments Board for Scotland.

Born at Kincaple, Fife, he was educated in Birmingham.

A faithful Roman Catholic, Fairlie designed many war memorials, churches and restorations of castles. From a long list of commissions only a handful fall outside the borders of Scotland. Somewhat eccentric—a lifelong bachelor who developed a habit of walking long distances and sleeping outdoors—he worked frequently with architectural sculptor Hew Lorimer, whose work marks his grave.

His works include:

St James Church, St Andrews, 1910

war memorial at Auchtermuchty, 1920

the backdrop for the 1927 Scots American War Memorial

the cloister at Kelso Abbey, 1933

the Scottish Classroom, one of the Nationality Rooms at the Cathedral of Learning, University of Pittsburgh, 1938

the National Library of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1938–56

Fairlie died in Edinburgh in 1952.