Mackay Hugh Ballie Scott, 1865-1945

Born near Ramsgate, son of a minor, but wealthy, Scottish aristocrat. Originally trained as an agriculturalist with eye to running family Australian sheep stations but decided instead to become an architect. In 1886 articled to Charles Davis, Bath city architect. Left Bath and settled on Isle of Man in 1889, apparently on a whim according to John Betjeman who was told "I went to the Isle of Man for a holiday. I was so seasick I couldn't face the journey back so I set up in practice there". He initially worked for Fred Sanderson, Surveyor, in Atholl Street Douglas. He also attended evening classes at the College of Art, Douglas where he met and became friends with Archibald Knox.

First buildings were heavily inspired by Shaw and Earnest George; their heavy half-timbered Old English style owed little to the location; however their interiors were more unconventional. His own house, the Red House in Douglas (1892-3) showed considerable innovation in planning. See articles by Betjeman and Haigh for plans etc. of various Manx houses.

Left Island in 1901 to move to Bedford.

Designed

• probably Gatehouse Braddan cemetery; also painted glass at New Braddan cemetery.
• The Mansion (now Majestic Hotel) Onchan, 1892-3 (later extended - demolished in spite of many attempts to list building)
• Bishops Desmesne Farm, Kirk Michael 1893 (in MNH list but not others)
• Red House, Victoria Road, Douglas, 1892-3 (see Haigh for plans + discussion)
• Ivydene, Little Switzerland, Douglas, 1893-4
• Oakleigh, Glencrutchery Road, Douglas, 1893-4
• HollyBank and Myrtle Bank, Victoria Road, Douglas, 1895-6
• Leaside and Braeside, King Edward Road, Onchan, 1895-6
• Terrace Houses, Falcon Cliff Terrace, Douglas, 1897-8
• Onchan Village Hall, 1897-8
• Castletown Police Station. 1899-1901

Articles

• The Fireplace of the Suburban House The Studio vol 6 No 32 Nov 1895 pp101/108
• On the Choice of Simple Furniture The Studio vol 10 No 49 Apl 1897 pp 151/157
• A Country Cottage The Studio vol 25 No 108 Mar 1902 pp86/95
• A Cottage in the Country The Studio vol 32 No 136 Jul 1904 pp119/125

References

John Betjeman Mackay Hugh Ballie Scott Journal Manx Museum VII #84 p77-80 (+unnumbered plates) 1958
Peter Davy Arts and Crafts Architecture Phaidon 1980 (ISBN 0-7148-3711-3)
Diane Haigh Baillie Scot. The Artistic House Academy Editions 1995 (ISBN 1-85490-432-9)
James D. Kornwolf M. H. Baillie Scott and the Arts and Crafts Movement John Hopkins Press 1972
Gregory John Slater Mackay Hugh Ballie Scott An Architectural History Laxey:Amulree Publications (ISBN 0-92521126-5-5) (gives best account of Manx period)

Mackay Hugh Baillie Scott Manx National Heritage Library Bibliography No 4 (a free 4pp sheet available from Manx Museum Library) - gives an excellent bibliography including Manx sources

See also many article in IoM Victorian Soc Newsletter.

A website www.bailliescott.com edited by Greg Slater is devoted to enhancing the memory of Baille Scott.