John Alexander Carfrae


John Alexander Carfrae was a Scottish architect of particular note in the field of innovative school design.

Life

Born in Edinburgh the son of Thomas Carfrae, a civil engineer. He was younger brother to George Somervil Carfae, also a civil engineer. The family lived at 9 Osborne Terrace in Edinburgh's West End. He was educated at James Gillespie's High School.
Articled in 1881 to Robert Wilson, architect for the Edinburgh School Board. In 1889 he moved to London and worked with HM Office of Works. Further trained under Sydney Mitchell in 1892.
When Robert Wilson died in 1901, Carfrae inherited both his office and the full role as architect to the Edinburgh School Board. In 1918 local government practices changed and the City Architect became responsible for school design. However, the city architect Ebenezer James MacRae still passed him two commissions: for Balgreen and Stenhouse schools.
From 1907 until death he lived in the Grange, Edinburgh at 3 Gillsland Road. He lived here with his wife, Augusta Wilkes Henderson, and their two sons. His office in later life was at 3 Queen Street.
He died on 11 July 1947.

Works

Carfrae worked largely for the Edinburgh School Board. Even before he completely took control of this design function, his style is clear, acting as Chief Assistant within the office.