This thesis examines the work of the Belfast-based civil engineering and architectural practice Young & Mackenzie, from its establishment in c. 1850 to the retirement of its third principal, J.R. Young, c.l950. It demonstrates the significance of the firm in the history of architecture in Ulster during the period and through the enquiry, explores the development of the built environment in the North of Ireland, especially in' Belfast. It is also an examination of the workings of a prolific architectural firm over 100 years - it was Ulster's longest-lasting such business and family dynasty - as well as the lives of its key players as figures of interest in their own rights. It is a piece of fundamental historical research from original sources, drawing substantially on the firm's surviving archival records, Young family papers and artefacts, and critical analysis of the buildings themselves, either from scrutiny in the field or from plans/drawings/photographs. The thesis looks at the principals, the firm's history, and work across the following sectors: commercial and industrial buildings, ecclesiastical buildings, domestic and 'c residential buildings and institutional buildings. There is a separate chapter on the Presbyterian Assembly Buildings - a major landmark in Belfast. The firm is shown to have been significantly locked into working relationships with important institutions such as the Presbyterian Church (and thereby many of its congregations), the Belfast Board of Guardians and the Royal Victoria Hospital, as well as significant businessmen. It was responsible for many of the largest buildings in Belfast, from department stores such as Robinson & Cleaver's and Anderson & McAuley's to financial firms such as the Ocean Accident Guarantee Company and the Scottish Provident Insurance Corporation. The firm was, therefore, a major contributor to giving the fabric of central Belfast urban substance and built presence.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:bl.uk/oai:ethos.bl.uk:557616 |
| Date | January 2012 |
| Creators | Harron, P. R. |
| Publisher | Queen's University Belfast |
| Source Sets | Ethos UK |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Electronic Thesis or Dissertation |
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