07 March 2018, 15:55

Help solve mystery of missing female architect on International Women’s Day

Call for information after work of talented but unknown female architect recently uncovered

Historic Environment Scotland are calling on the public to help solve the mystery of a talented female architect that vanished from the record books.

The work of a female architecture student who attended Edinburgh College of Art from 1934-1940 was recently uncovered. Her work included designs for private houses, a music school, a holiday camp for children and even a dam. A rare find, due to the male-dominance of the sector during this period, researchers at Historic Environment Scotland decided to dig deeper and find out more about this trailblazer.

Jean Payton-Reid was born on 4 January 1917 during World War I. She studied at the School of Architecture, Edinburgh College of Art (ECA) from 1934-1940 but her time as a student is really when most is known about her.

Gaining practical experience working in the office of Tarbolton & Ochterlony from 1937 to 1938, Payton-Reid was admitted to the Royal Institute of British Architects after receiving her diploma from ECA in 1940. She was also a member of the Royal Town Planning Institute but it appears that she had left the profession by 1974. This is where the trail goes cold.

One of the highlights from this small collection is a design for a National Theatre. In 1940, Jean entered a series of drawings for the Rowand Anderson Studentship, a competition for architecture students hosted by The Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS). She entered under the pseudonym ‘Lee’. According to the RIAS Quarterly Journal (No. 64 May 1946), Jean was the only female competitor for the 1939-40 Studentship and she was awarded a £20 prize - around £300 in today’s money.

These accomplished drawings not only showcase Jean’s tremendous talent, they are also extremely valuable as archive material because they were produced during the Interwar period in Scotland, right on the brink of the outbreak of World War II. This time period, 1918-1939, is known for the development of Modernist architecture and Jean’s design for a National Theatre is a great example of the ambition and innovation of the Modernist movement in Scotland.

Niamh Crimmins, Archive and Library Assistant at Heritage Environment Scotland, said: “As I catalogued her work, I became fascinated by her and on International Women’s Day, it would be amazing to find out what happened to this talented architect. We would love to know more information about Jean Payton-Reid. While, researching this collection I discovered that the Scottish academic painter Robert Payton-Reid (1859-1945) painted a portrait of a young girl titled ‘Jean’ and this could be a relation.

“It would be great to add to our knowledge of this fascinating woman so we are calling on the public to help us celebrate Jean Payton-Reid by getting in touch if they know more.”

The work of Jean Payton-Reid is digitally accessible to the public and can be viewed on a blog written about her for International Women's Day.

Ends

Images of Jean Payton-Reid's work are attached to this press release.

For more information please contact:

Ryan Gavan, Archive Communication Officer ryan.gavan@hes.scot

0131 651 8603

Contact Information

Ryan Gavan
ryan.gavan@hes.scot

Notes to editors

About Historic Environment Scotland

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is the lead public body charged with caring for, protecting and promoting the historic environment. HES is also the lead on delivering Scotland’s first strategy for the historic environment, Our Place in Time.
- Historic Scotland, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of Historic Environment Scotland.
Historic Environment Scotland is a registered Scottish Charity. Scottish Charity No. SC045925
You can keep up to date with news from Historic Environment Scotland and register for media release email alerts here. If you wish to unsubscribe, please contact us.
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Year of Young People 2018
The Year of Young People 2018 will be the next of the Scottish Government’s series of themed years, following the Year of History, Heritage and Archaeology 2017.

The Year of Young People (YoYP 2018) will inspire Scotland through its young people aged 8 to 26, celebrating their achievements, valuing their contributions to communities and creating new opportunities for them to shine locally, nationally and globally

Central to YoYP 2018 will be a celebratory events programme that puts young people at the heart of its development and delivery, creating new and valuable experiences for young Scots and the wider public, with links to the inaugural 2018 European Championships.

Over 200 young people throughout Scotland are currently being recruited to become YoYP 2018 Ambassadors. Ambassadors will ensure that people and organisations in their communities know about what’s happening and will lead on projects and activities to create events and opportunities to celebrate young people.

The Year of Young People will have six themes which were developed in co-production with young people themselves:
- Participation – looking at how young people can influence public services and decisions which affect their lives
- Education – creating a stronger role for young people in shaping their learning
- Health and Wellbeing – supporting young people to lead healthier, active lives and have opportunities to learn about and improve their mental health and resilience
- Equality and Discrimination – broadcasting the value of young Scots, challenging negative perceptions of young people, and supporting young people to take leading roles in challenging discrimination in all its forms.
- Enterprise and regeneration – celebrating young people’s role in innovation, entrepreneurship and the Scottish economy as well as making Scotland a greener and more pleasant place to live
- Culture – celebrating young people’s talent and contribution to Scottish culture and arts.

Further information on what’s happening and how people can get involved can be found on the new website www.yoyp2018.scot or @YOYP2018 on Twitter.

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About Historic Environment Scotland

Historic Environment Scotland (HES) is the lead body for Scotland’s historic environment, a charity dedicated to the advancement of heritage, culture, education and environmental protection. It is at the forefront of researching and understanding the historic environment and addressing the impacts of climate change on its future, investigating and recording architectural and archaeological sites and landscapes across Scotland and caring for more than 300 properties of national importance. HES is also the lead on delivering Scotland's strategy for the historic environment, Our Past, Our Future.
Historic Scotland, Stòr, trove.scot, Scran, Canmore, The National Collection of Aerial Photography (NCAP), The Engine Shed, Stirling Castle and Edinburgh Castle are sub-brands of Historic Environment Scotland.
Historic Environment Scotland is a registered Scottish Charity. Scottish Charity No. SC045925
Keep up to date with news from Historic Environment Scotland and register for media release email alerts. You can unsubscribe at any time by following the unsubscribe link included in every email.
You can follow Historic Environment Scotland on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn and our blog.