William Hay

William Hay (17 May 1818 – 30 May 1888) was a Scottish architect who was actively working internationally from 1842 to 1887. A specialist in gothic architecture, he is primarily known for his work on several churches and cathedrals. His most famous structure is the Bermuda Cathedral in Hamilton, Bermuda, which he designed in 1885. Construction of the cathedral began in 1886 and was completed seven years after Hay's death in 1905. He also designed some of the oldest buildings and structures in Toronto, Ontario, from 1853 to 1861, and was responsible for the restoration of St. Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh from 1872 to 1884. His career exemplifies how the British Empire of the Victorian era was united not only by military and political strength but also by professionals who took advantage of opportunities in its wide array of territories.

Early life: 1818–1841 Born at Dykeside, Peterhead, Hay was named after his father, who was a Scottish Episcopalian grain merchant. In his youth he was apprenticed to a joiner, but an accident during a job at Ellishill House, which broke his leg, ended his career in this area. The doctor treating him for his injury encouraged him to study architecture during his recovery and his career accordingly took a turn in that direction.

Early career: 1842–1861

Hay tackled his first job as an architect at the age of 24 with the St James Episcopal Church in Cruden Bay in 1842–1843. He married his first wife, Janet Reid (1819–1860), in 1844, and that same year relocated to Edinburgh to become an assistant to architect John Henderson.

After working with Henderson for two years, Hay moved to London to apprentice with George Gilbert Scott in 1846. Scott entrusted him with overseeing the building of the nave of the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist in St. John's, Newfoundland. For that project he travelled throughout England and Scotland in late 1846 and early 1847 to acquire materials and skilled craftsmen. In April 1847 he, along with his wife and her brother Thomas (their ward), sailed to Newfoundland. He remained there until the nave was completed in 1850. was approached to design the replacement Trinity Church in the neo-Gothic style. Built between 1886–1905 and designated a cathedral in 1894, it was his last significant work and his most famous.

In 1862 Hay formed a partnership with architect David Stirling in Halifax, Nova Scotia. They worked together through 1865 on the Halifax Club (1862), Alexander Keith's residence (1863), and a new Provincial Building designed for use as a post office, customs house, and railway department (built from 1863 to 1868, now the Art Gallery of Nova Scotia). He married his second wife, Jemima Huddleston (1838–1905) of Ryde, Isle of Wight, in 1864. The couple produced one daughter, Fanny, and settled in Edinburgh where Hay set up a new practice. In 1877 he formed a partnership with John Henderson's son George Henderson. The two men worked together until Hay became seriously ill in October 1887. He died eight months later at Rabbit Hall, Hamilton Street, Joppa at the age of 70.

Selected works BuildingYear CompletedBuilderStyleSourceLocationImage St. Michael's College 1856 William Hay (architect) Gothic architecture 2 50 Saint Joseph Street Toronto, Ontario 100px St. Basil's Church, Toronto 1855–1856 William Hay (architect) Gothic architecture St. Joseph Street west of Bay Street, Toronto, Ontario 100px Oaklands 1860 John Macdonald, design William Hay Gothic architecture 8 De La Salle College, Toronto, Ontario 100px Holy Trinity Rectory 1861 William Hay (architect) Gothic architecture 15 10 Trinity Square, Toronto, Ontario 100px Art Gallery of Nova Scotia St. Giles' Cathedral 1872–1884 William Hay (architect) and George Henderson (architect) Gothic architecture Edinburgh, Scotland 100px