Colin Hay Murray was born in St. Leonards, East Sussex, England on 2 October 1885 and was the son of the architect William Hay Murray (1852-1919). He was articled to his father from 1903 and was a student at the Royal Academy Schools in London from July 1907 to July 1912. Having completed his articles he moved to London and worked as an assistant in the Architects Department of London County Council from 1905 to 1909; in the office of his uncle, Robert Cunninghame Murray (1851-1926) from 1905 to 1911; in the office of his father in Eastbourne from 1911 to 1913; and back in London the office of Herbert Bourchier (1856-1938) in 1914. He qualified in 1912 and was elected an Associate of the Royal Institute of British Architects (ARIBA) in 1913 and in 1928 a Fellow of the Royal institutue of British Architects (FRIBA).
Following his father's death in 1919 he took over his practice and in 1921 became a partner in his uncle's practice to form Murray, Delves & Murray [later Murray, Delves, Murray & Atkins] of Eastbourne and 10 King’s Bench Walk, Inner Temple, London
C. H. Murray's address was given as 13 Queen Anne's Gate, Westminster, London and 140 Albert Place Mansions, Battersea Park, London in 1914; 25 Hyde Gardens, Eastbourne, Sussex, and 10 King's Bench Walk, Temple, London in 1923 and 1926; 13 Greys Road, Eastbourne, Sussex in 1939; and 9 Halsey Gouse, 13 Red Lion Square, London in 1950. He died in Eastbourne, Sussex on 29 December 1966. At the time of his death, his address was given as 4 Silverdale Road, Eastbourne, Sussex.
A biographical file on Colin Hay Murray available on request from the Enquiry Desk, Royal Institute of British architects Library, London
Works by Colin Hay Murray included Works: "Chaseley", Eastbourne (extensions), 1919-21; War memorials at: — St. Saviour's Church, Eastbourne (1920-21), Eastbourne Municipal Secondary School for Boys, Pevensey, Sussex (1920), St. Anne's Church, Eastbourne (1920-21), and St. Clare School, Walmer. Kent (1921); remodelling school chapel, St. Clare, Walmer, Kent (1921-22): ''Good Intent" Tea Room, 11, Cornfield Terrace, Eastbourne (new front, 1922-23); private houses at Hawkshurst (1923-24), Reigate and Cooden (1924), and Sevenoaks (1925); and in conjunction with John Saxon Snell as consulting architect, extensions to Princess Alice Memorial Hospital, Eastbourne, 1925. [Source: Who's Who in Architecture 1926]
Directory of British Architects 1834-1914. Compiled by Antonia Brodie, et al. Volume 2: L-Z. London; New York: British Architectural Library, Royal Institute of British Architects/Continuum, 2001
Shop Fronts. A Selection of English, American and Continental Examples. Edited by Frederick Chatterton London: The Architectural Press, 1927
Who’s Who in Architecture 1914. London: Technical Journals Ltd., 1914
Who’s Who in Architecture 1923. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1923
Who’s Who in Architecture 1926. Edited by Frederick Chatterton. London: The Architectural Press, 1926