James Smith (architect, died 1731)
James Smith (c. 1645–1731) was a Scottish architect, who pioneered the
Biography
Born in
By December 1677, Smith was in touch with Sir
In 1683 he was appointed, at the recommendation of the Duke of Queensberry, to the post of
His Royal appointment was renewed after the Union of England and Scotland in 1707, but he never received further pay.[2] He surveyed some of the forts built in the Highlands after 1714, for the Board of Ordnance, but this employment ended in 1719 with the appointment of Andrews Jelfe as architect to the Board. He complained in a letter to John Clerk of Penicuik that he had been "disgracefully turned out of His Majesty's service in the 73rd year of his age".[2] In 1715 he unsuccessfully stood as a candidate for Member of Parliament for Edinburgh.[2]
In 1686 he purchased the estate of
Architectural works
Smith's architectural training is not known. Architectural historian Howard Colvin has speculated that he was associated with Colen Campbell (1676–1729), the Scots architect who introduced Palladian architecture to England. On the basis of a number of Smith's drawings that were in Campbell's possession, Colvin even suggests that Campbell may have been Smith's pupil, and it was Smith who brought Italian ideas back from his travels, inspiring the British Palladianism of the 18th century.[2]
With his father-in-law, Robert Mylne, Smith worked on
Other houses included Yester House (1701–1715), works at Alloa Tower for the Earl of Mar, as well as his own home, built around 1690 on his estate at Whitehill. Strathleven House in Dumbartonshire has been attributed to Smith on stylistic grounds.[5] From 1700 he worked largely in association with the mason and architect Alexander McGill, and after 1710, ceased architectural work almost entirely.
Engineering
Smith also undertook engineering work. For instance, he was employed as an
List of architectural works
Architectural works by, or attributed to, James Smith.[6]
- Drumlanrig Castle, Dumfriesshire (1680–1690), for the Duke of Queensberry, possibly designed with Robert Mylne
- Kirk of the Canongate, Edinburgh (1688–1690)
- Chapel Royal at Holyrood Palace, Edinburgh (1688), destroyed by an anti-Catholic mob the same year
- Whitehill, Musselburgh (c. 1690), Smith's own home, enlarged in the 18th century and now known as Newhailes
- Mausoleum of George Mackenzie of Rosehaugh (1691), Greyfriars Kirkyard, Edinburgh[4]
- Newbattle Abbey, Midlothian (1693), advised the Earl of Lothian on alterations
- Hamilton Palace, Lanarkshire (1693–1701), for the Duchess of Hamilton. Extended in the 18th century and rebuilt in the 19th, the Palace was demolished in 1921.
- Raith House, Raith Estate, Kirkcaldy, Fife (1692–1694)[7]
- Traquair House, Borders (1695–1699), alterations
- Durisdeer Church, and Queensberry Aisle, Dumfriesshire[8]
- Monument to William Douglas, Duke of Hamilton (1634–1694), in BothwellChurch, Lanarkshire (1695)
- Old Surgeons' Hall, Edinburgh (1696–1697)
- Melville House, Fife (1697–1700), for the Earl of Melville
- Yester House, East Lothian (1701–1715), with Alexander McGill for the Marquess of Tweeddale, altered in the 18th century
- Dalkeith House, Midlothian (1702–1710), major rebuilding for Anne, Duchess of Buccleuch
- Yester Parish Church, Gifford, East Lothian (1710), attributed to Smith and McGill
- Dupplin Castle, Perthshire (1720–1725), for the Earl of Kinnoull, destroyed by fire in 1827
- Smith's Land, High Street, Edinburgh (unknown date), later known as Paisley's Close
Gallery of architectural work
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Drumlanrig Castle, elevation
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Drumlanrig Castle, plan
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Dalkeith Palace
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Entrance front,Newhailes
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Garden front, Newhailes
References
- ^ Campbell, Colen (1715–1725). Vitruvius Britannicus. ii, 3, quoted in Gifford, p.62
- ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l Colvin, pp.755–758
- . Retrieved 7 July 2008.
- ^ a b c d e Gifford, pp.62–67
- ^ "Strathleven House Conservation Plan" (PDF). Scottish Historic Buildings Trust. April 1997. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 January 2014. Retrieved 28 August 2013.
- ^ Listed by Colvin, pp.757–758, unless otherwise noted
- ^ Gardens (en), Parks and. "Raith Park And Beveridge Park - Kirkcaldy". Parks & Gardens.
- ^ MacKechnie, Aonghus (1985). "Durisdeer Church" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 115: 429–442. Retrieved 7 July 2008.
- Colvin, Howard (1978) A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600–1840, John Murray
- Gifford, John (1989) William Adam 1689–1748, Mainstream Publishing / RIAS