Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland
The Master of Works to the Crown of Scotland was responsible for the construction, repair and maintenance of royal palaces, castles and other crown property in
In the 15th century, a Master of Works would be appointed to oversee an individual construction project, such as a new palace, or a rebuilding of an old one. Thus the exchequer records identify several postholders who might be regarded as accountants rather than architects. In the 16th century, during the reign of James V, the appointment of a Principal Master of Works began, with overall responsibility for all the king's works. The appointment was usually for life. Following the death of James Smith in 1714, the post became a sinecure, with a salary of £400,[1] and the post declined in importance. In 1808 Robert Reid was named Architect and Surveyor to the King in Scotland, and he became Master of Works following the death of James Brodie in 1824. However, in 1831 the Scottish Office of Works was merged with the English Office of Works, and when Reid retired in 1840, he was not replaced.[1] The Office of Works was later reconstituted as the Ministry of Works.
Accounts of the Masters of Work
The royal masters of work prepared financial accounts of their expenditure for audit by the Scottish exchequer. Accounts survive for the 16th and 17th centuries and are held by the National Records of Scotland. These records, and some of the treasury vouchers relating to building work, were published in two volumes in 1957 and 1982 by Her Majesty's Stationery Office as the Accounts of the Masters of Works for building and repairing Royal Palaces and Castles.[3]
The accounts, written the
Principal Masters of Works to the Crown of Scotland
The dates given are those of their appointment. These appointments were made by the issue of a warrant recorded in the Register of the Privy Seal. William MacDowall, though acting as master of work never had a warrant, and some appointments ran concurrently.
- 1529: Sir James Nycholay, or Nicolson, Master of Work at Stirling Castle.
- 1537: John Scrymgeour
- 1539: Sir James Hamilton of Finnart
- 1541: Robert Robertson (Principal master wright in Stirling Castle)
- 1543: John Hamilton of Milnburn
- 1579: Sir Robert Drummond of Carnock
- 1583: William Schaw
- 1602–1607: Sir David Cunningham of Robertland, also Surveyor of the King's Works in England, 1604–1606.[8]
- 1607–1634: Sir James Murray of Kilbaberton
- 1615: Walter Murray (Assistant Master of Works)
- 1629–1637: Sir Anthony Alexander
- 1632: William Govane of Cardrona and James Murray Jr. (Assistant Masters of Works)
- 1637–1641: Henry Alexander, 3rd Earl of Stirling
- 1641: Sir John Veitch of Dawyck
- 1643–1644: John Carmichael
- 1645–1649: Sir David Carmichael of Hyndford
- 1649: Sir Robert Montgomery
- 1660–1668: Sir William Murray of Dreghorn
The office was unoccupied from 1668–1671.
- 1671–1678: Sir William Bruce of Balcaskie, Baronet
- 1678–1683: David Maitland (acting Master of Works)
- 1683–1788: James Smith
- 1689–1700: Sir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony, Baronet
- 1700–1704: James Scott of Logie
- 1704–1705: Sir Francis Scott of Thirlestane
- 1705–1714: John Campbell of Mamor
- 1705–1717: John Urquhart of Meldrum
- 1707–1714: James Smith (position renewed)
- 1717–1743: Sir John Anstruther of Anstruther
- 1743–1761: George Dundas
- 1761–1764: William Stewart of Hartwood
- 1764–1768: James Duff, of the Middle Temple, London
- 1768–1809: Lieutenant-Colonel James Pringle
- 1809–1824: James Brodie of Brodie
- 1824–1840: Robert Reid
References
- ^ a b c Colvin, p1155
- ^ Glendinning & McKechnie, p.66
- ^ Henry Paton, Accounts of the Masters of Work, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1957), p. viii.
- ^ Henry Paton, Accounts of the Master of Work, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1957), pp. 166, 227.
- ^ Henry Paton, Accounts of the Masters of Work, vol. 1 (Edinburgh, 1957), pp. 254-5, 277-8.
- ^ Michael Pearce, 'A French Furniture Maker and the 'Courtly Style' in Sixteenth-Century Scotland', Regional Furniture, XXXII (2018), pp. 129–30.
- ^ John Imrie & John Dunbar, Accounts of the Masters of Works, vol. 2 (Edinburgh, 1982), pp. 255–7, 291-2.
- ISBN 0-7509-2323-7. p.158.
Bibliography
- ISBN 0-300-06091-2.
- Glendinning, Miles; McKechnie, Aonghus (2004). Scottish Architecture. Thames & Hudson.
- Mylne, R.S (1896). "The Masters of Work to the Crown of Scotland, with the Writs of Appointment, from 1529 to 1768" (PDF). Proceedings of the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland. 30: 49–68. Retrieved 2007-05-30.