Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Anderson | Designation: | | Born: | 18 June 1863 | Died: | 4 May 1932 | Bio Notes: | John Anderson was born in Loch-head, Wemyss, Fife on 18 June 1863, the son of John Anderson, a ploughman and later coal mining fireman, and his wife Marjory Ross whom he had married in Dunbarney, Perthshire in 1851.
He started his career working in the Estate office of Sir Alexander Jardine, Bart. of Applegirth, Dumfriesshire, before being appointed for two years as the Manager of a leading building contractor in Kirkcaldy, Fife. In 1888 he entered the employment of Robert Rowand Anderson in Edinburgh, and was involved in the surveying and other matters relating to the feuing of the lands of Fettes and Inverleith belonging to the Governors of the Fettes Trust. He was also involved in a similar role to the lands of John Gordon of Cluny at the Braid Estate in Morningside. Amongst other projects undertaken with Rowand Anderson were repairs and alterations to Fettes College, the Assembly Rooms in George Street, buildings belonging to the Board of Manufacturers and the Lady Florence Hastings houses at Colinton.
In April 1901 the 37-year-old Anderson started work as Superintendent of Works for the George Heriot’s Trust in 1901, based in their offices in York Place. At this date he was living at 72 Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh, but he later moved to 37 Leamington Terrace, Bruntsfield, where he remained for the rest of his life.
Many of Heriot’s Superintendents of Works, perhaps the most successful being Alexander Black (1798-1858), based their work for the school on the architectural design of the original Heriot’s building, started in 1628 by William Wallace, principal master mason to the Scottish crown. John Anderson continued in this vein on the main school site with the new Chemistry Block of 1911, although the ‘Buildings of Scotland’ has its ‘C17 quotations fewer and more telling’.
From 1919-29 he had ex-Heriots schoolboy George Robb as an apprentice, and for the last five years as assistant. In this period the Goldenacre Grandstand in Inverleith Row was constructed and the Castle Brewery in the Grassmarket was converted to Mining Laboratories.
Anderson retired from the Heriot’s Trust in 1929, and the Board of the Trust recorded their appreciation of his work over 28 years in the post. He was at this time a Fellow of the Surveyors Institution (FSI), later to become the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
In his private life Anderson was a keen dog breeder, and his obituary in the Scotsman of 9 May 1932 was entitled ‘Notable Dog Fancier dead’. The article related Anderson’s high standing throughout the UK as a successful breeder of English Springer spaniels for over a quarter of a century, together with his membership of the Scottish Kennel Club and Gun Dog Association. He also took part in Gun Dog trials, proved a sought after competition judge, and occupied ‘a leading place in the canine activities of Scotland’.
Only three years after his retirement John Anderson died at a nursing home in 19 Drumsheugh Gardens on 4 May 1932, aged 68. He was survived by his wife Elizabeth Dott (1862-1947) whom he had married in Dysart, Fife in 1892. He was buried in Morningside Cemetery where his widow is also buried. The couple had at least three sons and one daughter. Their son John Anderson died in infancy, whilst Dr Ian Ross Anderson served as a Medical officer in India, and another son, 2nd Lt. Robert J Anderson MC, was injured in WW1.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Heriot's Trust Chambers/20, York Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1903 | 1929 | | | 72, Polwarth Gardens, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1908 | c. 1911 | | | 37, Leamington Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1911 | 1929 | |
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ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Scotsman | 9 May 1932 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Courtesy of Steven Robb | Information via website | | | | GROS | Census Records 1901 | | |
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