Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Smith | Designation: | | Born: | 1783 | Died: | 13 September 1864 | Bio Notes: | John Smith born in 1783 (christened 28 March of that year) and Thomas Smith born in 1785 were the sons of John Smith (c.1748-1805), master mason at Darnick and his wife Mary Williamson. They continued their father's business as both architects and builders and were very highly regarded by Sir Walter Scott and the local gentry. The Smith brothers were employed mainly on designing and enlarging country houses, rural churches, schools and manses.
Although not members they gave a paper to the RIBA on the building of bridges in whinstone without the use of rubble in 1837. They employed this material themselves successfully on various occasions. In 1848 they were financially ruined when their bridge at Ashiestiel collapsed during construction: it was the largest rubble span then attempted at 131 feet, 6 inches and was successfully rebuilt.
John Smith also occasionally practised as a sculptor his best known work being the colossal statue of William Wallace at Dryburgh.
Thomas Smith died in 1857 and John on 13 September 1864. James Smith of Edinburgh, architect to the Bank of Scotland, was their elder brother.
Information from monumental inscriptions, Melrose Churchyard | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Darnick, Roxburghshire, Scotland | Business | | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | John & Thomas Smith | | | Partner | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1808 | Melrose Parish Church | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1812 | Parish Church | Galashiels | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | 1813 | Bowland House | Whitehill | | Midlothian | Scotland | Superintended construction for James Gillespie Graham. | | 1814 | Statue of William Wallace | Dryburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1815 | Melrose Manse | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1816 | Abbotsford | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Builder of first phase (addition of breakfast parlour, armoury and dining room to original farmhouse) - to the designs of William Atkinson | | 1816 | Darnley House | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | For himself | | 1817 | Abbotsford | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Courtyard walls and mounting block | | 1817 | Chain Bridge | Dryburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1818 | Huntlyburn | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Additions 1818, 1824, 1844, 1854 | | 1819 | Oberlisk in memory of John Thomson, poet | Ednam | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1820 | Chiefswood | Darnick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1820 | Cowdenknowes | | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Extension to west elevation | | 1820 | Lauder Parish Church | Lauder | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Major additions and refurnishings | | 1820 | Torsonce Inn | Stow | | Midlothian | Scotland | Checked plans and progress of construction as Brown was still a surveyor at this date. | | 1821 | Abbotsford | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Builder of second phase - drawing room, library, study, great hall, and clearance of original farmhouse | | 1823 | Allerly | Gattonside | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1824 | Ettrick Parish Church | Ettrick | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | 1824 | Gattonside | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Alterations and additions | | 1824 | Ravenswood House with stables and south lodge | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | House and possibly south lodge | | 1824 | St Ronan's Lodge | Innerleithen | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1825 | Holylee House | Walkerburn | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1825 | Wolflee House | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | New house built around single remaining vault of original 17th-century building | | 1826 | Gattonside | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | East Lodge | | c. 1826 | Abbotsmeadow | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1828 | Manse | St Boswells | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1831 | Bridge over the River Ettrick on the road from Selkirk to Galashiels | | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | 1831 | Bridge over the River Tweed on road from Selkirk to Galashiels | | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | 1831 | Old School | Bowden | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1832 | Bridge over Hermitage Water in Liddesdale for 5th Duke of Buccleuch | | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1832 | North Bridge over River Teviot | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1833 | Tweed Bridge | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Widening | | 1833 | Yarrow Bridge | | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | 1834 | Bowhill House | Selkirk | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | Drive carrying bridge at Fauldshope | | 1835 | Kirk Yetholm Parish Church | Kirk Yetholm | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Original building | | 1836 | Ettrick Mills | Selkirk | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | First phase | | Before 1837 | Pavilion | Melrose (near) | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Addition of wing with cavity walls | | 1839 | Westruther Church | Westruther | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1844 | St George's UF Church | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Original church - with Andrew Thomson | | 1847 | Wilton Parish Manse | Hawick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | c. 1847 | Longformacus House | Longformacus | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Centrepiece added | | 1848 | Ashiestiel Bridge | Peel | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | | | 1848 | Eckford Parish Church | Morebattle | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1850 | Ettrick Mills | Selkirk | | Selkirkshire | Scotland | Second phase | | c. 1854 | Kelso Union Poorhouse | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1855 | Linton Pauper's House | Linton | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Drew up plans for hospital | | 1857 | Linton Parish Church | Linton, Morebattle | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | New windows and south porch | | 1861 | Darnick Tower | Darnick | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Plans for extension - unclear whether these were carried out or not | | Early 1800s | School | Morebattle | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Provided design |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, H M | 1995 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | 3rd edition | New Haven and London: Yale University Press | | | Institution of Civil Engineers | 2002 | Biographical Dictionary of Civil Engineers | | V.1 and 2 | | | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | | | Strang, Charles Alexander | 1994 | Borders and Berwick: An Illustrated Architectural Guide | | | | | Tait (ed.) | 1950 | The Journal of Sir Walter Scott | | | p732 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | RIBA Transactions | 1837 | Part I | | pp52-60 |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO) | Gifts and deposits | GD 241/250 | Smith family papers | | National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO) | Register House Plans | RHP 5525, 7190-3, 7196, 8220-1 | | | National Library of Scotland | Manuscript Collection | MS. 3899, f.199 | Letter to Scott, 1824 | | NMRS | John Smith of Darnick Extracts from Diary and Letter Book | | NMRS 10840 D3/L (NLS Acc 7792, MS.8499) |
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