Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Ormiston
Designation:  
Born: c. 1835
Died: 19 January 1920
Bio Notes: William Ormiston was born about 1835. William Ormiston was in the office of David Cousin at Royal Exchange as either a partner or a senior assistant by 1864 when John Hinton Gall was articled to him. Also in that office was David Cousin's brother George, although neither appear along with David Cousin in the directories. Ormiston was in independent practice in about 1868-70 with a practice address at 10 Nicolson Square, perhaps running this consurrently with his work for the city. When David Cousin was spending much of his time abroad trying to recover his health George Cousin and William Ormiston appear to have been responsible for his private practice, although Ormiston also entered into short-term arrangements with John Lessels during that period, submitting a joint design for the Medical School. Either when David Cousin died in the USA in August 1878, or perhaps earlier, George Cousin and Ormiston went into partnership, although they did not retain the business of the British Linen Bank, David Cousin's main client.

George Cousin died on 17 September 1890. Ormiston retained the name of the firm and became Lord Dean of Guild in 1898 holding the position for four years. Despite this the Cousin & Ormiston practice's known works were few and unimportant until 1900 when the commission for the Hotel Paris was received. For this project a very able free-style assistant was recruited but his identity has not been traced through the nomination papers. In 1904 the commission for James Gray & Sons' equally stylish building was received, but in the following year Ormiston merged the practice with that of Lessels & Taylor, bringing to a final conclusion the long-standing links between the Cousin and Lessels practices. The practice of Cousin, Ormiston & Taylor continued to be based in William Ormiston's office at 140 Princes Street. 'Buildings of Scotland, Edinburgh' has assumed a connection between the two practices prior to 1905, but there is no obvious stylistic link between them and Taylor's consistent use of neo-Jacobean at those dates. The Taynuilt house was markedly influenced by Lorimer's simpler houses.

William Ormiston was a leading member of the Methodist Church and was a member of the Nicolson Square congregation being Superintendent of the Sunday School for nearly fifty years. He was a JP and iIn and possibly before 1915 he was Chairman of the Loanhead Gas Company. He was married with three daughters. He died aged eighty-five on 19 January 1920.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 6Sunnyside, Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1861c. 1863 
Item 2 of 612, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1864 * As senior assistant or partner to David Cousin
Item 3 of 610, Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)c. 1867  
Item 4 of 65, Bruntsfield Terrace, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivatec. 1871  
Item 5 of 6140, Princes Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1892After 1905 
Item 6 of 6Relugas Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1920 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3David CousinBefore 1864Before 1878 As senior assistant or partner - role unclear
Item 2 of 3Cousin & OrmistonBefore 1878c. 1905Partner 
Item 3 of 3Cousin, Ormiston & Taylorc. 1905c. 1919Partner 

Buildings and Designs

This was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):
 Date startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 151878Methodist ChurchBanff BanffshireScotland 
Item 2 of 151880Grange Publishing Works  EdinburghScotland 
Item 3 of 151887Wesleyan Methodist ChurchEskbank MidlothianScotland 
Item 4 of 151888Methodist Church, St Clair StreetKirkcaldy FifeScotlandWith Alexander Fraser Junior as builder
Item 5 of 15After 1890Business premises, George Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 151894North Bridge  EdinburghScotlandProvided estimated costs of widening the bridge
Item 7 of 151895Tenements with shops, Cadzow Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 8 of 151900Hotel Paris, South St Andrew Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 9 of 151904James Gray & Son, George Street  EdinburghScotlandDesign exhibited
Item 10 of 15c. 1906Cowden CastleMuckart PerthshireScotlandAlterations and additions (including picture gallery)
Item 11 of 151910Geographical Institute  EdinburghScotlandIncorporating portico of Falcon Hall
Item 12 of 151912College of Domestic Science  EdinburghScotlandConversion of terrace to College.
Item 13 of 151913Squash Court, Dean Village  EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 151914House near Taynuilt  ArgyllScotland 
Item 15 of 151914Nicolson Square Methodist Church , Epworth Halls  EdinburghScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Scotsman31 July 1915   
Item 2 of 4Scotsman6 December 1915   
Item 3 of 4Scotsman6 November 1916   
Item 4 of 4Scotsman20 January 1920  p4 Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 2Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Town Council Minutes  
Item 2 of 2RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers John Hinton Gall: L v17 no1275 (mentions 'G Cousin' as Ormiston's partner)