Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Anderson Williamson | Designation: | | Born: | 1860 | Died: | 21 March 1935 | Bio Notes: | James Anderson Williamson was born in 1860 at Dalbeattie, Kirkcudbrightshire and educated at Wallacehall Academy. He was articled to Robert Rippon Duke in Buxton, c.1876. In 1879 he became assistant in the office of Kinnear & Peddie in Edinburgh probably through the influence of the Maxwells of Munches, and in the following year he joined the staff of the Edinburgh City Architect and Superintendent of Works, Robert Morham. He passed the qualifying exam in 1884 and was admitted ARIBA on 9 June, his proposers being John Burnet Senior, John Honeyman and Campbell Douglas, all of Glasgow, there being few Edinburgh fellows at that date. His address was then 2 West Preston Street.
In 1896 Williamson, by then living at Holmwood, St John's Road, Corstorphine won the North Bridge competition in an informal partnership with John Nichol Scott (born 1863). In the event this scheme was used only as a guideline for those who redeveloped North Bridge and, very wisely, Williamson did not attempt to set up in private practice. It made his name, however, and in 1898 he was appointed Depute City Architect. He succeeded Morham as City Architect on his retirement in 1908. His early work as Depute was a lively Free Renaissance, related to J M Dick Peddie's work, while his later work was a more staid Edwardian Palladian.
Williamson retired as City Architect in 1925 and died on 21 March 1935 after a period of poor health. In his RIBA obituary he was described as 'quiet and retiring, with an essential kindliness and thoughtfulness of disposition, and always held the warm affection of his staff'. In Corstorphine he was President of the Burns Club and of the Bowling Club, Vice-President of the Golf Club and RWM of Lodge St John, Corstorphine. He was survived by two daughters and a son in Milan. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 2, West Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business(?) | 1884 * | | | | 14, Roxhall Terrace, Dalkeith Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private(?) | 1884 * | | | | Holmwood, St John's Road, Corstorphine, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | Before 1896 | After 1930 | | | Public Works Office, City Chambers, High Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1900 | After 1910 | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Charles Henry Greig | 1898 | c. 1901 | Draughtsman | | | William Davidson | 1904 | 1906 | Draughtsman | | | George White | 1908 | After 1911 | Assistant | In Edinburgh City Architect's Office | | Ebenezer James MacRae | June 1908 | c. 1914 | Assistant | in Edinburgh City Architect's Department | | Andrew A MacCulloch | After 1908 | Before 1925 | Assistant | In Edinburgh City Architect's Department | | John Wright Ford | November 1920 | 1925 | Assistant | In Edinburgh City Architect's Department |
RIBARIBA ProposersThe following individuals proposed this for RIBA membership (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date proposed | Notes | | John Burnet (senior) | 9 June 1884 | for Associateship | | Campbell Douglas | 9 June 1884 | for Associateship | | John Honeyman | 9 June 1884 | for Associateship |
RIBA Proposals
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 | | 1890 | Gogar Parish Church | Gogar | | Midlothian | Scotland | Incorporated ruin of 16th century church - in private practice | | 1893 | Corstorphine School | Corstorphine | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In private practice | | 1894 | Juniper Green Church | Juniper Green | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Unsuccessful competition design - in private practice | | 1896 | Dumfries Academy | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Competition design - in private practice | | 1896 | North Bridge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In informal partnership with John Nicol Scott - competition design - first premium of £250 awarded (did not gain the commission) | | 1897 | Central Fire Station | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Working as Depute under Robert Morham | | 1897 | Clubhouse | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As Deputy City Architect | | 1898 | Portobello Public Baths | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Supervised by Robert Morham | | 1901 | Allan Street Public Washhouse | Stockbridge, Edinburgh | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Assistant to Morham | | 1905 | Morningside Public Library | Morningside | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Williamson mainly responsible (working as assistant in Morham's office at beginning and later as City Architect) | | After 1905 | Police station | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1905 | Police Station | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | After 1905(?) | Various public washhouses | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1907 | Simon Square Public Washhouse | St Leonards, Edinburgh | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Superintendent of Works (City Architect) | | 1908 | Greenside Lane Public Washhouse | Greenside, Edinburgh | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1909 | Gorgie Market, corn market, Corporation Slaughterhouse and police station | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1909 | Portobello Town Hall | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1909 | Restaurant. New Markets | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | | City Architect | | 1909 | Saughton Park, Bandstand | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1910 | Portobello Golf Club | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1911 | Gorgie Market, cattle shelter (or livestock sheds) | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1912 | Gorgie Market, restaurant | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1913 | Blackford Hill Park, entrance lodge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1913 | Central Fire Station | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Tenement shell for fire practice | | 1913 | City Infectious Diseases Hospital | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Timber-built ward for consumptives | | 1914 | Lochrin Public Washhouse | Tollcross, Edinburgh | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Superintendent of Works (City Architect) | | 1914 | McLeod Street Public Washhouse | Tynecastle, Edinburgh | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Superintendent of Works (City Architect) | | 1914 | Milne's (Mylne's) Court | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction | | 1917 | Braid Hills Golf Course, Park Cottages | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1917 | Gorgie District Public Washouses | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | | City Architect | | 1917 | Saugton Park Sports Pavilion | Saughton Park | | Edinburgh | Scotland | City Architect | | 1919 | Housing scheme for Corporation | Gorgie | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1919 | Tramway Office St James Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1920 | Causewayside Public Washhouse | Newington, Edinburgh | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Opened 1920 at cost of £20,000. Later antique warehouse.. Demolished.
| | 1924 | Abbeymount Public Washhouse | Abbeymount, Edinburgh | | | Scotland | Designed 1923. Opened 1926. Cost of £15,300. Later Honda Garage. Demolished for student housing. | | 1925 | Former Portobello Public Washhouse, Adelphi Grove | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | With assistant George White | | 1925 | Oxgangs Farm housing estate | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect | | Before 1925 | Houses | Blackford | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect | | Before 1925 | Houses, Braid Hills | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect | | Early 1920s | Portobello Power Station | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | First section built | | 1935 | Western General Hospital, nurses' home | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | As City Architect |
ReferencesPeriodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Builder | 29 March 1935 | | | Obituary | | Builders Journal | 28 June 1896 | | | Article on the Renaissance in Scotland | | Edinburgh Evening Dispatch | 22 March 1935 | | | Obituary | | RIBA Journal | 13 July 1935 | v42 | London: Royal Institute of British Architects | p1009 - obituary | | Scotsman | 1925 | | | check prcise date. Note on his retirement. | | Scotsman | 22 March 1935 | | | Obituary | | Scotsman | 26 March 1935 | | | Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | A v9 p63 (microfiche 35/B1) |
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