Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Robertson
Designation:  
Born: 25 October 1840
Died: 27 December 1925
Bio Notes: John Robertson was born at Castlehill of Inshes, Inverness on 25 October 1840, the son of Andrew Robertson, house carpenter and Margaret Campbell. He was articled to Alexander Ross c.1855 and remained as an assistant, his first known work in independent practice being in 1880.

Robertson retired c.1910. He is said to have been a very good draughtsman, in person 'not without quaintness' retaining his 'native creativity and frank independence to the last'. His Gothic work was unmistakable with a marked predilection for hammer-dressed masonry contrasted with polished ashlar, unusual convex mouldings and occasionally rounded angles. If stone could not be afforded the same affects were achieved in cement render.

Robertson died at Hawthorndene, Inverness on 27 December 1925 and was buried at Tomnaharich on the 30th. He was unmarried.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 24, Hill Place, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandPrivate/business(?)   
Item 2 of 239, Union Street, Inverness, Inverness-shire, ScotlandBusiness1911 *  

* 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 4Alexander Rossc. 18551859Apprentice 
Item 2 of 4Ross & Joass18591865Assistant 
Item 3 of 4Alexander Ross1865c. 1875Assistant 
Item 4 of 4Ross & Mackintoshc. 1875Before 1880Assistant 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6Andrew Grant18931898Apprentice 
Item 2 of 6John MacKenzie18951900Apprentice 
Item 3 of 6Charles Black Gordon18961897Assistant 
Item 4 of 6John MacKenzie19001902Assistant 
Item 5 of 6John Duncan GrantJanuary 1904December 1908Apprentice 
Item 6 of 6John Duncan GrantDecember 1908October 1910Assistant 

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 1071875George A Clark Town HallPaisley RenfrewshireScotlandCompetition design - placed second
Item 2 of 1071877Letham GrangeArbroath AngusScotlandInitial designs for remodelling but job taken over by Rhind when Robertson fell ill.
Item 3 of 1071880Buildings, BarnhillInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 4 of 1071880House for Mr SmithFortrose Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions
Item 5 of 1071880Layout and Villas, Old Edinburgh RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 6 of 1071880Three houses, Ardconnel TerraceInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 7 of 107c. 1880Glasgow Municipal Buildings  GlasgowScotlandCompetition design entered under the pseudonym Concordia et Fidelitas
Item 8 of 1071881Building, Murray PlaceInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions
Item 9 of 1071881CottageRosemarkie Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 10 of 1071881Drill HallFortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 11 of 1071881House and stable officesRosemarkie Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 12 of 1071881House near Fairfield RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 13 of 1071881House, DrummondInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions
Item 14 of 1071881Station HotelMuir of Ord Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 15 of 1071881Villa, Fairfield RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 16 of 1071882Free Church ManseFortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 17 of 1071882House, Percival RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 18 of 1071882Houses, Inglis StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations
Item 19 of 1071882Two houses, Crown LandsInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 20 of 1071883Two semi-detached houses, BarnhillInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 21 of 1071883Two semi-detached houses, Fairfield RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 22 of 1071885'Premiated design for church in competition with the London architects'     
Item 23 of 1071885St Martin of Tours Episcopal ChurchGorgie EdinburghScotlandTemporary iron church
Item 24 of 1071885Two semi-detached houses, Fairfield RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 25 of 1071887House, Fairfield RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 26 of 1071887House, Southside RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 27 of 1071888BuildingsStrathpeffer Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 28 of 1071888HouseStrathpeffer Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 29 of 1071888House for George Douglas (?)Inverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 30 of 1071888House, Fairfield RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 31 of 1071889BuildingFort Augustus Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 32 of 1071889Buildings, Crown LandsInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 33 of 1071889House, Kenneth StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions
Item 34 of 1071890Fortrose AcademyFortrose Ross and CromartyScotlandOriginal building
Item 35 of 1071890House, Crown LandsInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 36 of 1071890St Anne's Memorial Episcopal ChurchStrathpeffer Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 37 of 1071890St John's Episcopal ChurchArpafeelie Ross and CromartyScotlandAltar and reredos
Item 38 of 1071891Grange Leys  Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 39 of 1071891HouseFortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 40 of 1071891Independent (Congregational) ChurchAvoch Ross and CromartyScotlandRestoration
Item 41 of 1071891Public HallFort Augustus Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 42 of 1071892Kirkhill Church and ManseKirkhill Inverness-shireScotlandRestoration
Item 43 of 1071892Public HallCarrbridge Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 44 of 1071893Block of buildings, Kenneth Street and Celt StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 45 of 1071893Culloden Moor Railway ViaductClava Inverness-shireScotlandRole unclear
Item 46 of 1071893English Free ChurchStornowayLewisRoss and CromartyScotlandHalls at rear
Item 47 of 1071893Free English Church HallStornowayLewisRoss and CromartyScotland 
Item 48 of 1071893House, Harrowden RoadInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 49 of 1071893Parish ChurchFortrose Ross and CromartyScotlandRestoration
Item 50 of 1071894Croy Parish Church and churchyardCroy Inverness-shireScotlandRenovation
Item 51 of 1071894HousesFort William Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 52 of 1071894Kiltarlity Parish ChurchKiltarlity Inverness-shireScotlandRenovation
Item 53 of 1071894Residence (for D W Baillie?)Nairn NairnshireScotland 
Item 54 of 1071894Rosemarkie, Church and manseRosemarkie Ross and CromartyScotlandRenovation
Item 55 of 1071894Waterloo BridgeInverness Inverness-shireScotlandWith John A Mackenzie
Item 56 of 1071895Duncansburgh Parish ChurchFort William Inverness-shireScotlandCarpenter work
Item 57 of 1071895Fortrose Free ChurchFortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 58 of 1071895Houses and cottagesInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 59 of 1071895St John's Episcopal ParsonageArpafeilie (Arpafeelie) Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions
Item 60 of 1071895Tobermory Parish ChurchTobermoryMullArgyllScotland 
Item 61 of 1071896Avoch Parish Church HallAvoch Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 62 of 1071896Bunchrew Mission HallBunchrew Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 63 of 1071896Fortrose AcademyFortrose Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions
Item 64 of 10726 January 1896Chevalier HotelFort William Inverness-shireScotlandReconstruction
Item 65 of 1071897Croy Free ChurchCroy Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 66 of 1071897House at Fort WilliamFort William Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 67 of 1071897ManseFortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 68 of 1071897Shop, High StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 69 of 1071897West End HotelFort William Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions
Item 70 of 1071898Auldearn Parish ChurchAuldearn NairnshireScotlandRestoration
Item 71 of 1071898Cannich Parish Mission ChurchCannich Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 72 of 1071898Cromarty Parish Church and hallCromarty Ross and CromartyScotlandRenovation and church hall
Item 73 of 1071898Fortrose Academy, Rector's HouseFortrose Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 74 of 1071898Isleornsay Mission ChurchIsleornsaySkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 75 of 1071898Kyle Parish Mission ChurchKyle Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 76 of 1071898St Anne's Memorial Episcopal ChurchStrathpeffer Ross and CromartyScotlandChancel
Item 77 of 1071898St Columba's Episcopal ChurchNairn NairnshireScotlandAdditions
Item 78 of 1071898St Martin of Tours Episcopal ChurchGorgie EdinburghScotlandMain church
Item 79 of 1071899St Columba's Mission ChurchSleatSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 80 of 1071899Tomintoul Parish ChurchTomintoul BanffshireScotlandRenovation
Item 81 of 1071900Baptist ChurchGrantown-on-Spey MorayshireScotlandExtension and renovation
Item 82 of 1071900Holy Trinity Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotlandExtension of chancel
Item 83 of 1071900St Andrew's Episcopal Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 84 of 1071901Assynt Parish ChurchInchnadamph SutherlandScotlandBuildings of Scotland attribution - now though to be incorrect and Joass responsible for removation (confusion with new church at Lochinver)
Item 85 of 1071901Cromarty Parish Church and hallCromarty Ross and CromartyScotlandPulpit
Item 86 of 1071901RC Church of St Mary and presbyteryNairn NairnshireScotlandAdditions and alterations including chancel
Item 87 of 1071901St Martin of Tours Episcopal ChurchGorgie EdinburghScotlandReredos
Item 88 of 1071901St Ninian's Church of England ChurchNairn NairnshireScotlandDemolished church and re-erected it at Lochinver
Item 89 of 1071902Public Library and Estate OfficeStornowayLewisRoss and CromartyScotland 
Item 90 of 1071903Glass Parish ChurchGlass AberdeenshireScotlandExtension and renovation
Item 91 of 1071903Invergordon Public SchoolInvergordon Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions to schoolhouse
Item 92 of 1071903Invergordon Public SchoolInvergordon Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions to school
Item 93 of 1071903Kilmuir Easter Church and ManseKilmuir Easter Ross and CromartyScotlandRenovation of parish church
Item 94 of 1071903Old Town HallStornowayLewisRoss and CromartyScotlandOriginal building
Item 95 of 1071903St Laurence Parish ChurchForres MorayshireScotland 
Item 96 of 1071904Advie Parish ChurchAdvie MorayshireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 97 of 1071904Fortrose AcademyFortrose Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions
Item 98 of 1071904Foyers Parish Mission ChurchUpper Foyers Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 99 of 1071904Knockando Parish ChurchKnockando MorayshireScotlandExtension and renovation
Item 100 of 1071904Petty Parish ChurchPetty Inverness-shireScotlandRenovation
Item 101 of 1071906Newburgh SchoolNewburgh AberdeenshireScotlandInterior reconstruction
Item 102 of 1071906Parish Church and hallsInvergowrie Perthshire/AngusScotland 
Item 103 of 1071906Parish Mission ChurchBrora SutherlandScotland 
Item 104 of 1071907Carbisdale CastleCulrain, Kincardine Ross and CromartyScotland'Probably' (HS)
Item 105 of 1071907Culrain Castle  Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 106 of 1071911Kilmorack Church and Churchyard dykesKilmorack Inverness-shireScotlandRenovation
Item 107 of 1071913New Machar Parish ChurchNew Machar AberdeenshireScotlandRemodelling

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2British Architectural Library, RIBA2001Directory of British Architects 1834-1914   
Item 2 of 2Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder8 January 1926v30 p70 - obituary
Item 2 of 2Inverness Courier29 December 1925  Obituary