Basic Biographical Details

Name: Ross & Joass
Designation:  
Born: 1859
Died: 1865
Bio Notes: Alexander Ross was born at Huntly Hill, Stracathro, Angus, on 9 July 1834, the son of James Ross, architect, then aged about 53. In 1838 the family moved to Inverness, Archibald having engaged the older Ross to complete work he had in hand in that area. He was educated at Inverness Royal Academy and Bell's Institution, and on leaving, c.1848, he is said somewhat doubtfully to have been apprenticed to a building contractor to gain practical experience before being articled to his father. Neither of these apprenticeships could have been the usual length as he stated in his nomination form that he left his father's office to gain practical experience as 'a clerk of works in a contractor's firm', returning to his father as assistant before taking over his practice at the early age of 19 when he died in 1853. A younger brother, James, who predeceased him, became a solicitor in Inverness.

Ross successfully developed the Episcopal Church building aspect of his father's practice. In 1859 he formed a partnership with his schoolfriend William Joass. William Cumming Joass was born on 14 December 1833, the son of John Joass, North Mail Coach Guard, Inverness, and Elizabeth Cumming. He was the younger brother of Rev Dr James Maxwell Joass, minister of Golspie in Sutherland from 1866 to 1914, and noted antiquarian and geologist.

In 1859 Ross widened his social connections by enlisting in the Volunteers with the Inverness Garrison Artillery of which he was to became colonel; and still further by entering the exclusive St John's Masonic Lodge, Inverness, in 1863. In 1864 or 1865 he married Mary Ann Carnaby Finlayson, daughter of Sir Alexander Matheson's factor on Harris, an influential match which brought the factorship of Matheson's Inverness estate in 1868.

The partnership of Ross & Joass was dissolved in 1865, Joass thereafter practising independently on his own account in Dingwall.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Dingwall, Ross and Cromarty, ScotlandBusiness   

Employment and Training

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 3Alexander Ross18591865Partner 
Item 2 of 3John Robertson18591865Assistant 
Item 3 of 3William Cumming Joass18591865Partner 

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 861859Achnasoul (Fairburn Estate), farm steading and farmhouseFairburn Ross and CromartyScotlandFarm steading and farmhouse
Item 2 of 861859Easter Balloan (Fairburn Estate), farm steading and farmhouseFairburn Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 3 of 861859House near AultnashiachInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 4 of 861859Invergordon Free ChurchInvergordon Ross and CromartyScotlandWon competition and secured job
Item 5 of 861859Large wooden buildingFort Augustus Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 6 of 861859Lochcarron Free Church and ManseLochcarron Ross and CromartyScotlandGalleries and other alterations
Item 7 of 861859Portree Union PoorhousePortreeSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 8 of 861859Stratherrick RC Church and PresbyteryDalcraig Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 9 of 861859The 'Pavilion'Dingwall Ross and CromartyScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 861859Villa, Island BankInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 11 of 861860Boarding establishment, ViewmountInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 12 of 861860Findon School and schoolhouseFindon Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 13 of 861860Findon, BoathouseFindon Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 14 of 861860HeatherleyInverness Inverness-shireScotlandHouse and garden wall
Item 15 of 861860Houses, Factory PlaceInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 16 of 861860Invergordon, HouseInvergordon Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 17 of 861860Kilmuir Free Church and ManseKilmuirSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 18 of 861860Mountgerald  Ross and CromartyScotlandStables, coachhouse, laundry and dairy
Item 19 of 861860Oakes VillaInvergordon Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 20 of 861860Park CottageDingwall Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 21 of 861860Torgorm, farm steadingFerintosh Ross and CromartyScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 22 of 861860Uig Established ChurchUigSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 23 of 86c. 1860Coul House  Ross and CromartyScotlandAddition of wings, wing to north and bay window to south - also perhaps service wing
Item 24 of 861861Aucheddershin, farm steading   Scotland 
Item 25 of 861861Balmacara HouseBalmacara Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 26 of 861861Chambers for Messrs Stewart & RuleInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 27 of 861861Fairburn Estate, house, shop, head gamekeeper's lodge and workmen's cottages  Ross and CromartyScotlandHouse and shop
Item 28 of 861861Fodderty ManseFodderty Ross and CromartyScotlandAddition
Item 29 of 861861Glenfinnan, farm offices (barn and steading)  Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 30 of 861861Hillhead of Ardersier, farm officesArdersier Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 31 of 861861Jamestown Free ChurchJamestown Ross and CromartyScotlandJoass probably responsible
Item 32 of 861861National Bank of Scotland, Inverness BranchInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations and additions costing £637
Item 33 of 861861St Clement Parish Church and ChurchyardDingwall Ross and CromartyScotlandRepairs
Item 34 of 861861St Clement's ManseDingwall Ross and CromartyScotlandRepairs
Item 35 of 861861Torgorm, farm steadingFerintosh Ross and CromartyScotlandAlterations and repairs
Item 36 of 861861Wester Swordale, farmhouseSwordale Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 37 of 861862Alness Church  Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 38 of 861862Ardelve Free Church ManseLochalsh Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 39 of 861862Cottage, FountainvilleInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 40 of 861862Free Church ManseMoy Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 41 of 861862Gilchrist, churchyard wallGilchrist Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 42 of 861862Holy Trinity Episcopal Church and parsonageElgin MorayshireScotlandChurch enlarged
Item 43 of 861862House and shops, Academy StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 44 of 861862Leys Cottage  Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 45 of 861862Meikle Ussie (Brahan Estate), farm steading  Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 46 of 861862Office, 27 High StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 47 of 861862Residence, Ness BankInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 48 of 861862Urray Church and ManseUrray, Muir of Ord Ross and CromartyScotlandRepairs
Item 49 of 861862Warerooms, High StreetDingwall Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 50 of 86186310-24 Union StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 51 of 861863Brahan Castle, lodge at new approach  Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 52 of 861863Dingwall Railway StationDingwall Ross and CromartyScotlandStore and granary
Item 53 of 861863Fascrinach, farmhouse   Scotland 
Item 54 of 861863Public Hall, Union StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 55 of 861863Reid SchoolDingwall Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 56 of 861863Residence and Coachhouse, AultnashiachInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 57 of 861863Royal AcademyInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations and repairs
Item 58 of 861863Shop for D G Ross, ironmonger and seedsmanDingwall Ross & CromartyScotland 
Item 59 of 861863St John's Episcopal ParsonageArpafeilie (Arpafeelie) Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 60 of 861863St Matthew's Episcopal ChurchOld Meldrum / Oldmeldrum AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 61 of 861863The London HouseInverness Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations
Item 62 of 861863Union Street UP ChurchInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 63 of 86186442-48 Union StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 64 of 861864Achnagairn (Clunes Estate)  Inverness-shireScotlandAlterations and additions to house, also stable and coachhouse
Item 65 of 861864Bakerhill, farm steadingMaryburgh? Ross and Cromarty?Scotland 
Item 66 of 861864Balvonic [sic] of Inshes, Farm steadingInverness (near or in) Inverness-shireScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 67 of 861864Balvonie [of Inshes?], milldam, lade, waterwheelInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 68 of 861864Block of Buildings on property of Kenneth MacleodPortreeSkyeInverness-shireScotland 
Item 69 of 861864Block of buildings, Ardross StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 70 of 861864Glenshiel Free ChurchGlenshiel|Shiel Bridge Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 71 of 861864House, DrummondInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 72 of 861864House, RoseheathInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 73 of 861864Mackenzie Foundation Episcopal SchoolAvoch Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 74 of 861864Mansion House for Major R Jackson, Swordale and estate buildingsSwordale Ross and CromartyScotlandDairy buildings
Item 75 of 861864Nairnside, School and schoolhouseNairnside NairnshireScotland 
Item 76 of 861864National Bank of Scotland, Nairn BranchNairn NairnshireScotlandAdditions
Item 77 of 861864Navidale, HouseNavidale SutherlandScotland 
Item 78 of 861864St Clement's SchoolDingwall Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 79 of 861864Teanaloine, Farmsteading   Scotland 
Item 80 of 861864Three houses, 5-7 Ness BankInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 81 of 861864UP Church, Queen StreetInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 82 of 861865Caledonian BankBonar Bridge SutherlandScotland 
Item 83 of 861865Glengarry Established ChurchInvergarry Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 84 of 861865House, lands of AultnashiachInverness Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 85 of 861865Nonach, Farmhouse and squareLochalsh Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 86 of 861865Royal AcademyInverness Inverness-shireScotlandNew classrooms

References

Currently, there are no references for this . The information has been derived from: the British Architectural Library / RIBA Directory of British Architects 1834-1914; Post Office Directories; and/or any sources listed under this individual's works.