Basic Biographical Details Name: | Hugh Cairncross | Designation: | | Born: | | Died: | 21 July 1808 or 21 July 1809 | Bio Notes: | Hugh Cairncross was probably born in Selkirkshire and practised as a mason there in the mid-18th century where he built various bridges.
He moved to Edinburgh at some point prior to 1799 and was a pupil or assistant of Robert Adam. In that year Robert Burn requested Cairncross to inspect the gable of a tenement in York Place. (The house belonged to the painter Henry Raeburn). Burn was accused of causing damage to Raeburn's adjacent property. So by 1799 he must have had some kind of reputation with a reliable opinion on matters such as this.
He worked as Adam’s clerk of works at Culzean and Dalquharran Castles. At the time of his death he is described as ‘architect’. In 1791 he superseded John Paterson as clerk of works for Adam’s new University Building in Edinburgh and continued as such until work stopped in 1795.
Hugh Cairncross died at Melrose on 21 July 1808 (Colvin) or 21 July 1809 (Caledonian Mercury, 1809). His son George also practised as a mason and architect in Edinburgh.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | | | |
Buildings and Designs
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 | | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Fraser, A G | 1989 | The Building of Old College | | Edinburgh | pp119-120 | | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p143 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Caledonian Mercury | 29 July 1809 | | | | | Scots Magazine | 1808 | lxxi | | p640 |
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