Basic Biographical Details

Name: R & R Dickson
Designation:  
Born: 1817
Died: Before 1865
Bio Notes: Richard and Robert Dickson were the sons of John Dickson (1766-1828), an Edinburgh builder, and his wife Mary Crichton, sister of the architect Richard Crichton, to whom they were probably articled and whose practice they took over on his death in 1817.

In 1829 the practice was sequestrated. At that time they operated from addresses in Edinburgh and in Portobello.

There is evidence that the Dickson supplied designs for their builder father. Like their uncle they were able designers and designed buildings in a variety of styles. Their Gothic work was not archaeologically accurate as Pugin advocated but had plenty of inventive detail. They were equally adept at the Grecian style and at the Town Hall in Leith successfully fused together Grecian and Renaissance styles reminiscent of C R Cockerell. In 1840 they acted as agents in the sale of a number of New Town properties. In 1844 one of the Dickson brothes acted as a witness in a case regarding compensation to a landowner on whose property the extension of the Edinburgh Leith and Granton Railway was to be built.

Richard died in 1857. Robert died sometime just before 1866. There is a mounment to Richard Dickson and his parents in Old Calton Burial Ground.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 311, Broughton Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness 1865Robert's address at his death
Item 2 of 310, James Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1817 *  
Item 3 of 3Portobello, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1829  

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 2Richard Dickson1817 Partner 
Item 2 of 2Robert Dickson1817c. 1865Partner 

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 341817Abercairney  PerthshireScotlandCompleted original house (begun by Richard Crichton)
Item 2 of 341817Cockpen Parish ChurchCockpen MidlothianScotlandExecuted the commission.
Item 3 of 341817Row of shops, North Bridge  EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 341818Coach house and stable behind Abercromby Place  EdinburghScotlandDrew up designs
Item 5 of 341819Kilconquhar Parish ChurchKilconquhar FifeScotland 
Item 6 of 341820Cortachy CastleKirriemuir AngusScotlandRemodelled house with crenellated porch and relocated stair. New stairhall.
Item 7 of 341820Coul House  Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 8 of 341822WhitehaughNewcastleton RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 9 of 341823Shop front, 8 St Andrew Square  EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 341824Balbirnie House, West LodgeMarkinch FifeScotland 
Item 11 of 341826Millearne  PerthshireScotlandAttribution
Item 12 of 341826Tenements, Gardner's Crsecent and Morrison Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 13 of 341827Church, Gardner's Crescent  EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 341827Inchrye LodgeDenmylne Castle Fife  
Item 15 of 341827Leith Town Hall and Sheriff Court, Queen Charlotte StreetLeith EdinburghScotlandCorner block
Item 16 of 341828Tron Church  EdinburghScotlandRebuilt steeple after fire in 1824.
Item 17 of 341830Buildings, 1-8 Baxter's Place and Greenside Lane  EdinburghScotlandAddition of shop-fronts to 1-3 Baxter's Place and new buildings in Greenside Lane.
Item 18 of 341830MuirhouseCramond EdinburghScotland 
Item 19 of 341831Bathgate AcademyBathgate West LothianScotlandOriginal building - won competition to secure job
Item 20 of 341833Veterinary College   EdinburghScotland 
Item 21 of 341836Blair Drummond, East Lodge  PerthshireScotlandAdditions
Item 22 of 341836St James the Less Episcopal ChurchMuthill PerthshireScotland 
Item 23 of 341838Collessie Parish ChurchCollessie FifeScotlandWith Smith & Ireland (contractors)
Item 24 of 341839Arbuthnott House, Estate Buildings  KincardineshireScotlandEstate buildings
Item 25 of 341839Dr Bell's SchoolLeith EdinburghScotlandFront
Item 26 of 341839Dunimarle Castle  FifeScotland 
Item 27 of 341840Blair CottagesBlair Atholl PerthshireScotland 
Item 28 of 341846Collessie School and Schoolmaster's HouseCollessie FifeScotland 
Item 29 of 341846KinellanMurrayfield EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 341853Duchess of Atholl's Industrial SchoolDunkeld PerthshireScotland 
Item 31 of 341855Kincardine SchoolKincardine-in-Menteith PerthshireScotland 
Item 32 of 341856Atholl Arms HotelBlair Atholl PerthshireScotland 
Item 33 of 341856Garryside villageGarryside, Blair Atholl PerthshireScotland 
Item 34 of 341863School for 6th Duke of AthollLogierait PerthshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 2 of 4Pride, Glen L1999The Kingdom of Fife2nd EditionThe Rutland Pressp194
Item 3 of 4Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories SC70/1/128
Item 4 of 4Scottish Record Society1933Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Caledonian Mercury9 January 1840   
Item 2 of 2Caledonian Mercury21 November 1844