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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 11, Broughton Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | | 1865 | Robert's address at his death | | 10, James Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1817 * | | | | Portobello, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1829 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Richard Dickson | 1817 | | Partner | | | Robert Dickson | 1817 | c. 1865 | Partner | |
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 | | 1817 | Abercairney | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Completed original house (begun by Richard Crichton) | | 1817 | Cockpen Parish Church | Cockpen | | Midlothian | Scotland | Executed the commission. | | 1817 | Row of shops, North Bridge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1818 | Coach house and stable behind Abercromby Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Drew up designs | | 1819 | Kilconquhar Parish Church | Kilconquhar | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1820 | Cortachy Castle | Kirriemuir | | Angus | Scotland | Remodelled house with crenellated porch and relocated stair. New stairhall. | | 1820 | Coul House | | | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | | | 1822 | Whitehaugh | Newcastleton | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1823 | Shop front, 8 St Andrew Square | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1824 | Balbirnie House, West Lodge | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1826 | Millearne | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Attribution | | 1826 | Tenements, Gardner's Crsecent and Morrison Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1827 | Church, Gardner's Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1827 | Inchrye Lodge | Denmylne Castle | | Fife | | | | 1827 | Leith Town Hall and Sheriff Court, Queen Charlotte Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Corner block | | 1828 | Tron Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Rebuilt steeple after fire in 1824. | | 1830 | Buildings, 1-8 Baxter's Place and Greenside Lane | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition of shop-fronts to 1-3 Baxter's Place and new buildings in Greenside Lane. | | 1830 | Muirhouse | Cramond | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1831 | Bathgate Academy | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | Original building - won competition to secure job | | 1833 | Veterinary College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1836 | Blair Drummond, East Lodge | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Additions | | 1836 | St James the Less Episcopal Church | Muthill | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1838 | Collessie Parish Church | Collessie | | Fife | Scotland | With Smith & Ireland (contractors) | | 1839 | Arbuthnott House, Estate Buildings | | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Estate buildings | | 1839 | Dr Bell's School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Front | | 1839 | Dunimarle Castle | | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1840 | Blair Cottages | Blair Atholl | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1846 | Collessie School and Schoolmaster's House | Collessie | | Fife | Scotland | | | 1846 | Kinellan | Murrayfield | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1853 | Duchess of Atholl's Industrial School | Dunkeld | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1855 | Kincardine School | Kincardine-in-Menteith | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1856 | Atholl Arms Hotel | Blair Atholl | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1856 | Garryside village | Garryside, Blair Atholl | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1863 | School for 6th Duke of Atholl | Logierait | | Perthshire | Scotland | |
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 | | | Pride, Glen L | 1999 | The Kingdom of Fife | 2nd Edition | The Rutland Press | p194 | | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories SC70/1/128 | | Scottish Record Society | 1933 | Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Caledonian Mercury | 9 January 1840 | | | | | Caledonian Mercury | 21 November 1844 | | | |
|