Basic Biographical Details

Name: Francis Davidson Robertson (or Francis Duff Robertson)
Designation:  
Born: 29 June 1839
Died: 31 August 1922
Bio Notes: Francis Davidson (or Duff - sources vary) Robertson was born in Keith, Banffshire on 29 June 1839, the son of Francis Robertson and his wife Elspet Watt, and was christened on 15 July. He was apprenticed to a carpenter but ill-health forced him to withdraw from this profession, and instead he became an architect. His practice appears to have been wholly confined to the Keith-Huntly area, and was based in West End Cottage, Fife-Keith from the early 1870s until at least 1895. He designed numerous houses in addition to his known commissions.

Davidson was precentor and conductor at the UP Church in Keith and he married Isabella Bremner, who predeceased him. There is some uncertainty about his offspring: he is known to have had one son, William Coull Robertson, who registered his death and is mentioned in his obituary, but in 1904 a Francis Robertson, architect, Fife-Keith is recorded as paying for the maintenance of Jane Ross Burgess, illegitimate daughter of Jane Robertson Burgess, who would have been born when he was about sixty years old. It is possible that he had a son of the same name who was the father of this child, practised as an architect and predeceased him.

Robertson died of cancer on 31 August 1922 at Regent Street, Keith.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Oldmore, Keith, Banffshire, ScotlandPrivate1851 *  
Item 2 of 3West End Cottage/Westend Cottage, Keith, Banffshire, ScotlandPrivateBefore 1871After 1911 
Item 3 of 392, Mid Street, Keith, Banffshire, ScotlandBusiness1897 Builder 1 May 1897 p409

* earliest date known from documented sources.


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 28 Earlsmount, stables and coach houseKeith BanffshireScotlandDate not known
Item 2 of 28 Newmill Memorial Clock TowerKeith BanffshireScotlandDate not known
Item 3 of 281875Botriphnie Public SchoolBotriphnie BanffshireScotlandAdditions ('Buildings of Scotland' suggests this was a new build and not additions)
Item 4 of 281875Brae FarmhouseKeith BanffshireScotland 
Item 5 of 281875Claypole SteadingKeith BanffshireScotland 
Item 6 of 281875Crossroads SchoolGrange BanffshireScotland 
Item 7 of 281875Fife-Keith Infant SchoolFife-Keith BanffshireScotland 
Item 8 of 281875Keith SchoolKeith BanffshireScotlandAdditions
Item 9 of 281875Newseat Croft SchoolGrange BanffshireScotland 
Item 10 of 281878Grange Free ChurchGrange BanffshireScotland 
Item 11 of 281878Grange SchoolGrange BanffshireScotlandAdditions
Item 12 of 281878Newmill ManseKeith BanffshireScotland 
Item 13 of 281879Keith Cottage HospitalKeith BanffshireScotland 
Item 14 of 281881Keith ManseKeith BanffshireScotlandAsked by Heritors to report on the state of the manse
Item 15 of 281882Grange ManseGrange BanffshireScotlandSouth extension
Item 16 of 281884Keith Parish ChurchKeith BanffshireScotlandRepairs and alterations to east gable
Item 17 of 281885Keith InstituteKeith BanffshireScotlandRestoration
Item 18 of 281893Keith Cottage HospitalKeith BanffshireScotlandKynoch fever wards added
Item 19 of 281893Police StationMacduff BanffshireScotland 
Item 20 of 281895Villa at KeithKeith BanffshireScotland 
Item 21 of 281896Police StationBallindalloch MorayshireScotland 
Item 22 of 281897Police StationDelnashaugh BanffshireScotland 
Item 23 of 281897Police StationCraigellachie BanffshireScotland 
Item 24 of 281897Police StationBanff BanffshireScotland 
Item 25 of 281897Police station and Police houseDufftown BanffshireScotlandMay be by Robertson rather than the McMillans - uncertain
Item 26 of 281898Boharm Free Church and ManseBoharm BanffshireScotlandAlterations
Item 27 of 281911(?)The Post OfficeKeith BanffshireScotlandDate not known; from research by Anne Burgess
Item 28 of 281922Newmill, war memorial clock towerNewmill BanffshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Measurers\' Companion1911The Scottish Architects' and Measurers' Companion   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Research by Anne Burgess