Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Burn | Designation: | | Born: | 1748 | Died: | 27 January 1816 | Bio Notes: | James Burn was born at Yester, East Lothian in 1748, the elder brother of George Burn, architect. He was a wright by trade and was known as ‘Old Timmer’. His business as both architect and builder was conducted in Haddington where he became a burgess in July 1777. He bought Kinloch House in Market Street in 1784 where he established his yard. He built a number of houses in Haddington and the rest of East Lothian which were described in 1883 as ‘excellent family houses…among which may be mentioned Mr Roughead’s and the late Mr Banks’ house in High Street; Mr Todrick’s in Hardgate; as also the Hopes' House and Newbyth House’.
In the first decade of the 19th century Burn obtained various commissions in Aberdeen, including the Aberdeen Bank in Castle Street. The Bank was one of the first buildings of dressed granite in the city with Doric pilasters. The Bridewell was designed in a simple castellated style.
Burn was joint contractor with his brother for the Spey Bridge at Fochabers and other bridges including two at Dunglass, East Lothian, and Inverbervie, Kincardineshire with single arches of wide span over steep-sided valleys and three with timber arches which Telford rated highly: Image Bridge in the grounds of Brechin Castle, The Bridge of Din at Dyce, and Grandholm Bridge, Aberdeenshire.
Burn died on 27 January 1816. His business was reputedly carried on by a relative, ‘ Mr Hay Walker’.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Kinloch House, Haddington, East Lothian, Scotland | Business | 1794 | | |
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 | | 1770s(?) | House for Mr Banks | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1770s(?) | House for Mr Todrick | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1770s(?) | Mr Roughead's House | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1797 | Bridge at Inverbervie | Inverbervie | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | With his brother | | 1797 | Caponflat | Haddington (near) | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1797 | Dunglass Bridge | | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1801 | Spey Bridge | Fochabers | | Morayshire | Scotland | Joint contractor with his brother | | 1801 | Union Bank | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1803 | Bridge of Don | Dyce | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | | | 1804 | The Fleshmarket | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1805 | Union Street and King Street and Union Bridge | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Plan for symmetrical terraces ,stretching from North Street to Castle Street. Responsible for balustraded parapet ('gave the bridge its distinctive appearance') of bridge. Scheme known from outline drawing by the engineer Thomas Fletcher. | | 1807 | Brechin Castle and gate lodge | Brechin | | Angus | Scotland | Image Bridge over the South Esk River | | 1809 | Bridewell | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | | | 1810 | St Mary's Church | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | Plans drawn up for alterating and refitting interior of the church. Carried out to a modified design. | | 1817 | Newbyth House | East Linton | | East Lothian | Scotland | Rebuilding of house to designs by Archibald Elliot. | | c. 1825 | House at Hopes | Gifford, near | | East Lothian | 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 | | | Martine, John | 1883 | Reminiscenses of the Royal Burgh of Haddington | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | NAS | SC Archives (Sc) | SC 70/1/15 | |
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