Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Mylne junior | Designation: | | Born: | 1611 | Died: | 24 December 1667 | Bio Notes: | John Mylne was probably born in Perth in 1611, the son of John Mylne who died in 1657. He was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh by right of patrimony on 9 October 1633 and became a ‘fellow of craft’ in the Masonic Lodge in Edinburgh on the same day. He succeeded his father as Master Mason to the Crown in February 1636 and in 1646 was appointed Captain of Pioneers and Master Gunner of Scotland.
In 1643 Mylne succeeded William Aytoun as master mason to Heriot's Hospital. This had been begun in 1628 was was still incomplete owing to financial troubles and political changes at the time.
Mylne became a well-known figure in Edinburgh for the next thirty years. He was Deacon of the Edinburgh masons several times and for a number of years served on the Town Council. In 1652 he was sent to London as one of the Scottish Commissioners to negotiate the Treaty of Union with the English Parliament. From 1655 to 1659 he represented Edinburgh at the convention of royal burghs. He was elected MP for Edinburgh in the Scottish Parliament in 1662. He attended the second and third sessions of Charles II’s first parliament in Edinburgh.
After the Restoration Mylne was confirmed in his office of master Mason to the Crown. Thereafter he work at Holyroodhouse.
Panmure House (1666) bore some resemblance to Heriot's Hospital with its quadrangular plan and picturesque silhouette. However like Drumlanrig Castle it looked back to the early 17th century rather than encapsulating the new architectural ideas already current in England and soon to be introduced by Sir William Bruce into Scotland. Mylne may be seen as the leading master of the last phase of Scottish Mannerism.
Mylne was married three times but his only son died in infancy. He died on 24 December 1667. The dynasty of Mylnes was carried on by his brother Alexander’s children. His nephew Robert Mylne (1633-1710) succeeded him as Master Mason to the Scottish Crown. John Mylne was buried in Greyfriars Cemetery and Robert designed a monument to his memory. There is also an inscription over the door of St Mary’s Chapel which was the meeting place of the masons which was erected by the Incorporated Trades of Scotland. It notes that he was the fourth John Mylne and the sixth master mason to seven successive kings.
There is a portrait of Mylne in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.
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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 | | 1633 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, sundial | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Assisted his father in the construction of this. | | After 1633 | Church, Castlelhill | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1634 | Cowane's Hospital | Stirling | | Stirling | Scotland | Provided design | | 1637 | Tron Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1642 | Jedburgh Abbey | Jedburgh | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Reported on the dangerous state of the Abbey at Jedburgh | | 1648 | George Heriot's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Was instructed to take down the upper part of the south west tower abd rebuild it uniform with the others. | | 1648 | St Giles Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Repair of crown spire | | 1649 | Leith Citadel and fortifications | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Working on the fortifications at Leith. | | February 1650 | Newbattle Abbey | Newbattle | | Midlothian | Scotland | Drew up estimate for adding frontispiece - 'in a perfect manner off gudlie Architect[ure]'. | | 1656 | College, professor's house and six chambers | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1659 | George Heriot's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Was still working at Heriot's Hospital | | 1661 | Coldingham Church | Coldingham | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Repair and partial rebuilding to be carried out ' by the sught of John Milne master mason and any other they shall bring to visite the same after finishing thereof'. | | November 1661 | Addiston House | Ratho | | Midlothian | Scotland | Contracted to execute the masonry of a 'great addition' | | 1663 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Drew up a survey of the second floor showing how it was to be completed. Not executed until after his death. | | 1665 | Fort Charlotte | Lerwick | Mainland | Shetland | Scotland | Employed to design (probably) but certainly to build this. | | 1666 | Balgonie Castle | | | Fife | Scotland | Addition of large scale and platt staircase | | 1666 | Panmure House and ancillary estate buildings | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Contracted to build house 'according to the maner forme and dimensions of the said structure and edifice designed and set down by the said John Mylne in draughts'. Work completed by Alexander Nesbit, mason in edinburgh after Mylne's death. | | 1667 | Leslie House | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | Was engaged to enlarge and remodel the house but Bruce's advice sought and Robert Mylne completed it in a more up-to-date style. | | 1667 | Tolbooth | Linlithgow | | West Lothian | Scotland | Designs drawn up just before death. Not executed. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | APSD | | The Dictionary of Architecture | ed Wyatt Papworth | The Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) | | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | DNB | | Dictionary of National Biography | | | | | Gifford, John | 2012 | The Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee | | Yale | p720 | | Mylne, R S | | The Master Masons to the Crown of Scotland | | | | | Wood, M (ed.) | | Extracts from the Records of the City of Edinburgh, 1642-55 | | | | | Wood, M (ed.) | | Extracts from the Records of the City of Edinburgh, 1655-65 | | | |
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