Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Stevens senior
Designation:  
Born: c. 1730
Died: 29 January 1796
Bio Notes: Alexander Stevens was born about 1730. He lived most of his life at Prestonhall in Cranstoun, Midlothian where he was a tenant farmer. Nothing is known of his training but he worked as an architect and civil engineer and designed and built bridges.

Nothing has yet been established about his training but he was well-versed in the latest techniques and his bridges were well designed and detailed. Most of his work was in Scotland but he also constructed the aqueduct over the River Lune at Lancaster which had been designed by John Rennie and he himself designed the Sarah Bridge over the Liffey in Dublin. He is also said to have designed and built some locks on the Grand Canal. He also designed various house and one town house.

Stevens died on 29 January 1796 while he was in Lancaster supervising the construction of the Lune Aqueduct. He is commemorated by a tablet on the outside wall of Lancaster Church. His son, also Alexander, continued the practice.

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 17c. 1773Hyndford Bridge over the River ClydeLanark (near) LanarkshireScotland 
Item 2 of 171774Keith Marischal House, Nether Mill BridgeHumbie East LothianScotland 
Item 3 of 171779Drygrange or Leaderfoot BridgeMelrose (near) RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 4 of 171782Bridge of Ae over the Water of Ae  DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 5 of 171783Stenhouse Bridge over the Water of Leith  EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 17c. 1783Oxenfoord Castle, castellated bridge in grounds  MidlothianScotlandAttribution
Item 7 of 171784Ancrum BridgeAncrum RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 8 of 171785Bridge of DunDun AngusScotland 
Item 9 of 171785Stockbridge BridgeStockbridge EdinburghScotland 
Item 10 of 171786Ayr New BridgeAyr AyrshireScotlandEarlier bridge on same site. Found to be unsafe and demolished in 1877.
Item 11 of 171786Brechin Bridge BrechinAngusScotlandWidened bridge by one third
Item 12 of 171787St Andrew's Parish Church  EdinburghScotlandSteeple built to design by Stevens
Item 13 of 171790Hartfell Spaw WellMoffatt DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 14 of 171791Sarah Bridge over the River Liffey  DublinScotland 
Item 15 of 171793Timber Bridge over the River South EskMontrose AngusScotland 
Item 16 of 17c. 1794Teviot BridgeKelso (near) RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 17 of 171796Aqueduct over the River LuneLancaster LancashireEngland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Close, Rob and Riches, Anne2012The Buildings of Scotland: Ayrshire & Arran New Haven and London: Yale University Pressp771
Item 2 of 2Gifford, John2012The Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee Yalep723

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Chester Courant23 February 1796