Basic Biographical Details Name: | Tobias Bachop, Bauchop or Baak | Designation: | | Born: | | Died: | 26 April 1710 | Bio Notes: | Tobias Bachop, Bauchop or Baak whose birth date is not known (although an individual by the name of Tobias Bachop was baptised in 1673 or 1674 which means either he was baptised as an adult or this is the wrong baptismal record) was probably the son of Bachup [sic in Colvin] of Alloa and apprenticed to his father. They were members of the prominent family of masons who worked in the area of Alloa in the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
The first reference to the younger Bachop is in 1680 when he was involved with repairs on Alloa Church. This and other work of the early 1680s is traditional in style. However in the late 1680s he came into contact with Sir William Bruce who employed him on Kinross House and subsequently on a number of his commissions. In Bruce’s estimation he was clearly an excellent craftsman and he recommended him to the 3rd Duke of Hamilton when the latter was about to embark on the building of Hamilton Palace. However Bachop did not secure this job which went to James Smith.
Bachop was involved in building projects over a large area of Scotland between Dumfriesshire in the south, Greenock in the west and Perthshire in the north. In 1690 he worked in his home town while in 1705 he was working on the town hall and steeple in Dumfries. After John Moffat of Liverpool, who supplied the designs, declined to execute them, Bachop was summoned as he was ‘said to be of good skill’. In connection with this building he is described as ‘architect’ and as ‘architect and builder of the steeple and council house’.
Bachop died on 26 April 1710. The house which he built for himself bears the date 1695 and the initials of himself and his wife Margaret Lapsley. It stands in Kirkgate, Alloa. It is symmetrical and has classical detailing. It shows an understanding of the new classical style promulgated by Bruce.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Alloa, Clackmannanshire, Scotland | Private/business | | | |
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 | | 1680 | Alloa Church | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Repairs | | 1684 | Logie Church | Logie | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Was contracted to 'conforme to an draught drawn by the said Tobias himself'. | | 1686 | Kinross House and Home Farm | | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | | | 1687 | Argaty House | Doune | | Perthshire | Scotland | Alterations? | | 1689 | Stirling Castle | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Three gun battery | | 1689 | Stirling Castle, Palace of James V | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Alterations | | 1690s | Panmure House and ancillary estate buildings | Carnoustie | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations | | c. 1690 | Old Cross | Alloa | | Clackmannanshire | Scotland | Built and probably designed the cross. | | 1692 | Hamilton Palace | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Was recommended to the 3rd Duke of Hamilton but James Smith was given the job. | | 1696 | Cortachy Castle | Kirriemuir | | Angus | Scotland | Alterations | | 1697 | Kinloch House | Meigle | | Perthshire | Scotland | Enlargement of house. | | 1698 | Hopetoun House | Abercorn | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | c. 1698 | Church of the Holy Rude, Graveyard, Monument to Provost J McCulloch | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | 1699 | Craigiehall | Cramond | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1702 | Mansion for Sir John Shaw | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Drew up plan with intention of rebuilding the house, but Bachop died before this could be executed. | | 1703 | Mertoun House | Mertoun | | Berwickshire | Scotland | | | 1705 | Town Hall and Steeple | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | John Moffat of Liverpool had supplied 'a modall' but declined to execute it. The committee therefore 'resolved to send for one Tobias Bachup, a master builder now at Abercorn...who is said to be of good skill'. He is referred to as 'our architect' and as 'architect and builder of the steeple and council house'. He also claimed to have spent six week making drawings and moulds for the building. Hiowever the building was actually executed to John Moffat's designs which were based on the steeple of the College of Glasgow. | | 1708 | Duke of Montrose's House | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Gave advice to the Duke |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Crawfurd, J | 1874 | Memorials of the Parish of Alloa | | | | | MacGibbon and Ross | | Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland | | | volume v, pp127-8 | | Scottish History Society | 1893 | Masterton Papers | | | p483 |
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