Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Jaffray
Designation:  
Born: 1677
Died: 1741
Bio Notes: Alexander Jaffray was born in 1677 into a Quaker family in Aberdeen, the son of Andrew Jaffray and his wife Christian. Alexander Jaffray married Christian Barclay, a daughter of the Quaker apologist Robert Barclay. They had one son Robert. Alexander Jaffray was the 4th laird of Kingswells near Aberdeen and was an active agricultural improver as well as architect and building contractor. He visited London in 1720 to see the buildings and gardens for himself. In a letter to Archibald Grant of Monymusk he wrote, 'I have not only seen all the fine buildings and gardens here and the method of execution, but have likewayse observed the different agriculture thorow the country, ' and later in the letter says, 'I have settled correspondance wt the best and most usfull artists here and provided myself in all sorts of instruments and books'. In 1721 he was appointed the first Surveyor of Roads and Bridges in Aberdeenshire.

His architectural work was largely confined to Aberdeenshire, beginning with alterations to his own house but worked as far afield as Banffshire where he carried out a design by James Gibbs with some modifications. His principal independent work was St Paul’s Episcopal Chapel in Aberdeen.

Jaffray died at Kingswells in 1741.

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 71719Kingswells HouseKingswells AberdeenshireScotlandAlterations - commemorated in initials and date over doorway.
Item 2 of 71719Monymusk House  AberdeenshireScotlandWas consulted by Sir Archibald Grant. Offered to design a new house but instead alterations made.
Item 3 of 71721Culter HousePeterculter AberdeenshireScotlandDrew up designs for enlarging or altering Culter House. Introduced semi-sunk basement with stairs going up to first floor entrance. Also matching pair of pavilions.
Item 4 of 71721St Paul's Episcopal Chapel  AberdeenScotland 
Item 5 of 71723Balveny House   ScotlandBuilt house to designs of James Gibbs and slightly altered design
Item 6 of 71729Culter HousePeterculter AberdeenshireScotlandDrew up a plan of the estate for a later owner
Item 7 of 7c. 1745Raemoir, Ha' Hoose  KincardineshireScotlandStylistically similar to work by Jaffray but in fact may date from time that William Kelly was working at Raemoir.

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Bodie, William G Rowntree1976St Paul's Chapel, Aberdeen108PSAS (or http://archaeologydataservice.ac.uk/catalogue/adsdata/arch-352-1/dissemination/pdf/vol_108/ 
Item 2 of 4Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 3 of 4Fraser, G M (ed.)1935Alexander Jaffray's Recollections of Kingswells 1755-1800 Spalding Club Miscellany, i.  
Item 4 of 4Sharples, J, Walker, D W and Woodworth, M2015The Buildings of Scotland: Aberdeenshire South and Aberdeen London and New Haven: Yale University Pressp28