Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Mercer | Designation: | Architect, Engineer | Born: | 1842 | Died: | 3 September 1893 | Bio Notes: | John Mercer was born in 1842, the son of John Mercer, an engine driver, and his wife Wilhilminie [sic] and was originally trained as a civil engineer with the Glasgow & South Western Railway. He is described in 1861 as an 'assistant civil engineer'. He commenced practice as both civil engineer and architect in Ayr in 1872 and was Burgh Surveyor of Ayr from 1879 until 1889 when he was succeeded in the post by his chief assistant John Eaglesham.
Mercer married twice, his first wife Jane Buist, mother of his architect son Andrew Lamb Mercer, having died on 20 February 1885. His other son John Buist Mercer had died aged six on 10 May 1882. Mercer himself died on 3 September 1893, leaving moveable estate of £2,268 18s. He was buried in Ayr Cemetery. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect, engineer: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private | | | |  | Mercers Lane, Peebles Street, Newton-upon-Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private | Before 1861 | After 1871 | Parental home |  | 29, Barns Street, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private(?) | 1881 | After 1891 | |  | Sandgate Street, Ayr, Ayrshire, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1888 | | |
Employment and TrainingEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect, engineer (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | John Eaglesham | 1 November 1871 | c. 1876 | Apprentice | |  | John Eaglesham | c. 1876 | Before 1881 | Chief Assistant | |  | James Kennedy Hunter | August 1880 | May 1883 | Apprentice | |  | John Arthur | 1882 | 1889 | Apprentice | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect, engineer: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Close, Robert | 1992 | Ayrshire and Arran, an Illustrated Architectural Guide | | Edinburgh: RIAS | pp10 etc |  | Luxton, Donald (ed.) | 2003 | Building the West: the early architects of British Columbia | | Vancouver: Talon Books | p311 |  | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Ayr Sheriff Court Inventories SC6/44/56 |
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