Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Barron
Designation:  
Born: c. 1842
Died: 1918(?)
Bio Notes: James Barron M Inst CE. was a harbour engineer working mainly in the North of Scotland. He was born in about 1842 in Peterhead, th son of Archibald Barron, journeyman mason, and his wife Elizabeth. He probably trained as a carpenter (in 1861 he was living with his parents in Aberdeen and is described as such). He may have then branched into estate factoring and may be the James Barron who is described as a house steward in Laarbert in 1871 and in 1881 he was described as a factor and engineer when staying as a visitor with George Walker and his family at Askernish in South Uist. George Walker was also an estate factor.

Barron practised as a civil engineer from the late 1870s until at least the first decade of the 20th century. In the mid-1870s he was working in Nigg, Kincardineshire but had moved to Buckie, Banffshire by 1877. The family were living in Rathven in Banffshire in the early 1880s and by 1891 had moved to Wick in Caithness. He had opened his office in Aberdeen by the 1892. Barron was married twice, first to Janet who was born about 1843 in Aberdeen. She may have died in the 1870s. His second wife was Maria who was born in 1854. He had a large family with about five daughters and two sons.

One complicating factor in unravelling his history is the fact that his son, also James, born 1869, worked as a civil engineer also in the north of Scotland. For a brief period around 1890 he was in Stockton on Tees but returned to Scotland at come point thereafter. He was almost certainly the James Barron who was harbour engineer in Preston in the early 20th century.

James M Barron who was responsible for the Alexandra Wharf at Lerwick may be the younger Barron but it is not yet certain.

Publications etc
Some Recently Constructed Piers and Harbours on the North and West Coasts of Scotland. (includes Plate). ICE Minutes of the Proceedings

Elected 10 January 1893 a member of Aberdeen Philosophical Society. [Transactions Aberdeen Philosophical Society 1900 p249]
Justice of the Peace and Councillor for Ferryhill Ward, Aberdeen

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 11Sutherland, Scotland(?)Business   
Item 2 of 11Nigg, Kincardineshire, ScotlandPrivate/business1870sc. 1875 
Item 3 of 11Buckie, Banffshire, ScotlandBusiness1880s  
Item 4 of 11Sinclair Terrace, Wick, Caithness, ScotlandPrivate1880sc. 1891 
Item 5 of 11Church Street, Rathven, Banffshire, ScotlandPrivate1881 *  
Item 6 of 117, Union Terrace, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1891  
Item 7 of 1114, Albert Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate1891  
Item 8 of 111, Bon Accord Street , Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness189919031902-1903 Directory
Item 9 of 1146, Carden Place, Aberdeen, ScotlandPrivate19001912At least these dates
Item 10 of 11216, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1904 1903-1904 Directory
Item 11 of 11214, Union Street, Aberdeen, ScotlandBusiness1912  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 341873Cluny HarbourBuckie BanffshireScotlandAssisted Cay - was resident engineer
Item 2 of 341882HarbourBurghead MorayshireScotlandAlterations
Item 3 of 341882Wick Outer HarbourWick CaithnessScotlandAlterations
Item 4 of 341889Auchmithie HarbourAuchmithie AangusScotland 
Item 5 of 341889HarbourAuchmithie AngusScotland 
Item 6 of 341890Portnacon PierLoch Eriboll SutherlandScotlandRepairs
Item 7 of 341890Thurso HarbourThurso CaithnessScotland 
Item 8 of 341891Embo Harbour and PierEmbo SutherlandScotland 
Item 9 of 341891HarbourStonehaven KincardineshireScotlandAlterations
Item 10 of 341891Scrabster HarbourScrabster CaithnessScotlandReconstruction
Item 11 of 341892Helmsdale HarbourHelmsdale SutherlandScotlandAlterations
Item 12 of 341892Helmsdale HarbourHelmsdale SutherlandScotlandCreation of roughly triangular basin enclosed by 2 piers to east and breakwater to south.
Item 13 of 341893Pier and HarbourCollieston AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 14 of 341893Stromness HarbourStromnessMainlandOrkneyScotland 
Item 15 of 341894Golspie HarbourGolspie SutherlandScotland 
Item 16 of 341894Maryculter BridgeMaryculter AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 17 of 341894Water supplyMacduff BanffshireScotlandAlterations
Item 18 of 341895Harbour, Port HenryPeterhead AberdeenshireScotlandPlans drawn up for enlargement and deepening and division into two basins
Item 19 of 341895New reservoirHuntly AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 20 of 341895Scrabster HarbourScrabster CaithnessScotlandExtension
Item 21 of 341896Harbour WorksStromnessMainland Orkney Scotland 
Item 22 of 341896Scalloway HarbourScallowayMainlandShetlandScotlandExtended
Item 23 of 341897Cluny HarbourBuckie BanffshireScotland 
Item 24 of 341899HarbourStonehaven KincardineshireScotland 
Item 25 of 341900Warehouse, Carmelite Street  AberdeenScotland 
Item 26 of 341901Harbour and LighthouseMacduff AberdeenshireScotlandimprovements and extension to harbour and lighthouse
Item 27 of 341902Pennan HarbourPennan, Aberdour AberdeenshireScotlandWest Pier
Item 28 of 341903WharfWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 29 of 341904Alexandra WharfLerwickMainlandShetlandScotlandor James M Barron
Item 30 of 341905PierLoch Na Claise SutherlandScotland 
Item 31 of 341905PierLochinver SutherlandScotland 
Item 32 of 341908HarbourLossiemouth MorayshireScotlandReport
Item 33 of 341910Bridge over the River DeveronHuntly AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 34 of 341913Lerwick Boat Harbour and Victoria PierLerwickMainlandShetlandScotlandHarbour

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Minutes of Proc. of the Inst of Civil EngineersJanuary 1890Volume 99Institution of Civil Engineerspp325-329

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Census records onlineCensuses