Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Tait
Designation:  
Born: c. 1787(?)
Died: 3 November 1856
Bio Notes: John Tait was born c.1787. Nothing is known of his origins but he may have been associated with the Elliots as he took over the supervision of their scheme of 1819 for Rutland Street and Rutland Square in Edinburgh from 1830. In the same year he made the feuing plan for Inverleith Terrace on the Rocheads' Inverleith estate and secured the patronage of the Earl of Zetland on his Kerse estate. Subsequently he became architect for Lord Provost Learmonth's developments on the Dean estate, and was retained by the Heriot Trust for Clarendon Crescent, Eton Terrace and Oxford Terrace after Learmonth was obliged to sell to the Heriot Trust.

Tait died on 3 November 1856 at the age of sixty-nine and was buried at Dean Cemetery. His relatively few known works are characterised by a marked refinement in design and execution.

Death recorded in inscription at Dean Cemetery, Edinburgh.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 11, Mound Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 18321856 

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 16c. 182621-25, 37 and 39 Inverleith PlaceInverleith EdinburghScotlandNo 37
Item 2 of 161830Kerse House  StirlingshireScotlandMajor reconstruction and additions
Item 3 of 161830Layout of streets, Rutland Place, Rutland Street, Rutland Square  EdinburghScotlandBuilt streets to Elliot's plans
Item 4 of 161830Rutland Street and Rutland Square  EdinburghScotlandRevised scheme
Item 5 of 161830Terraced houses, Inverleith TerraceInverleith EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 161834Anstruther MillAnstruther FifeScotland 
Item 7 of 161834Greendykes, farm buildingsElie FifeScotland 
Item 8 of 161837Elvingston House, stable court and south lodgeGladsmuir East LothianScotlandHouse and stable and possibly south lodge
Item 9 of 161837Grangemouth West ChurchGrangemouth StirlingshireScotland 
Item 10 of 161839Parish SchoolDunbog FifeScotlandFrom a design by William Black the parish schoolmaster
Item 11 of 161844Polmont Parish ChurchPolmont StirlingshireScotland 
Item 12 of 161845Falkirk Grammar SchoolFalkirk StirlingshireScotland 
Item 13 of 161850Clarendon Crescent  EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 16Before 1850Eton Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 15 of 161855Oxford Terrace  EdinburghScotlandDesigned elevations of entire terrace
Item 16 of 16Before 1856Lennox Street  EdinburghScotlandOriginal layout

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 2 of 3Post Office Directories     
Item 3 of 3Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories Sc70/1/93 and Wills Sc70/4/49