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Basic Biographical Details
| Name: | Robert Matheson |
| Designation: | Architect |
| Born: | 29 November 1807 or 18 August 1808 or |
| Died: | 5 March 1877 |
| Bio Notes: | Robert Matheson was born on 15 (some sources give 18) August 1808 in Tain, the son of James Matheson, cabinetmaker and his wife. It is not known where he was first apprenticed, but in 1828 he was appointed junior clerk in the Edinburgh Office of Works by Robert Reid. As his appointment had not been ratified by the Lords of the Treasury, the Barons of the Exchequer and the Surveyor General of the Board of Works, Major General Stephenson, he was not entitled to compensation when the office was re-organised on a reduced basis and he became redundant on 1 April 1840. A single payment of £60 was made. In September 1840 William Nixon, appointed Clerk of Works for Scotland on transfer from Dublin in April 1840, found that the surviving second clerk, James Miller, had been guilty of serious mismanagement, and the Office of Woods and Forests instructed Nixon to offer his post to Matheson. Early in March 1848, when Nixon became seriously ill, Matheson was appointed temporary head and remained so after Nixon's death on the 24th. Although some half-a dozen Scottish architects in private practice applied for the post, the Chief Commissioner for HM Woods and Forests nominated Matheson as Clerk of Works for Scotland on condition that he sat an examination set by James Pennethorne, William S Inman and John Phipps, which he failed 'more especially as regards construction' and he reverted to being second clerk. But after some months he was appointed interim head clerk and after holding the post satisfactorily for a year he became permanent Clerk of Works for Scotland and retained that post when the Woods and Forests became the Office of Works by Act of Parliament in October 1851. For his first eight years in office Matheson’s role was relatively low key, largely confined to executing Edward Blore’s designs for Glasgow Cathedral, completing Nixon’s work at St Andrew’s University and Playfair’s at the Advocates’ Library and looking after the cathedrals and ancient monuments then in the Office’s care: much of this was under the general supervision of William Burn who held the position of Consulting Architect to the Government in Scotland. But by 1855 Matheson had sufficiently gained the confidence of his London masters to be entrusted with extensive works at Holyroodhouse, proposals for new buildings at King’s College Aberdeen in which Burn still had a role, and the building of the New Palm House at Edinburgh’s Royal Botanic Garden. Built in 1855-59 the Palm House was one of the most impressive structures of its kind in the western world, a bigger and more monumental version of Richard Turner’s at the National Botanic Garden in Dublin. It made his reputation, the high point in his career coming in 1859 when he was allowed to design New Register House and Edinburgh’s General Post Office, successfully resisting London interference in the design of the former. The Record Office was even more innovative then the Palm House, very accomplished High Renaissance elevations enclosing a cast-iron book stack with a domed central area modelled on Pennethorne’s Round Room at the Public Record Office in London while the Post Office made the most of a difficult site where more than half the building was below street level. With these projects his authority had grown to the point of being able to propose a redesign of Francis Fowke’s elevations for the Chambers Street museum in a Vignola-like High Renaissance idiom, but in the event he had to execute the building as Fowke designed it. With the passing of the Courthouses Act of 1860 Matheson’s post took on an important supervisory role. Selection of an architect still lay with Commissioners of Supply but Matheson now advised on both requirements and appointments. Throughout the 1860s and 1870s the main business of his office consisted of a series of provincial post offices, all in an astylar subdued Italianate. These culminated in the vast Barryesque palazzo of Glasgow’s General Post Office, his largest project built in 1875-78. Matheson had a small private practice separate from his official duties. Between 1859 and 1870 he undertook the restoration of the Collegiate Church of St Duthes (or Duthac) in his native Tain for which he took no fee. His largest private project was his own: sometime before 1863 Matheson appears to have inherited considerable wealth. In June of that year he purchased nine acres at West Coates from the Heriot Trust and proceeded to form Grosvenor Street and Lansdowne Crescent specifying elevations which he himself had designed. The northern area was hived off to Peddie & Kinnear who developed Grosvenor Crescent in association with the adjoining property on Palmerston Place which they had acquired from the Walker Trust. Matheson married Alexa Urquhart and lived in some style at 25 Abercromby Place. He died in office on 5 March 1877, and was buried in Dean Cemetery. |
Private and Business Addresses
| The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | |||||
| Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | |
 | Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | |||
| 25, Abercromby Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1877 | ||
Employment and Training
Employers
| The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | |||||
| Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | |
| H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency) | 1828 | 1848 | Junior Clerk | In Edinburgh office |
| H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency) | March 1848 | 1877 | Clerk of Works | In Edinburgh office |
Employees or Pupils
| The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | |||||
| Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | |
| Hippolyte Jean Blanc | 1864 | 1869 | Draughtsman | |
| Robert Macfarlane Cameron | 1881 | 1882 | Draughtsman | |
Buildings and Designs
| This architect 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 | |
| Paisley Abbey | Paisley | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Restoration as Architect in Scotland with HM Office of Works. [date to be checked] | ||
| West Coates development | Edinburgh | Scotland | Date unknown | |||
| 1845 | Dunfermline Abbey | Dunfermline | Fife | Scotland | Restoration - as assistant to William Nixon, architect in charge of the Office of Works in Scotland | |
| 1848 | Royal Botanic Garden, lecture hall, classrooms, museum and offices | Inverleith | Edinburgh | Scotland | As architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| 1848 | University of St Andrews, Chapel of St Salvator | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Completed cloister behind chapel after Nixon's death - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| 1848 | University of St Andrews, St Salvator's College | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Completion of Nixon's scheme for north range - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| 1848 | University of St Andrews, St Salvator's College | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Completion of Nixon's boundary walls after his death - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| c. 1848 | Glasgow Cathedral | Glasgow | Scotland | From 1848 onwards general repairs and new west front to design by Edward Blore. Matheson first as clerk and then architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| c. 1850 | Linlithgow Palace, Lodge | Linlithgow | West Lothian | Scotland | ||
| 1851 | 71 North Street | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Gateway adjoining St Salvator's Chapel - as Clerk of Works for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| 1851 | University of St Andrews, Chapel of St Salvator | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Parapet wall on tower (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works). Executed as designed by William Burn | |
| 1851 | University of St Andrews, St Mary's College | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Repairs (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | |
| 1853 | Fortrose Cathedral | Fortrose | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | Restoration - as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1853 | University of St Andrews, Chapel of St Salvator | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Fitting of clock (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1854 | Royal Botanic Garden, new Palm House | Inverleith | Edinburgh | Scotland | Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1855 | King's College | Old Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Scotland | Two alternative schemes: Neo-Jacobean and Oxford Gothic (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) - not built | |
| 1855 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | Edinburgh | Scotland | Refitting of the Throne Room, paintwork and paper by D R Hay (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | ||
| 1856 | Advocates' Library | Edinburgh | Scotland | Remodelling and extension of Upper Corridor Library with canted bays at north side - as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | ||
| 1856 | Board of Supervision (of Poor) Chambers, 125 George Street | Edinburgh | Scotland | Additions at the back - with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1856 | Parliament House, Supreme Courts of Scotland | Edinburgh | Scotland | Executed alterations design by Playfair - as Architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1857 | General Prison | Perth | Perthshire | Scotland | Redesigning and completion of Brown's scheme, with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1857 | Holyrood Park, Duddingston South Lodge | Edinburgh | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | ||
| 1857 | Holyrood Park, Meadowbank Lodge | Edinburgh | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | ||
| 1857 | Holyrood Park, St Leonard's Lodge | Edinburgh | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | ||
| 1857 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, Abbey Court House | Edinburgh | Scotland | |||
| 1857 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, gatehouse and former guardroom | Edinburgh | Scotland | Reconstruction of its surviving stairtower - Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1857 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, Holyrood Lodge | Edinburgh | Scotland | |||
| 1857 | Parliament House, Supreme Courts of Scotland | Edinburgh | Scotland | Law Room. Redesigning and completion of Brown's scheme, with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works. Executed alterations design by Playfair - as Architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1857 | Tolbooth St John's Church | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations of throne bench as pulpit - Matheson as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | ||
| c. 1857 | Holyrood Park, Wells O' Wearie Cottage | Edinburgh | Scotland | As Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works - HS attribution because of similarity to the Holyrood Lodges | ||
| 1858 | New Register House | Edinburgh | Scotland | Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1858 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, fountain in forecourt | Edinburgh | Scotland | As architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works - Charles Doyle responsible for drawings | ||
| 1859 | Campbeltown Poorhouse | Campbeltown | Argyll | Scotland | Originally employed to draw up plans; withdrew after dispute over cost | |
| 1859 | General Post Office | Edinburgh | Scotland | |||
| 1859 | King's College | Old Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Scotland | Tudor gothic scheme (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | |
| 1859 | King's College | Old Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Scotland | Simplified scheme built (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | |
| 1859 | Royal Botanic Garden, Old Palm Stove | Inverleith | Edinburgh | Scotland | Iron shafts replaced stone mullions (as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) and replacement of prismatic roof with a dome. | |
| 1859 | St Duthac's Church | Tain | Ross and Cromarty | Scotland | Restoration - Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1860 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | Edinburgh | Scotland | Replanning of 2nd floor as the Duke of Hamilton's and Marquess of Breadalbane's apartments (Matheson as architect for Scotland) | ||
| 1860 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, stables | Edinburgh | Scotland | Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1861 | Edinburgh Industrial Museum | Edinburgh | Scotland | Central part built to Fowke's design, Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works (1st phase) | ||
| 1861 | General Post Office | Perth | Perthshire | Scotland | Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1861 | House, Register Lane | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | ||
| 1861 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, gatehouse and former guardroom | Edinburgh | Scotland | Gatehouse | ||
| 1861 | Palace of Holyroodhouse, gateway and former school | Edinburgh | Scotland | |||
| 1861 | University of St Andrews, Chapel of St Salvator | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Restoration, including window tracery and pinnacles on south front, and reseating - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| c. 1861 | Charlotte Square | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposals for redesign of gardens | ||
| 1862 | National Bank of Scotland Head Office (Former) | Edinburgh | Scotland | Altered entrance lobbies | ||
| 1863 | Clifton Terrace | Edinburgh | Scotland | |||
| 1863 | House in Lansdowne Crescent | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design of elevations | ||
| 1863 | Lansdowne Crescent | Edinburgh | Scotland | |||
| c. 1863 | General Post Office | Dundee | Scotland | With Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| c. 1863 | General Post Office | Paisley | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1864 | Grosvenor Crescent | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original scheme | ||
| 1864 | University of St Andrews, Chapel of St Salvator | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Glazing of cloister (now reversed) - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| 1865(?) | Grosvenor Street | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design of facades | ||
| 1866 | Dunblane Cathedral | Dunblane | Perthshire | Scotland | Repairs on tower and spire | |
| 1866(?) | Waverley Station, hotel and market scheme | Edinburgh | Scotland | 'Design for Grand National Hotel in combination with the new Waverley Station' (Matheson in private practice) | ||
| 1867 | East Queen Street Gardens | Edinburgh | Scotland | As Chief Artchitect in HM Office of Works | ||
| 1867 | King's College, Theology Manse | Aberdeen | Scotland | |||
| 1868 | King's College | Old Aberdeen | Aberdeen | Scotland | Library (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | |
| 1868 | Parliament House, Supreme Courts of Scotland | Edinburgh | Scotland | Part restoration and alterations - with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1868 | St Giles Cathedral | Edinburgh | Scotland | First proposals for restoration including improvements to the choir 'as proposed by the Lord Provost' (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | ||
| 1869 | Register House | Edinburgh | Scotland | Back Dome added for new record hall (necessitated by the Lands Registration Act) with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1869 | University of St Andrews, Chapel of St Salvator | St Andrews | Fife | Scotland | Forbes Memorial Stalls (canopied stalls for Principal and Masters) - as Architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works | |
| 1870 | Edinburgh Industrial Museum | Edinburgh | Scotland | Western part of central building completed to Fowke's design, with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works (2nd phase) | ||
| 1871 | St Michael's Parish Church | Linlithgow | West Lothian | Scotland | Design for 'interior…as proposed to be restored' (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | |
| 1873 | Dunblane Cathedral | Dunblane | Perthshire | Scotland | Advised (as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) on repair work on chancel - with Sir G Gilbert Scott | |
| 1873 | Post Office | Leith | Edinburgh | Scotland | Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | |
| 1875 | General Post Office | Aberdeen | Scotland | Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works | ||
| 1875 | Glasgow General Post Office | Glasgow | Scotland | New building (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works) | ||
| Before 1877 | 2 and 3 Rosebery Crescent | Edinburgh | Scotland | Devised overall scheme | ||
References
Bibliographic References
| The following books contain references to this architect: | ||||||
| Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | |
| Grant, David | The Office of Works and the Renovation of the Scottish Universities, 1808-89 | ||||
| Pride, Glen L | 1999 | The Kingdom of Fife | 2nd Edition | The Rutland Press | p122 |
| Scotlands People Website | Wills & Testaments | Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills Sc70/4/166 | |||
Periodical References
| The following periodicals contain references to this architect: | |||||
| Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | |
| Builder | early 1877 | XXXV | p 250 - obituary | |
| Building News | 1877 | Obituary - check date | ||
| Scotsman | 6 March 1877 | p8 - death notice | ||
Archive References
| The following archives hold material relating to this architect: | ||||
| Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | |
| Courtesy of the great-great-grandson of Robert Matheson | Information sent via Dictionary Survey | Sent September 2013 | |
| National Records of Scotland (formerly SRO, later NAS) | Ministry of Works files | ||
| Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | Additional research by Iain Paterson (who suggests Matheson was born 29 November 1807 in Edinburgh, son of Robert Matheson and Elizabeth Fraser) | |
| Public Record Office | Office of Woods and Forests and Office of Works letter books | ||
Images
© All rights reserved. Edinburgh Architectural Association 1907 Exhibition Catalogue