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Name: | William Lambie Moffatt (originally William Lambie Moffat) |
Designation: | Architect |
Born: | 31 October 1807 |
Died: | 5 June 1882 |
Bio Notes: | William Lambie Moffat was born on 31 October 1807, the son of John Moffat, clerk of works and Sarah Couch. At some stage, for unknown reasons, he adopted the spelling of Moffatt which is continued by his descendents, although his brother Henry retained the single 't' as Moffat throughout his life. William Lambie was articled to William Burn who employed his father as his clerk of works at Carstairs House. The earliest record of work by William Lambie Moffatt dates from when he was seventeen years old and a pupil of Burn: he made the drawings for Carstairs House, designed by Burn, for J P Neale's 'Views of Seats'. He appears to have remained as an assistant: his subsequent career suggests he was engaged on the institutional side of the practice.
In 1833 Moffatt is listed at 8 Morrison Street, Edinburgh which is also the address of his father at this date.
In 1836 he won the competition for Wakefield Corn Exchange with a very original Greek Revival design which induced him to settle in Doncaster. In 1838 William Hurst of Doncaster invited him to become a partner, his previous partner John Woodhead having died, and for the next six years Hurst and Moffatt had a flourishing practice, particularly for churches financed by The Incorporated Church Building Society.
On 8 December 1844 Hurst died. Moffatt continued the Doncaster practice, but was increasingly dependent on winning competitions for business. As a number of his competition wins were for hospitals and poorhouses in Scotland, he closed his Doncaster practice in 1858, the catalyst probably being the new asylum at Montrose (1856). He returned to Edinburgh, his house being at 4 Fettes Row, and he subsequently remodelled 13 Queen Street for his own occupation. By May 1873 he was so busy with school board work, probably mainly won in competition, that James Aitken, of whom nothing is as yet known, was taken into partnership.
Moffatt was equally skilled in Greek, Italianate, Gothic and neo-Jacobean, his work in the last of those being strongly influenced by William Burn's houses of the mid to late 1820s and early 1830s: in the past some writers conflated him with G G Scott's partner, the English William Bonython Moffatt, and in the earlier 'Buildings of England' volumes he is sometimes wrongly given as W B Moffatt.
Moffatt died on 5 June 1882 at 23 Minto Street, survived by his widow Wilhelmina Crystal. Information on the subsequent career of James Aitken - if any - is not yet available. |
The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: |
| Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |
 | Scotland | Private | | | |
 | 8, Morrison Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1833 | c. 1834 | |
 | Doncaster, England | Private/business | c. 1836 | c. 1855 | |
 | 30, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1849 | c. 1851 | |
 | 23, George IV Bridge, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1850 | After 1855 | |
 | 4, Fettes Row, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1858 | c. 1868 | |
 | 56, Frederick Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1869 | 1871 | |
 | 23, Minto Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1871 | | |
 | 12, North St David Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1872 | c. 1873 | And with Aitken at this address until 1882 |
 | 13, Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1875 | | |
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 |
 | c. 1824 | Carstairs House | Carstairs | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Prepared drawings for publication in Neale (as pupil of William Burn) |
 | 1836 | Wakefield Corn Exchange | Wakefield | | Yorkshire | England | Won competition; presumably secured job |
 | 1837 | Union workhouse | Selby | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1838 | Union workhouse | Rotherham | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1838 | Union workhouse | Thorne | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1839 | Chatsworth Estate, unspecified work | | | Derbyshire | England | |
 | 1839 | New Independent Chapel | Leeds | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1839 | Union workhouse | Doncaster | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1840 | Grosmont Church | Grosmont | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1840 | The Ship Hotel and Westgate improvements | Rotherham | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | c. 1840 | Union workhouse | Gateshead | | Northumberland | England | |
 | 1841 | Christ Church | Ardsley | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1841 | Holy Trinity Church | Thurgoland | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1841 | St Mary's Church | Woodsetts | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1841 | St Peter's Church | Rockferry | | Cheshire | England | |
 | 1842 | Welbeck Abbey, Clipstone Archway | Welbeck | | Nottinghamshire | England | |
 | 1843 | Savings Bank | Doncaster | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1843 | St John's Church | Goole | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1843 | The Corn Market | Doncaster | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1844 | Borough Gaol | Leeds | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1844 | Hook Church | Hook | | Yorkshire | England | Restoration |
 | After 1844 | Stock Exchange | Leeds | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | After 1844 | Trinity Church | Wakefield | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1846 | Town Hall | Middlesbrough | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1848 | Dalkeith Union Poorhouse | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | |
 | 1848 | St Peter's Church | Askern | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1849 | Kirkcaldy and Dysart Poorhouse | Kinghorn | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1851 | Hull Workhouse | Hull | | Yorkshire | England | Competition design - placed 2nd (Lockwood & Mawson appointed) |
 | 1852 | St John's Church | Fenwick | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1854 | East Poorhouse and Maryfield Hospital | Stobswell | | Dundee | Scotland | Original building. William Scott was the executant architect |
 | 1854 | Latheron Poorhouse | Latheron | | Caithness | Scotland | |
 | 1854 | Thurso Combination Poorhouse | Halkirk | | Caithness | Scotland | |
 | 1854 | Upper Nithsdale Poorhouse | Thornhill | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
 | 1855 | Montrose Asylum | Hillside, Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Original building |
 | 1856 | Peebles Union Poorhouse | Peebles | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | Appointed and his scheme executed |
 | 1857 | Banniskirk House | Halkirk | | Caithness | Scotland | |
 | 1857 | Kyle Union Poorhouse | Ayr | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Original building |
 | 1858 | Rosemount Buildings (workmen's houses) | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
 | 1858 | Union workhouse | Northallerton | | Yorkshire | England | |
 | 1859 | Millfield Cottage | | | | | Improvements |
 | 1859 | Rosemount House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and additions |
 | c. 1859 | Haddington District Asylum, ancillary building and North Lodge | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | |
 | 1860 | Chalmers Hospital | Banff | | Banffshire | Scotland | |
 | 1860 | Paisley Asylum (annexe to Abbey Poorhouse), Riccartsbar | Paisley | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | |
 | c. 1860 | Mavisbank House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Conversion of Mavisbank House to Asylum - addition of wings and internal alterations |
 | 1862 | Houses for Edinburgh Assocation | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
 | 1862 | St Michael with St Lawrence Church | Byker | | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | |
 | 1863 | Eldin House | Bonnyrigg/Lasswade | | Midlothian | Scotland | Exhibited sketch; almost certainly responsible for extensive rebuilding of this period |
 | 1864 | All Saints Episcopal Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Submitted design in limited competition |
 | 1865 | Crichton Royal Institution, Southern Counties Asylum | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Additions and alterations (wards, recreation hall and central tower, and improvements to the heating system in 'the old house' etc. Also new Turkish baths |
 | 1866 | 11-13 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations to stair to area flats (perhaps not executed?) |
 | 1866 | Factory for Henry Widnell | Lasswade | | Midlothian | Scotland | Plans drawn up for new factory at various different sites - Lasswade, Bonnyrigg, Musselburgh, and Gorebridge |
 | January 1866 | Hospital | Low Walker | | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | |
 | 1867 | Crichton Royal Institution, main buildings | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Completion of Burn's original building and partial remodelling. |
 | 1868 | 11-13 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Remodelling of the ground floor of 13 as his own office. |
 | 1868 | Cunninghame Combination Poorhouse | Irvine | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Plans for alterations 'to remedy defects' |
 | 1868 | Edinburgh Royal Lunatic Asylum | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and improvements |
 | July 1868 | East Poorhouse and Maryfield Hospital | Stobswell | | Dundee | Scotland | Alterations and improvements |
 | Before 1868 | Beaver Hall | | | Middlesex | England | |
 | Before 1868 | Darrington Hall | | | Yorkshire | England | Additions |
 | Before 1868 | Staffordshire County Asylum | Lichfield (near) | | Staffordshire | England | |
 | 1869 | Designs for building for the Industrial Buildings Company | | | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | Competition design |
 | 1869 | Lincoln County Prison | Lincoln | | Lincolnshire | England | Competition design - placed 3rd |
 | 1869 | Newcastle Asylum | Coxlodge | | Newcastle upon Tyne | England | |
 | 1869 | Premises of Mr Henry Moffat in Leith Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
 | After 1869 | Melrose District Asylum | Melrose | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Drew up plans to 'remedy defects' |
 | 1870 | District Asylum for Midlothian and Peebles | Roslin/Rosslyn | | Midlothian | Scotland | Original building (during the latter stages in partnership with James Aitken |
 | 1870 | Property in Jamaica Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans prepared for conversion to school |
 | September 1870 | Crichton Royal Institution, Southern Counties Asylum | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations to refractory wards, new airing courts etc |
 | November 1870 | Shop premises for Henry Moffat Esq | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans for alterations |
 | 1871 | Free Church Offices and Savings Bank | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Minor alterations |
 | 1871 | Schools and boarding house ('pensionnat') | La Tour | | | France | Plans and working drawings drawn up |
 | May 1871 | Block of dwellings for the working classes | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Proposed |
 | May 1871 | Working Men's Institute | Stockbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and new billiard room |
 | 1872 | Cocklaw Farm | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Minor alterations |
 | 1873 | Balcurvie School | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | Proposed enlargement - uncertain if this was executed |
 | 1873 | Free Church schools | Roseburn | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Upgrade of accommodation |
 | 1873 | Infant School | Fountainbridge | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Upgrade of accommodation |
 | 1873 | Milton of Balgonie Board School | Milton of Balgonie | | Fife | Scotland | Plans for additions to old school and for new school on the old site - uncertain which executed, if either |
 | 1873 | Portobello Public School and janitor's house | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
 | 1873 | School | Dalkeith | | Midlothian | Scotland | |
 | 1873 | St Paul's Free Church Schools | St Leonards | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Upgrade of accommodation |
 | 1873 | Training House for Friendless Girls | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans drawn up for alterations and new schoolroom, dormer windows etc |
 | 1874 | 11-13 Queen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Palace front. |
 | 1874 | Arbroath Public School | Arbroath | | Angus | Scotland | |
 | 1874 | Edinburgh Royal Lunatic Asylum | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New wing |
 | 1874 | Keptie Public School | Arbroath | | Angus | Scotland | |
 | 1874 | Lovers' Loan School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations and upgrade |
 | 1874 | Public School | Burntisland | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1875 | Bristo Public School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
 | 1875 | Leith Walk School and lodge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original building |
 | 1875 | Markinch Board School | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | Working plans and specifications prepared - presumably for new school |
 | 1875 | Montrose Asylum | Hillside, Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Additions - dining hall, recreation room, enlargement of stores, extension of washhouse and laundry offices, new washhouse |
 | 1875 | Premises for J Horsburgh | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations |
 | 1875 | Prestonhall Board School | Glenrothes | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1876 | Farm steading at Lairg | Lairg | | Sutherland | Scotland | |
 | 1876 | Two blocks of tenements, Lutton Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans prepared |
 | c. 1876 | New buildings (probably tenements) | Joppa | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Ground surveyed and sketch plans prepared |
 | 1877 | Lower Craig View Row and Prince Albert Buildings, Terraces of Tenements | Dumbiedykes | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Repairs and sketch plans and plans drawn up for 'utilising the vacant angle at the north end' |
 | 1877 | Mossgreen Church | Dalgety | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations and additions |
 | 1877 | Poorhouse | Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | Plans for new poorhouse drawn up but project abandoned |
 | January 1877 | Feuing plan of Brickfield | Joppa | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans |
 | 1878 | School | Stenton | | East Lothian | Scotland | HS attribution |
 | 1879 | Aberdour Public School | Aberdour | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1879 | Donibristle School | Dalgety | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1879 | Feuing plan of Policy Park | Aberdour | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1879 | Greenock Municipal Buildings | Greenock | | Renfrewshire | Scotland | Third premiated competition design |
 | 1879 | Villa for Miss Auld, Policy Park | Aberdour | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1879 | Villa for Miss McGill, Policy Park | Aberdour | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1879 | Villa, Craigmillar Park | Craigmillar | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Sketches and working plans made for alterations and additions |
 | 1879 | Villa, Lauder Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Measured survey made and plans for addition to house |
 | 1879 | Woodside Hotel | Aberdour | | Fife | Scotland | |
 | 1881 | Semi-detached cottage | Joppa | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans prepared |
 | 1881 | Semi-detached cottage in Quarry Park | Joppa | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
 | 1881 | Working Men’s Dwellings | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Architectural Competition. Awarded second premium of £50 |
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