Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Simpson | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 1832 | Died: | 20 February 1894 | Bio Notes: | James Simpson was born in 1832 and practised in Leith from at least 1867. He was Burgh Assessor and Town Architect of Leith and for the first few years of its existence was architect to Leith School Board. He died on 20 February 1894, aged 63. His wife Margaret Matilda Boak predeceased him, dying on 19 July 1883, aged 43. Both are buried at Rosebank Cemetery, Edinburgh. His practice qwas taken over by his son George. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 19, Charlotte Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1868 | c. 1879 | |  | Raimesfield, Ferry Road, Bonnington, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1868 | c. 1889 | |  | 31, Charlotte Street, Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1880 | c. 1894 | |
Employment and TrainingEmployersEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | George Craig | 1867 | 1871 | Apprentice | Later assistant |  | George Craig | 1871 | Before 1880 | Draughtsman | |
Buildings and DesignsThis 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 |  | | McKinlay & Co | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Date unknown |  | | Premises of Robertson, Sanderson & Co | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | | William Ford & Sons | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Date unknown |  | 1867 | Institute Building | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1868 | Leith Town Hall and Sheriff Court, Queen Charlotte Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Nos 31 and 33 reconstructed as annexe to Leith Sheriff Court |  | 1868 | Scandinavian Lutheran Church | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Built, adapting designs of Johan Schröder |  | 1869 | Dr Bell's School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1871 | Union Bank | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1873 | Leith Hospital | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Northeast extension |  | 1875 | Bonnington Road School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1875 | Links Place School | Links Place | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1875 | Lorne Primary School | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original building |  | 1875 | North Fort Street School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original building - two tall storeys, crowstepped centre and ends |  | 1875 | Yardheads School | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original building |  | 1878 | 64-70 Constitution Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Added mansard roof to existing building |  | 1878 | Scottish Co-operative Wholesale Society (SCWS) | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Left half |  | 1878 | South Leith Parish Church Halls | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original hall |  | 1879 | Tenements with shops | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1879 | Warehouse, 42-43 Water Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1880 | Gladstone Place, Claremont Park | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1880 | Tenement, 22-26 Bernard Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New doorpiece at no 24 and link building and addition at rear to no 26 |  | 1882 | Portobello Co-Operative Society | Portobello | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1885 | House, 92 Restalrig Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1887 | Shops and warehouse at right angle to rear | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1890 | 59-61 Henderson Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1890 | Birnam Lodge | Trinity | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition |  | c. 1890 | Offices, 89 Constitution Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | 'Style of' |  | 1891 | Chancelot Mills | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1891 | Corner tenement, Henderson Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1891 | Learmonth House | Dean | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1891 | Leith Town Hall and Sheriff Court, Queen Charlotte Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Council chamber constructed and decorated |  | 1891 | Tenements with shops, 73-81 Henderson Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1891 | Villa, Claremont Park and Claremont Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Allterations |  | 1891 | Warehouse, 31-33 Water Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Also operhaps extension to west 1899 |  | 1892 | Warehouse, 42 Maritime Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1892 | Warehouse, 45-46A Maritime Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1893 | Leith Public Health Hospital | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1893 | Model Lodging House | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | 1893 | Warehouse, 7-8 Maritime Street | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |  | Before 1894(?) | Office and warehouse for John M Scott & Co, wine merchants | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | 'Probably' (HS); but constructed several years after his death, suggesting that the attribution may be incorrect |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills SC70/4/276 and Inventories SC70/1/332 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Scotsman | 22 July 1944 | | | Obituary of George Simpson, his son |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | NMRS Architects Index | | Information copied from an inscription in Rosebank Cemetery |
Images © All rights reserved. Edinburgh Architectural Association 1907 Exhibition Catalogue |