Basic Biographical Details Name: | John Starforth | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 1822(?) | Died: | 18 May 1898 | Bio Notes: | John Starforth was born in Auckland, Durham and christened in the church of St Andrew on 18 July 1822. His father was John Henry Starford or Starforth and his mother Elizabeth Moor. He is said to have attended Durham University; Johnston found no record of him there, but as at St Andrews the documentation relating to those who only took classes relevant to their needs was perhaps not always retained. He came to Edinburgh as a youth and was apparently first apprenticed to Thomas Hamilton; but perhaps from want of business in Hamilton's office he moved to that of Burn & Bryce, presumably before Burn left for London in 1844. He probably remained with Bryce as an assistant and remained with Bryce at least until 1853 when he published 'The Architecture of the Farm' and a design for a steading for a farm of 500 acres in the 'Transactions of the Highland Society' (vol 5, 345-353), which brought him the society's gold medal. His first known building, Patriot Hall, dates from 1859, but it was not until 1864-5 that his career took off with a competition win for the Edinburgh Albert Memorial (the result was passed over as a statue by Sir John Steell was preferred) and major commissions in Dumfries.
Starforth's practice consisted mainly of churches, hospitals, poorhouses and country house work 'in the Highlands and West of Scotland' and, probably, villas, farmhouses and farm steadings: his three later publications are probably at least partly commissioned designs, though none has as yet been identified. His 'Scotsman' obituarist reported that his fondness for angling and shooting, as well as his own amiability of manner, both largely contributed to his success as a country house architect, and he remained 'on intimate terms of friendship' with his clients. The style of his country houses reflects his years in Bryce's office, but on a modest scale.
Most of his church commissions were obtained in competition, and were early English or early Geometrical in detail. The larger ones at Dumfries, Moffat, Kelso and Nairn have a marked individuality in plan and detail with a picturesque grouping of tower and flanking stairhalls. Like David Thomson, he appears to have had a printed list of his commissions which was issued to prospective clients and newspapers. No copy of this has so far been found, but a report on his Nairn church in the Dundee Advertiser of 27 March 1893 reprinted most of it, giving a fairly complete record of his practice.
By the mid-1890s Starforth was in failing health 'through an affection of the heart', and he died suddenly while walking along Princes Street on the morning of 18th May 1898. His wife Helen Henderson survived him, dying at 13 Fotheringham Road, Ayr on 12 February 1916. They had two daughters and three sons, one of whom, Robert H. Starforth, continued the practice.
Publications: 'The Architecture of the farm, a series of designs for farm houses and farm steadings', Edinburgh, 1853 'Villa Residences and Farm Architecture: a series of designs for villas farmhouses & c.', Edinburgh, 1865 'Designs for Villa Residences, with descriptions', Edinburgh, 1866 'The Architecture of the Park', Edinburgh, 1890 | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 3, South Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1857 | | |  | 70, Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1860 | c. 1861 | House and office |  | 78, Queen Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1866 * | | |  | 15, Drummond Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | 1867 | 1870 | |  | 37, York Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1868 | c. 1897(?) | With Robert H Starforth after c.1892. House and office |  | 12, Pitt Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1898 | | With Robert H Starforth |  | 55, Comely Bank Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private(?) | c. 1898 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes |  | Thomas Hamilton | | Before 1844 | Apprentice | Dates unknown |  | Burn & Bryce | 1844 * | | Apprentice | Exact dates unkown |  | Burn & Bryce | After 1844(?) | | Assistant | Starforth is believed to have remained in the practice after his apprenticeship |
* earliest date known from documented sources. Employees 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 |  | David McArthy | After 1870 | | Apprentice | |  | Robert H Starforth | Before 1898(?) | 1898 | | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Edinburgh Architectural Association | 1907 | Edinburgh Architectural Association Exhibition Catalogue | | Edinburgh | |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Edinburgh Sheriff Court Wills Sc70/4/307 |  | Walker, Frank Arneil | 1986 | South Clyde Estuary: An Illustrated Architectural Guide to Inverclyde and Renfrew | | | p125-126 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 28 May 1898 | | | obituary |  | Dundee Advertiser | 27 March 1893 | | | Report of Nairn Parish Church which lists Starforth's other works |  | Scotsman | 19 May 1898 | | | obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | George Dobie Ledgers | | |
Images © All rights reserved. Edinburgh Architectural Association 1907 Exhibition Catalogue |