Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Biographical Details Name: | Charles Stewart Still Johnston | Designation: | Architect | Born: | 11 March 1850 | Died: | 3 April 1924 | Bio Notes: | Charles Stewart Still Johnston was born at Orphir House, Orkney on 11 March 1850 and was the son of James Johnston of Coubister. He was initially educated privately and subsequently at Kirkwall and Aberdeen Grammar Schools. He studied at Glasgow School of Art from c.1866 until c.1870. Thereafter he was articled to David Bryce for four years and commenced business on his own account in the mid-1870s. He married Elizabeth Gairdner, daughter of Major General John Gairdner, Bengal Native infantry in 1879.
Around 1892-93 David B Burnie, of whom little is known, was working in collaboration with Johnston in offices at 10 North St David Street. There is no evidence of any formal partnership having existed, but the two worked together on the winning competition design for West Fife Infectious Diseases Hospital.
Like many architects of his time Johnston was a Volunteer, initially with the 1st Lanarkshire Rifle Volunteers when a student in Glasgow in 1866-70 and then after a twenty-two-year break, with the Lothian and Berwickshire Yeomanry's Lodge of Freemasons from 1883, and a Director of the Edinburgh City Mission from 1884. He closed the practice in 1915.
He died on 3 April 1924, leaving moveable estate of £272 8s 6d, and was buried at Warriston Cemetery. His younger brother Col Henry Halcro Johnston (born 1856 - see 'Scottish Biographies', 1938) inherited the Coubister estate.
As part of his interest in Freemasonry Johnston had assembled a large collection of drawings of masons' marks. This was presented to the National Library of Scotland in 1946 by his widow (NLS MS 3726-9). She was then living at Reigate, Surrey. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | 6, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | | | |  | Orphir House, Orkney, Scotland | Private | 1850 | | Place of birth |  | 27, Nelson Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1880 | | |  | 5, Pitt Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1881 | | |  | 33, Howe Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1883 | c. 1885 | |  | 20, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1883 | c. 1888 | |  | 10a, North St David Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1889 | c. 1902 | |  | 34, Howe Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1889 | c. 1902 | |  | Erneston, Boswall Road, Wardie, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1903 | 1924 | Was house and office from c.1915 |  | 66, Hanover Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1905 | 1914 | |
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 |  | David Bryce | c. 1870 | c. 1874 | Apprentice | |
Employees or Pupils
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Johnston, W T | 2003 | Artists of Scotland | | Officina Publications CDROM | |  | Pike | | Edinburgh and the Lothians at the turn of the 20th century | | | |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |  | Scottish Biographies | 1938 | | | E J Thurston (pub.) | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this architect: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 18 April 1924 | CXXVI | | p 628 - obituary |
Images © All rights reserved. Edinburgh and the Lothians at the opening of the twentieth century / by A. Eddington. Contemporary biographies / edited by W.T. Pike |