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Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Morham
Designation: Architect
Born: 31 March 1839
Died: 5 June 1912
Bio Notes: Robert Morham was born in Edinburgh on 31 March 1839, the son of Robert Morham, 13 Lauder Road, Grange, which was to be his home throughout his life. In his earlier years he styled himself Robert Morham Jun. He was educated at Newington Academy and at the High School. About 1854 he was articled to David Rhind and remained with him for five years before transferring to the office of David Bryce where he spent three years. During that period he attended the Watt Institution and School of Art and studied at the Trustees' Academy. About 1862 he moved to London to widen his experience and spent four years with William Eden Nesfield, although there is little sign of his influence in his architecture. In 1866 he returned to Edinburgh as principal assistant to David Cousin and was briefly his partner until Cousin's retirement in 1873. He then succeeded as City Superintendent of Works. In the same year he married Anne Isabella Cunningham, daughter of Patrick Brown Cunningham, with whom he had five sons and one daughter.

In his later years Morham relied heavily on assistants, James Anderson Williamson becoming Deputy Architect in 1898 and succeeding him in 1908. He died on 5 June 1912, leaving moveable estate of £10,768 15s 6d.

His brother George practised as an engineer and surveyor.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architect:
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 313, Lauder Road, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate18391912 
Item 2 of 310, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1871c. 1872 
Item 3 of 311, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessc. 1874c. 1890 

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 5David Rhindc. 1854c. 1859Apprentice 
Item 2 of 5David Brycec. 1859c. 1862Assistant 
Item 3 of 5William Eden Nesfieldc. 1862c. 1866Assistant 
Item 4 of 5David Cousinc. 18661873AssistantLater partner
Item 5 of 5Edinburgh City Architect's Department (Edinburgh Corporation)18731908ArchitectAs City Architect and Superintendent of Works

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architect (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 14John Russell Walkerc. 18711873Assistantin Edinburgh City Architect's Office
Item 2 of 14James Anderson Williamson18801898AssistantIn Edinburgh City Architect's Office
Item 3 of 14James Davidson Cairns18851887Apprentice 
Item 4 of 14John Lumsdaine1887 * Senior Assistant 
Item 5 of 14Alexander Lorne Campbellc. May 1891July 1896Draughtsman 
Item 6 of 14William Beattie-Brown18941899Apprentice 
Item 7 of 14John Alexander Black1896After 1898AssistantUnder Robert Morham, City Architect; directly supervised by James Anderson Williamson
Item 8 of 14Charles Henry Greig1897c. 1901Draughtsman 
Item 9 of 14James Anderson Williamson18981908ArchitectServed as Morham's Depute in Edinburgh City Architect's Office
Item 10 of 14John Bryan Nisbetc. 1898(?)c. 1903(?)Assistant 
Item 11 of 14William Beattie-Brown18991900ClerkUnder-Clerk of Works on City Hospital
Item 12 of 14William Henry Johnson (junior)19001903Assistantin Edinburgh City Architects Department
Item 13 of 14George White19001908AssistantIn Edinburgh City Architect's Office
Item 14 of 14Hugh Alexander DalrympleBefore 1906Before 1906Apprentice 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 startedBuilding nameTown, district or villageIslandCity or countyCountryNotes
Item 1 of 59 Portobello Public ParkPortobello EdinburghScotlandLayout - date unknown
Item 2 of 591867St Giles Cathedral  EdinburghScotlandOriginal sketch scheme for restoration
Item 3 of 591869Robertson Memorial Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 4 of 591870Blackfriars UP Church  EdinburghScotlandAs assistant to Cousin
Item 5 of 591871Blackfriars Mission Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 6 of 591871Tenement, 52, 54 High Street  EdinburghScotlandAdaptation of design
Item 7 of 59c. 1872Robertson Memorial Manse  EdinburghScotlandPerhaps (HS)
Item 8 of 5918735-9 Blackfriars Street  EdinburghScotlandAdapting design by Cousin and Lessels
Item 9 of 59187356-60 High Street and 1-3 Blackfriars Street  EdinburghScotlandAdapted design of Cousin and Lessels
Item 10 of 591874Abbey Church  EdinburghScotland 
Item 11 of 591874Greenmarket (or Fruit and Vegetable Market)  EdinburghScotland 
Item 12 of 591874Married quarters for soldiers  EdinburghScotlandAddition of towers
Item 13 of 591874Torphichen Street Police Station (1874)  EdinburghScotland 
Item 14 of 591874Waverley Market  EdinburghScotland 
Item 15 of 591875Cowgate RC School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 16 of 591875Fishmarket  EdinburghScotland 
Item 17 of 591876Oswald House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 18 of 591877Edinburgh Wholesale Meat Market  EdinburghScotlandUnexecuted design, superseded by P L B Henderson
Item 19 of 591877West Princes Street Gardens, Winter Garden and fernery  EdinburghScotlandExecuted design
Item 20 of 591879Canongate Tolbooth  EdinburghScotlandRestoration
Item 21 of 591879Roman Catholic School  EdinburghScotland 
Item 22 of 591880102-104 Hanover Street  EdinburghScotlandTop floor and balustrade
Item 23 of 59188013-23 Shandwick Place  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction
Item 24 of 59188030-34 Upper Gray Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 25 of 591880Oswald House  EdinburghScotlandEastern addition
Item 26 of 591880The Ministers Daughters' College  EdinburghScotlandPorch and lodge added
Item 27 of 591884Canongate Tolbooth  EdinburghScotlandRestoration
Item 28 of 591884Mr Buchanan's HouseGrange EdinburghScotlandAddition
Item 29 of 591885Infirmary Street Swimming Baths  EdinburghScotland 
Item 30 of 591885Oswald House, gardener's house  EdinburghScotland 
Item 31 of 591885Police and Fire Station  EdinburghScotland 
Item 32 of 591885Police Office, Causewayside and Fire Station, Sciennes House Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 33 of 591886Holyrood Park, St Leonard's Fountain  EdinburghScotland 
Item 34 of 591886West Princes Street Gardens, Gardener's House  EdinburghScotland 
Item 35 of 591889Edinburgh City Chambers  EdinburghScotlandCommittee Romm A.
Item 36 of 59c. 1890Inverleith Public ParkInverleith EdinburghScotland 
Item 37 of 591892(?)Waverley Station, Ticket Centre  EdinburghScotlandRebuilding (date not given by HS)
Item 38 of 591893Dalry Baths  EdinburghScotland 
Item 39 of 591893Observatory House, Calton Hill  Edinburgh Alterations
Item 40 of 591894Dewar Place Electricity Station  EdinburghScotlandWith Professor Alexander Kennedy as consulting engineer
Item 41 of 591894Fire station  EdinburghScotland 
Item 42 of 591894North Bridge  EdinburghScotlandDesigned architectural details for Blyth & Westland bridge
Item 43 of 591895City Observatory, Calton Hill  EdinburghScotlandInterior overhauled
Item 44 of 591896Police Station, Abbeyhill  EdinburghScotland 
Item 45 of 591897Central Fire Station  EdinburghScotlandRobert Gildard responsible for the drawings - under supervision of James Anderson Williamson
Item 46 of 591897City Infectious Diseases HospitalColinton EdinburghScotlandAs City Architect
Item 47 of 591897Clubhouse  EdinburghScotlandAnderson working under Morham who was the City Architect.
Item 48 of 591897Glenogle Baths  EdinburghScotland 
Item 49 of 591898City Dome, Calton Hill  EdinburghScotland 
Item 50 of 591898Edinburgh City Chambers  EdinburghScotlandRebuilding of west range
Item 51 of 591898Portobello Public BathsPortobello EdinburghScotlandAs City Architect, supervising James Anderson Williamson
Item 52 of 591899McDonald Road Electricity Generating Station and former printing works  EdinburghScotlandExtensions - as City Architect
Item 53 of 591900Edinburgh City Chambers  EdinburghScotlandArcaded screen
Item 54 of 591901Edinburgh City Chambers  EdinburghScotlandCouncil Room wing
Item 55 of 591901Edinburgh City Chambers  EdinburghScotlandExtension at rear
Item 56 of 591904Wash House South Gray's Close  EdinburghScotlandCity Architect
Item 57 of 591905Morningside Public LibraryMorningside EdinburghScotlandWilliamson mainly responsible (working as assistant in Morham's office)
Item 58 of 591908Bridge over the Water of LeithSaughton EdinburghScotland 
Item 59 of 591908Torphichen Street Police Station (1908)  EdinburghScotlandNew station superseding old one also by Robert Morham

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architect:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Pike Edinburgh and the Lothians at the turn of the 20th century   
Item 2 of 2Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architect:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder14 June 1912  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 

© All rights reserved. Edinburgh and the Lothians at the opening of the twentieth century / by A. Eddington. Contemporary biographies / edited by W.T. Pike