Basic Biographical Details

Name: Alexander Crombie
Designation:  
Born: 1812
Died: 27 February 1880
Bio Notes: Alexander Crombie was born in 1812, the son of William Miller Crombie, builder, who worked on Lowther Castle 1806 to 1811 under Sir Robert Smirke. Alexander was a pupil of John Brown, a Dumfries mathematician and surveyor. He became local architect and surveyor to the Crichton Royal Institution where his only building appears to have been Hillhead House, built in 1862. His one major work was the very large and surprisingly competent neo-Jacobean house at Duncow built in 1859-60.

In 1860 his twin sons Alan Burgess Crombie and James Crombie, born 1845, became apprentices. Of these Alan sought experience in London with Henry Astley Darbishire from 1864 to 1866, returning to assist his father in the latter year before being taken into partnership in 1870. James had a rather more adventurous career than his brother, seeking experience in the offices of Ewan Christian, Christopher Obee Ellison and Cubitt and Co's in London and Charles Dexter Gambrill and Henry Hobson Richardson in New York, returning to become his brother's partner. Alexander Crombie died on 27 February 1880 at Maryville, Dumfries and his sons' partnership was dissolved by 1881 when James became the partner of Patrick James Byrne of Windsor, with an office address at Lyons Inn Chambers, 303 Strand, London, and a home address at Rutland Lodge, Dulwich. The Dumfries practice was continued by Alan Burgess.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Maryville, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandBusiness 1880 
Item 2 of 23, Queen Street, Dumfries, Dumfriesshire, ScotlandPrivate/business1868 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 1A Crombie & Son1870c. 1876Partner 

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 3Alan Burgess Crombie18601864ApprenticeAssistant in 1866
Item 2 of 3James Crombie18601864Apprentice 
Item 3 of 3Alan Burgess Crombie18661870Assistant 

Buildings and Designs

This 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 311847Trustee Savings BankDumfries DumfriesshireScotlandExecutant architect - in conjunction with Gregan of Manchester
Item 2 of 311854RockhallMouswald DumfriesshireScotlandRemodelling
Item 3 of 311858Middlebie ManseMiddlebie DumfriesshireScotlandOriginal design
Item 4 of 311859Duncow House  DumfriesshireScotlandHouse, stables and lodge
Item 5 of 311860Dwelling HouseLincluden Mains DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions
Item 6 of 31c. 18605-7 Victoria Terrace and 1 Moffat RoadDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 7 of 311861Bridge DuncowDuncow DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 8 of 311861Buccleuch Street UP ChurchDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 9 of 311861Dwelling House Upper LocharwoodsUpper Locharwoods DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 10 of 311861Dwelling-house, M'CheynestonM'Cheyneston DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 11 of 311862Crichton Royal Institution, Hillhead HouseDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 12 of 311862Sweetheart Abbey  DumfriesshireScotlandRepairs
Item 13 of 311863Ruthwell Parish ChurchRuthwell DumfriesshireScotlandRefurnishing
Item 14 of 311866Hardgate SchoolHaugh of Urr KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 15 of 311866Mouswald SchoolMouswald DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 16 of 31Before 1868Courthill House and offices   Scotland 
Item 17 of 31Before 1868Crichton Royal Institution, poorhouseDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 18 of 31Before 1868Keltonhead House and offices   Scotland 
Item 19 of 31Before 1868LarkfieldDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 20 of 31Before 1868Mein BankDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 21 of 31Before 1868Newlands HouseKirkmahoe DumfriesshireScotlandOriginal house and offices
Item 22 of 31Before 1868RosebankDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 23 of 31Before 1868SchoolKirkbean KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 24 of 31Before 1868SchoolTroqueer KirkcudbrightshireScotland 
Item 25 of 31Before 1868St Bride's TerraceDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 26 of 31Before 1868Sunnyhill House and offices   Scotland 
Item 27 of 31Before 1868Unspecified villas  CumberlandEngland 
Item 28 of 31Before 1868York PlaceDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 29 of 311869Clarencefield SchoolClarencefield DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 30 of 311871Hutton and Corrie Parish ChurchBoreland DumfriesshireScotlandAdditions
Item 31 of 311874Noblehill SchoolDumfries DumfriesshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory1868Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory London, Wyman 
Item 2 of 3Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 3 of 3Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Dumfries Sheriff Court SC15/41/18

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Buildings of Scotland Research UnitBuildings of Scotland Research Notes (for unpublished volumes)