Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Lessels | Designation: | Architect | Born: | c. 1834 | Died: | c. 1905(?) | Bio Notes: | James Lessels (born c.1834) was the younger son and partner of John Lessels Senior, the elder brother John having gone into government service. He inherited his father's interest in the practice and his appointment as architect to the City Improvement Trust when his father died in 1883 and worked in a very similar Scots Jacobethan style. He remained sole practitioner at 50 George Street, Edinburgh until 1890 when he took Harry Ramsay Taylor into partnership, the office subsequently moving to 7a Young Street by 1901.
Much of the work of the practice depended on the connection with Nelsons the publishers which had been established by John Lessels. When James Lessels died c.1905 Taylor merged the practice with that of William Ormiston of Cousin & Ormiston as Cousin, Ormiston & Taylor. At the time of his death James Lessels was residing with his sister Elizabeth at Great Ha', Roslin and had been there for some years. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this architect: | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Great Ha', Roslin, Midlothian, Scotland | Business | | c. 1905 | |  | 7, East Preston Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1869 | | Listed separately from father's practice |  | 50, George Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1879 | Before 1901 | With father's practice. After 1891 Lessels & Taylor |  | 7a, Young Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1900 | c. 1905 | Lessels & Taylor's address |  | 140, Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | c. 1905 | c. 1907 | Lessels & Taylor's address |
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 |  | Henry ('Harry') Ramsay Taylor | 1884 | 1890 | Assistant | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this architect: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this architect: | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes |  | Edinburgh City Archives | City Improvement Trust Minutes | | |
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