Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Ormiston | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1835 | Died: | 19 January 1920 | Bio Notes: | William Ormiston was born about 1835. William Ormiston was in the office of David Cousin at Royal Exchange as either a partner or a senior assistant by 1864 when John Hinton Gall was articled to him. Also in that office was David Cousin's brother George, although neither appear along with David Cousin in the directories. Ormiston was in independent practice in about 1868-70 with a practice address at 10 Nicolson Square, perhaps running this consurrently with his work for the city. When David Cousin was spending much of his time abroad trying to recover his health George Cousin and William Ormiston appear to have been responsible for his private practice, although Ormiston also entered into short-term arrangements with John Lessels during that period, submitting a joint design for the Medical School. Either when David Cousin died in the USA in August 1878, or perhaps earlier, George Cousin and Ormiston went into partnership, although they did not retain the business of the British Linen Bank, David Cousin's main client.
George Cousin died on 17 September 1890. Ormiston retained the name of the firm and became Lord Dean of Guild in 1898 holding the position for four years. Despite this the Cousin & Ormiston practice's known works were few and unimportant until 1900 when the commission for the Hotel Paris was received. For this project a very able free-style assistant was recruited but his identity has not been traced through the nomination papers. In 1904 the commission for James Gray & Sons' equally stylish building was received, but in the following year Ormiston merged the practice with that of Lessels & Taylor, bringing to a final conclusion the long-standing links between the Cousin and Lessels practices. The practice of Cousin, Ormiston & Taylor continued to be based in William Ormiston's office at 140 Princes Street. 'Buildings of Scotland, Edinburgh' has assumed a connection between the two practices prior to 1905, but there is no obvious stylistic link between them and Taylor's consistent use of neo-Jacobean at those dates. The Taynuilt house was markedly influenced by Lorimer's simpler houses.
William Ormiston was a leading member of the Methodist Church and was a member of the Nicolson Square congregation being Superintendent of the Sunday School for nearly fifty years. He was a JP and iIn and possibly before 1915 he was Chairman of the Loanhead Gas Company. He was married with three daughters. He died aged eighty-five on 19 January 1920. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Sunnyside, Bruntsfield Links, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1861 | c. 1863 | | | 12, Royal Exchange, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1864 * | | As senior assistant or partner to David Cousin | | 10, Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business(?) | c. 1867 | | | | 5, Bruntsfield Terrace, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | c. 1871 | | | | 140, Princes Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1892 | After 1905 | | | Relugas Road, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1920 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployersThe following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | David Cousin | Before 1864 | Before 1878 | | As senior assistant or partner - role unclear | | Cousin & Ormiston | Before 1878 | c. 1905 | Partner | | | Cousin, Ormiston & Taylor | c. 1905 | c. 1919 | Partner | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Scotsman | 31 July 1915 | | | | | Scotsman | 6 December 1915 | | | | | Scotsman | 6 November 1916 | | | | | Scotsman | 20 January 1920 | | | p4 Obituary |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Town Council Minutes | | | | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | John Hinton Gall: L v17 no1275 (mentions 'G Cousin' as Ormiston's partner) |
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