Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Johnston Gray
Designation:  
Born: 20 January 1804(?)
Died: 1884
Bio Notes: William Johnston Gray was born on 20 January 1804 in Coldingham and became architect to the Homes of Paxton, the Sunlaws Estate and Sir George Boswell of Allanbank, for all of whom he designed farm houses and cottages. He was familiar with the work of the American architect A J Downing, perhaps having American relatives. He presumably had worked for John Lessels as clerk of works on Broomdykes where Lessels made alterations in the later 1840s; Gray was employed thereafter directly by Sir George Boswell. In 1852 he published 'A Treatise on Rural Architecture, comprehending plans, elevations and sections of Farm Houses, Farm Offices, Cottages, Manses, Schools, Gates, Railings with Specifications and all necessary information as to their cost'. At some point between 1851 ansd 1861 Gray moved to Berwick-on-Tweed, Northumberland.

William J Gray died in 1884. His practice was continued by his son William junior and later as Gray & Nephew, William having taken his nephew, George Pratt Boyd, into partnership. By 1906 the name changed to Gray & Boyd. Boyd was killed during World War I. The younger Gray died on 14 October 1933. At this point he was in partnership with James Paterson.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Scott's Place, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, EnglandPrivate  Unclear if this is the address of William Johnston Gray or his son.
Item 2 of 2Ivy Place, Castlegate, Berwick-upon-Tweed, Northumberland, EnglandBusinessAfter 1851 * After 1851 and before 1861 he moved to Berwick.

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 34 Milldown Feeding ShedColdingham BerwickshireScotlandDate unknown
Item 2 of 341842Sunnyside CottagesColdingham BerwickshireScotland 
Item 3 of 34c. 1842Mains, gardener's gate cottageChirnside BerwickshireScotland 
Item 4 of 341844Broomdykes Farmhouse and FarmsteadingEdrom BerwickshireScotland 
Item 5 of 341845Whitemyre Farm CottagesEdrom BerwickshireScotland 
Item 6 of 34c. 1845Broomdykes Farmhouse and FarmsteadingEdrom BerwickshireScotland 
Item 7 of 34c. 1845Cairnhill Farmsteading and Farm CottagesDuns BerwickshireScotlandSteading
Item 8 of 34c. 1845East Blanerne FarmhouseBunkle BerwickshireScotland 
Item 9 of 34c. 1845Turtleton FarmhouseDuns BerwickshireScotland 
Item 10 of 341846Bunkle ManseBunkle BerwickshireScotland 
Item 11 of 341846Huxton Farm CottagesColdingham BerwickshireScotland 
Item 12 of 341846North Fala-Knowe Cottage  BerwickshireScotland 
Item 13 of 34c. 1846Press FarmsteadingColdingham BerwickshireScotland 
Item 14 of 341847Billie Mains Farmhouse, farm cottages and steward's cottageBunkle BerwickshireScotlandFarmhouse, farm cottages and steward's cottage
Item 15 of 341847Cairncross Cottages  BerwickshireScotlandReconstuction
Item 16 of 341847Reston Hill Farm Cottages  BerwickshireScotland 
Item 17 of 34After 1847Whitecross cottagesColdingham BerwickshireScotlandProposals for improvements
Item 18 of 341848Blackpotts Farmhouse and FarmsteadingColdingham BerwickshireScotland 
Item 19 of 341848East Reston Mill Cottage  BerwickshireScotland 
Item 20 of 341848Eyemouth Free Church ManseEyemouth BerwickshireScotland 
Item 21 of 34c. 1848Swinewood Mill Cottages  BerwickshireScotland 
Item 22 of 341849Allanbank Mill Cottages  BerwickshireScotland 
Item 23 of 341849Cairnhill Farmsteading and Farm CottagesDuns BerwickshireScotlandCottages
Item 24 of 341849Eyemouth Mill CottagesEyemouth BerwickshireScotland 
Item 25 of 341850Milldam Farm CottagesColdingham BerwickshireScotland 
Item 26 of 34c. 1850Chirnside ManseChirnside BerwickshireScotlandGates and railings
Item 27 of 34c. 1850Paxton Female SchoolPaxton BerwickshireScotland 
Item 28 of 341851Sunlaws Hill Farmsteading and Farm Cottages  RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 29 of 34c. 1851Tradesman's cottage   Scotland 
Item 30 of 341852Newmains FarmsteadingColdingham BerwickshireScotland 
Item 31 of 341853SchoolHeriot MidlothianScotland 
Item 32 of 341854(?)Coldingham PrioryColdingham BerwickshireScotlandRestoration and refitting of interiors, rebuilding West and South sides, addition of porch and belfry, clearing of surrounding structures to form churchyard. With Balfour Balsille, mason-architect
Item 33 of 341862Wick Free ChurchWick CaithnessScotland'Buildings of Scotland' claim this is by the son William J Gray (b.1846) but unlikely as he was only 16 then.
Item 34 of 341867Cottage for SunnysideColdingham BerwickshireScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Gray, William1852A treatise on rural architecture   
Item 2 of 3Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments   
Item 3 of 3Slater1867Slater's Directory of Scotland   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Builder1 December 1933  p875 Obituary

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 5Census records onlineCensuses  
Item 2 of 5Courtesy of Elizabeth SnowInformation sent via DSA website Sent November 2009
Item 3 of 5England and WalesBirths, marriages and deaths Statutory Registers and Old Parish Registers
Item 4 of 5HM New Register HouseOPR (Register of births)  
Item 5 of 5New Register HouseWills and Testaments