Basic Biographical Details Name: | Richard Crichton | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1771 | Died: | 17 August 1817 | Bio Notes: | Richard Crichton was born on 25 June 1771 in Edinburgh, the son of James Crichton, an Edinburgh mason who died in 1797 and his wife Mary Henderson who were married on 20 May 1771. James Crichton appears in Dean of Guild records in 1782 where he describes himself as ‘journeyman mason, aged 36 or thereby’. Richard Crichton started his career as a draughtsman for the Adam brothers. In May 1797 he was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh. He appears in Dean of Guild Court records for the first time in 1800 when he was involved in a dispute over the boundaries of a tenement which was being rebuilt in College Street. He may have designed the buildings but it is certain that he drew up a plan of the site as this is signed with his characteristic monogram.
In May 1797 he was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh. Colvin describes him as ‘competent and versatile’. He continued in the vein of the Adams in their extensive Scottish practice. Gask House in Perthshire and the Bank of Scotland on the Mound in Edinburgh were designed in the simple classical style of the later year of the Adams. However elsewhere his designs show that he was adept in using the castle style, and the Gothic, classical and Greek Revival styles.
Crichton married Mary Ritchie on 28 December 1810. Mary Ritchie was the sister of Charles Ritchie an ironmonger. Crichton went on to design a new shop for Ritchie. From about 1810 Crichton designed a remarkable series of shopfronts in the Old and New Towns of Edinburgh. Typically these used large areas of glass and narrow pilasters between. He also produced a number of designs with a copious use of iron - verandas, balconies etc.
In 1813 Crichton entered the competition for the town planning scheme around Calton Hill. He shared the prize with William Reid of Glasgow and Alexander Nasmyth but none of their schemes were carried out. The commission eventually went to Archibald Elliott and included Calton Bridge.
Crichton was a subscriber to the Astronomical Society.
Crichton’s career was cut short when he died aged 46 on 17 August 1817, perhaps beause of the stress of the St Ann's Terrace disaster. His name was added to the Egyptian style monument that he had erected for his father in St Cuthbert’s Churchyard. His practice was continued by R & R Dickson, his nephews.
| Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | 10, James Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1817 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | Richard Dickson | | 1817 | Apprentice | | | Robert Dickson | | Before 1817 | Apprentice | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | c. 1795 | Rossie Castle | Montrose | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1796 | Craig Parish Church | Craig | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1800 | Tenements | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Drew site plan and may have designed tenements | | 1801 | Bank of Scotland Headquarters, The Mound | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Original building - jointly with Robert Reid | | 1801 | Colinton House | Colinton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Drew elevation to correspond to plan provided by Thomas Harrison for Sir William Forbes. | | 1801 | Gask House | Gask | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1804 | Samuel Wordsworth's stables and inn | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1805 | Abercairney | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Designed and commenced building of house (completed by R & R Dickson after Crichton's death) | | c. 1805 | Gelston Castle, holiday centre | Castle Douglas | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Attribution on stylistic grounds | | 1806 | Nelson's Tower, Cluny Hill | Forres | | Morayshire | Scotland | Competition design | | 1806 | Old Courthouse and Jail | Stirling | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | | | 1807 | Dunglass | | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1807 | Inverkeithing Parish Church | Inverkeithing | | Fife | Scotland | Repairs and alterations | | 1810 | House, Princes Street and St Andrew Street corner | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations | | 1810 | Samuel Wordsworth's stables and inn | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Addition of covered veranda running the length of the terrace. | | 1811 | Shop for Charles Ritchie, ironmonger | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1811 | Shop for Mrs Helen Black, Hanover Street and Rose Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1813 | Blair Drummond Corner | Blair Drummond | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1813 | Shopfront for Andrew Milroy, jeweller, 35 North Bridge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Shopfront | | 1813 | Warehouse, South Bridge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations to create warehouse with the insertion of cast iron beams. Working in conjunction with the architect James Thin. | | 1814 | Kincardine-in-Menteith Parish Church | Blair Drummond | | Perthshire | Scotland | Original building | | 1814 | Meeting Hall for the Incorporation of Goldsmiths | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Goldsmiths' Hall within pre-existing tenement | | 1814 | Parish Church | Kincardine-in-Menteith | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1814 | The Regent Bridge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Submitted design - commission went to Elliot | | 1815 | 104 Princes Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Iron balcony erected across the width of the building. Dean of Guild drawing not signed by Crichton but style links it to R & R Dickson. | | 1815 | Balbirnie House, including walled garden and stables | Markinch | | Fife | Scotland | Enlargement of House. | | c. 1815 | Lawers House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Remodelling of exterior | | 1816 | Carriden Manse | Carriden | | West Lothian | Scotland | | | 1816 | Cockpen Parish Church | Cockpen | | Midlothian | Scotland | Designs drawn up. | | 1816 | George Watson's College | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Unexecuted design | | 1816 | St Ann's Terrace, North Bridge | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | In conjunction with his nephews, R and R Dickson. Crichton's monogram appears on the site plan. Also Crichton drew designs for individual tenements which are much more elaborate with Regency details. |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | APSD | | The Dictionary of Architecture | ed Wyatt Papworth | The Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) | | | Colvin, H M | 1995 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | 3rd edition | New Haven and London: Yale University Press | | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Rock, Joe | | Designs in Iron by Richard Crichton (1771-1817) | | Online publication [n.d.] | | | Scottish Record Society | 1933 | Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses | | | | | Youngson, A J | 1966 | The Making of Classical Edinburgh | | Edinburgh University Press | pp142, 307, n.36 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Scots Magazine | 1 July 1814 | | | |
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