Basic Biographical Details | Name: | Richard Park | | Designation: | | | Born: | 1842 | | Died: | 10 May 1906 | | Bio Notes: | Richard Park was born in Melrose on 4 October 1842, the son of John Park, builder, and his wife Rachel Hall who had been born in Galashiels or Lilliesleaf (Census records vary). John Park worked as a builder in Galashiels. His wife was a member of the Hall family (sister of John Hall and Robert Hall) who were builders and architects in Galashiels and who dominated the architectural and building scene in Galashiels through most of the 19th century.
It has been suggested that Richard Park may have been articled to Brown & Wardrop c.1858 as he superintended the alterations at Craichlaw House and supervised the building of Penninghame House in 1864-66. However in the Census of 1861 he is described as a mason and his father is a foreman mason and was possibly working for the Halls in Galashiels. In the mid-1860s Park married Euphemia Kinnell who was born in Melrose and who he probably met while he was in the Borders. When his eldest son John was born at 43 Carrubbers Close, Edinburgh in 1865 he was described as a clerk of works, and again as such in 1867 when his daughter was born. He does not appear in the 'Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory' of 1868 but was described as 'Architect' in the 1871 census when he was living in Creebridge.
In 1873 he began the reconstruction of the Old Place of Mochrum for the 3rd Marquess of Bute. By 1876 he was sufficiently prosperous to build a house for himself in Albert Street (subsequently Albert Terrace), Newton Stewart and by 1880 he had taken what was probably a larger house at 25 Victoria Street (his father John Park who died on 18 October 1880 lived with his son latterly). The 1881 census shows seven surviving children, a housemaid and a cook.
Park died at Lynnwood, Newton Stewart, a house he had built for himself, on 1 May 1906 at the age of 64. He was described in his obituaries as a freemason and a 'staunch Conservative' whose 'services [were] in demand for building the best class of private residences'. He was buried at Minnigaff Parish Church where his memorial is still extant. His personal life seems to have been much affected by tragedy: one son died aged 20 months in 1872, an infant daughter in 1877, and another son, Stephen, was drowned in the River Cree in 1885 while using a temporary wire bridge for the workmen at Machermore Castle which his father was reconstructing.
The practice was continued by his son, Dave (David) K Park, born in Trinity, Edinburgh c.1865, whose announcement in the Galloway Advertiser & Wigtownshire Free Press on 10 May 1906 refers to his having experience in America (he left for New York on 6 August 1891 and described himself as a 'joiner' at that date), Ayr, Edinburgh and latterly in Newton Stewart as assistant to his father. No work by the son is known. He died early at Lynwood in August 1908, only two years after his father. | Private and Business Addresses| The following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes |  | Lynnwood, Corvisel Road, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, Scotland | Business | | | | | Albert Street (later Albert Terrace), Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1876 * | | | | 25, Victoria Street, Newton Stewart, Wigtownshire, Scotland | Private/business(?) | 1880 * | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or Pupils| The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | David ('Dave') K Park) | After 1880 | 1906 | Assistant | |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic References| The following books contain references to this : | | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Scotlands People Website | | Wills & Testaments | | | Wigtown Sheriff Court SC19/41/16 (will of Park's father) |
Periodical References| The following periodicals contain references to this : | | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Galloway Advertiser and Wigtownshire Free Press | 3 May 1906 | | | Obituary | | Galloway Gazette | 5 May 1906 | | | Obituary |
Archive References| The following archives hold material relating to this : | | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Census records online | Censuses | | | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | Professor David M Walker personal archive | Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material | | Research by Annette Carruthers |
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