Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Watherston & Sons
Designation:  
Born: Before 1856
Died:  
Bio Notes: John Watherston & Sons were builders with an important architectural office from at least 1856. John Watherston, the founder of the firm, was born on 2 March 1798. Sometime prior to 1830 he married Elizabeth Millar born 1 April 1802. At least two sons were partners in the business, William married to Cilla Johnston, and James, born 11 April 1831, who married Janet Henderson, born 31 January 1843.

The Watherstons built large parts of Edinburgh's West End speculatively sometimes to designs specified by the Walker and Heriot Trust estates, sometimes to their own. These were undertaken by the sons, John Watherston himself having died on 11 October 1869. The firm was also much sought after for country house work, again sometimes as architect builders. William Watherston died on 22 November 1895, predeceased by his wife who had died on 29 January 1887. James died on 30 September 1907 and was survived by his wife Janet Henderson who died 10 May 1923. In the late 19th and 20th century the architect partner in the firm was their son Robert Henderson Watherston, born in 1869 and a very accomplished designer, who died in 1923.

Information from gravestones, Dean Cemetery.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 229, Queensferry Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness   
Item 2 of 28, Charlotte Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1867 *  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 6John WatherstonBefore 18561869Partner 
Item 2 of 6William WatherstonBefore 1856(?)1895Partner 
Item 3 of 6James WatherstonBefore 1856(?)1907Partner 
Item 4 of 6A CraigBefore 1898After 1907Assistant(?) 
Item 5 of 6Robert Henderson WatherstonLate 1800s1923Partner 
Item 6 of 6John WatherstonBefore 1918 PartnerWas sole partner from 1918

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 121 119 Princes Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 2 of 121 4 Doune Terrace  EdinburghScotlandAddition of one storey - date uncertain
Item 3 of 121 CraigendarrochMorven ArgyllScotlandUndated and unsigned drawings - may be survey drawings prior to alterations?
Item 4 of 121 Lathrisk House  FifeScotlandMay be architects responsible for drawings
Item 5 of 121 Lauriston House  EdinburghScotlandAlterations - date unknown
Item 6 of 121 Melgund Terrace  EdinburghScotlandWorking with John Cook (date unknown)
Item 7 of 121 St Leonards, Kinellan Road  EdinburghScotlandPlans for proposed additions (show original house and proposed additions)
Item 8 of 121 Wester Hailes Farmhouse  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 9 of 121After 1840Straiton House  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 10 of 121c. 185013 Castle Terrace  EdinburghScotlandExecuted Burn's design
Item 11 of 1211851Charlotte Place (Randolph Place)  EdinburghScotlandWorking with Thomas Ponton?
Item 12 of 1211855Bonded WarehouseDalry EdinburghScotlandInvolvement uncertain
Item 13 of 12118564, 5, 6 Melville Crescent  EdinburghScotlandElevations to design by John Lessels. Interiors by Watherston
Item 14 of 1211857Easter Middleton  MidlothianScotlandDrawings not signed but may be by Watherstons
Item 15 of 1211858The ElmsGreenhill EdinburghScotlandInvolvement uncertain
Item 16 of 121c. 18588-12 Castle Terrace  EdinburghScotlandExecuted by Watherston as builders?
Item 17 of 121c. 185942 Greenhill Gardens  EdinburghScotlandBuilt to John Henderson's designs
Item 18 of 121186237-65 Lothian Road  EdinburghScotlandPossibly acted as builders?
Item 19 of 1211863KinellanMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandByre added
Item 20 of 1211867New Palace Hotel and shops below  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to no 115
Item 21 of 1211869Grosvenor Crescent  EdinburghScotlandBuilders for nos 7-10 and designed and built interiors of 15-20
Item 22 of 12118717 Charlotte Square  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 23 of 12118721-37 Drumsheugh Gardens  EdinburghScotlandAs builders, to designs of Peddie & Kinnear/Kinnear & Peddie firm
Item 24 of 1211872Kilgraston HouseBridge of Earn PerthshireScotlandReconstruction after fire, to designs by David Smart
Item 25 of 1211873119 George Street  EdinburghScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 26 of 121187416 Castle Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and addition at rear (as builders for James Campbell Walker)
Item 27 of 121187421 Lynedoch Place  EdinburghScotlandAddition
Item 28 of 1211874Town House, 10 Heriot Row  EdinburghScotlandAddition of dormers
Item 29 of 1211875John Watson's School, gardener's house  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction
Item 30 of 121187615 and 16 Carlton Terrace  EdinburghScotlandAddition
Item 31 of 1211876Angle Park Iron ChurchNorth Merchiston EdinburghScotlandExecutant architects? Designed details?
Item 32 of 1211876Corner tenement with shops, 1-2 Lynedoch Place and 2-4 Drumsheugh Place  EdinburghScotlandDate of initial drawings - possibly contract drawings
Item 33 of 1211876Industrial Schools  EdinburghScotland 
Item 34 of 1211876Warrender Park feuing  EdinburghScotlandFeuing plans
Item 35 of 1211877Dalry House  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction, including school rooms to south east
Item 36 of 12118782-6 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotlandExecuted design
Item 37 of 12118786 George Street  EdinburghScotlandAddition
Item 38 of 1211878City of Glasgow Bank, 7-8 Hunter Square  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 39 of 1211878Free Church Normal School  EdinburghScotlandProposed additions
Item 40 of 121c. 1878Cambo House  FifeScotlandProposed reconstruction of 18th century castellated house after fire - not carried out
Item 41 of 121188018 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 42 of 1211880Corner tenement with shops, 1-2 Lynedoch Place and 2-4 Drumsheugh Place  EdinburghScotlandPossibly building to a Peddie & Kinnear design
Item 43 of 1211880Drumsheugh Place  EdinburghScotlandBuilders
Item 44 of 121188127-39 Palmerston Place with 17 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotlandWith Alexander White
Item 45 of 121188129-33 Hanover Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 46 of 1211881Dolphinton House and lodge  PeeblesshireScotlandProposed additions
Item 47 of 1211882Binrock and Lodge  DundeeScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 48 of 1211882Bonaly TowerColinton EdinburghScotlandAdditions and alterations and additions to stables
Item 49 of 1211882Drummohr HousePrestonpans East LothianScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 50 of 1211883Cowdenknowes  BerwickshireScotlandAlterations and additions to house
Item 51 of 1211883National Bank of Scotland Head Office (Former)  EdinburghScotlandProposed new buildings in Register Place (McLachlan instructed to prepare specifications)
Item 52 of 1211884Cowdenknowes, stables  BerwickshireScotland 
Item 53 of 121After 1884Holy Family RC ChurchBellshill LanarkshireScotlandProposed additions
Item 54 of 12118854, 5, 6 Rothesay Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 55 of 12118857, 8 Rothesay Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 56 of 1211885Rothesay Terrace  EdinburghScotlandAlterations?
Item 57 of 1211885Sunlaws HouseRoxburgh RoxburghshireScotlandAdditions and alterations after fire and probably remodelling of stable
Item 58 of 1211886Ancrum HouseAncrum RoxburghshireScotlandPanelling in entrance, inner hall and dining room - after second fire
Item 59 of 1211886Dolphinton House and lodge  PeeblesshireScotlandProposed alterations
Item 60 of 1211886Pentland VillaWester Coates EdinburghScotland 
Item 61 of 1211888Douglas Gardens  EdinburghScotland 
Item 62 of 1211888Gallanach HouseOban ArgyllScotlandProposed alterations and additions - not carried out
Item 63 of 1211888Moray Free Church, South Back of the Canongate  EdinburghScotlandAlterations?
Item 64 of 121188917 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotlandDrawings for further work?
Item 65 of 121188918 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 66 of 1211889Sunlaws House Stable RangeRoxburgh RoxburghshireScotlandRemodelling
Item 67 of 1211889Valleyfield House  FifeScotland 
Item 68 of 1211890Cramond Manse  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 69 of 1211891Prestongrange ChurchPrestonpans MidlothianScotland 
Item 70 of 121189241 Manor Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 71 of 1211892Cunnoquhie House  FifeScotlandAlterations to house and stable offices
Item 72 of 1211892Hawthornden CastleLasswade MidlothianScotlandAlterations?
Item 73 of 1211893Borthwick CastleBorthwick MidlothianScotlandAlterations and additions and restoration
Item 74 of 12118967 Charlotte Square  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 75 of 1211896The HirselColdstream BerwickshireScotlandDrawings dated - proposed chapel and recreation room
Item 76 of 12118972-6 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to number 4
Item 77 of 12118989-16 Rothesay Terrace  EdinburghScotlandAnd after 1902 (see dated drawings in Walker Trust)
Item 78 of 1211898Bridge CastleTorphichen West LothianScotlandAdditions
Item 79 of 1211898Scottish Rural Workers Approved Society premises  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to no 39
Item 80 of 1211898Tranent Old Parish ChurchTranent East LothianScotlandPlan of gallery seating
Item 81 of 121189938-44 Drumsheugh Gardens  EdinburghScotlandNos 37a and 1 Rothesay Place
Item 82 of 1211899Dunsinnan House  PerthshireScotlandReconstruction
Item 83 of 1211899House, Blackford Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 84 of 121Late 1800s(?)Douglas Castle  LanarkshireScotlandPulpit in chapel (undated drawing)
Item 85 of 121Late 1800sGogarbank House  MidlothianScotlandAlterations
Item 86 of 1211900Dunsinnan House  PerthshireScotlandStables
Item 87 of 1211900Stable, Rosebery Crescent Lane  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to stable
Item 88 of 1211900The HirselColdstream BerwickshireScotlandStables - B of S attribution; possibly worked as contractors for Hay & Henderson?
Item 89 of 121190111 Gloucester Place  EdinburghScotlandProposed alterations - superseded by Peddie & Washington Browne scheme
Item 90 of 1211901Mortonhall House and stables  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 91 of 12119023 Charlotte Square  EdinburghScotlandAddition of porch
Item 92 of 121190341 Charlotte Square  EdinburghScotlandAlterations including 'new elevation' and porch
Item 93 of 1211903Caledonian Insurance Company  EdinburghScotlandReplacement of ground floor
Item 94 of 121190517 Rothesay Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to form flat at corner
Item 95 of 121190517-18 Rothesay Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 96 of 1211905Easter ParkBarnton EdinburghScotlandMay not have been involved except as builders
Item 97 of 1211905Villa for Mr Robert Simson  EdinburghScotland 
Item 98 of 121190612 Wester Coates Gardens  EdinburghScotland 
Item 99 of 121190618 India Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 100 of 121190619-25 Rothesay Terrace  EdinburghScotland 
Item 101 of 12119067-9 Wester Coates Gardens  EdinburghScotland 
Item 102 of 1211907Mr Ford's stable  EdinburghScotlandAlterations
Item 103 of 1211908Corner tenement with shops, 1-2 Lynedoch Place and 2-4 Drumsheugh Place  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to shops
Item 104 of 1211908Regent Hotel  EdinburghScotlandAdditions and alterations
Item 105 of 1211909Colinton HouseColinton EdinburghScotlandMeasured survey of Colinton House
Item 106 of 121191037 Inverleith Row  EdinburghScotlandAddition
Item 107 of 1211910Ellersly HouseMurrayfield EdinburghScotland 
Item 108 of 1211910Prestongrange ChurchPrestonpans MidlothianScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 109 of 121December 1910NorthfieldBalerno MidlothianScotlandSurvey drawings of earlier house? Plans for new house?
Item 110 of 12119123 Charlotte Square  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 111 of 1211912Invertrossachs  PerthshireScotlandRebuilding - employed as builders to execute design by Carruthers & Alexander
Item 112 of 1211912PeelwallsAyton BerwickshireScotlandAlterations
Item 113 of 1211915Feuing plan for Broughton Hall and Broughton Park  EdinburghScotlandFeuing plan
Item 114 of 1211916Edgerston House  RoxburghshireScotlandAlterations
Item 115 of 1211916Legal and General Assurance Society Ltd, Charlotte Square  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to upper floors
Item 116 of 1211917Hatton House  MidlothianScotlandAlterations
Item 117 of 121c. 1918Marchmont House, including stables and cottagesDuns (near) BerwickshireScotlandJoinery and carpenter work
Item 118 of 1211923Linthill House, farm buildings  RoxburghshireScotlandAdditions
Item 119 of 1211924Linthill House  RoxburghshireScotlandExtensive interior alterations
Item 120 of 1211927Villa, Blackford Road  EdinburghScotland 
Item 121 of 1211928Ratho Church HallRatho MidlothianScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Pride, Glen L1999The Kingdom of Fife2nd EditionThe Rutland Pressp105

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Personal information from the then principal partner in Watherstons