Basic Biographical Details Name: | McDonald & Leslie | Designation: | | Born: | 1838 | Died: | 1858 | Bio Notes: | William Leslie was born at New Deer in 1802. His family were Independents, i.e. Congregationalists. He established himself at Park Cottage, Broadford, Aberdeen by at least 1828 when he designed a castellated lodge and gate for Hatton Castle. As a contractor his first job is said to have been the additions at Craibstone House, presumably those built in 1829, but it is not clear whether he designed them. He certainly built the North Church in Aberdeen to John Smith's designs in 1829-30 and Castle Newe to Simpson's designs in 1831. In 1838 he entered into partnership with Alexander McDonald, who was a stone-cutter. Although it has been assumed that the practice was based in Dornoch, the partners are still listed in the Aberdeen Post Office directories throughout this period and the stay in Dornoch must have been quite short.
Two years previously, in 1836, Leslie had been appointed agent for the Sutherland estates, undertaking architectural and civil engineering work, but this appointment did not exclude contracting for others and in 1840-41 McDonald & Leslie widened the Bridge of Dee to the designs of James Walker of Walker & Burgess, London, using the original facings as far as practicable, a contract which marked the beginning of a shift of his business interests towards Aberdeen. The partnership was dissolved in 1858. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Dornoch, Sutherland, Scotland | Business | | | | | Constitution Street (east end), Aberdeen, Scotland | Business | 1830s | 1850s | |
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 | | Alexander McDonald | 1838 | | Partner | | | William Leslie | 1838 | 1858 | Partner | |
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 | | 1840 | Bridge of Dee | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Executed plans by James Walker of London | | 1840 | Rhives House | Rhives | | Sutherland | Scotland | Design probably by Leslie | | 1841 | Helmsdale Harbour | Helmsdale | | Sutherland | Scotland | Embanked the river's shore | | 1845 | Dornoch School | Dornoch | | Sutherland | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Post Office Directories | | | | | |
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