Basic Biographical Details

Name: William Notman
Designation:  
Born: 1809
Died: 15 June 1893
Bio Notes: William Notman, son of John Notman, clerk of works and his wife Margaret Kemp, was born in 1809 at Kirkurd, Peeblesshire where he was baptised on 4 March. He was brought up at Northfield, Leith and articled to William Henry Playfair c.1823, remaining with him at least until the early 1840s. His surviving papers at RCAHMS indicate that whilst with Playfair he worked on Lurgan House (1833-35); Andrew Rutherfurd's house in St Colme Street (1835); Barmore (1836); alterations to Minto House (1837-38); and Donaldson's Hospital (1842-44). His sketchbook of c.1832 shows that he took an interest in the work of Thomas Hamilton as it includes sketches of Arthur Lodge and Dean Orphanage.

Notman married Barbara Graham, born 1814 or 1815 and commenced independent practice c. 1850 at Davidsons Mains. By 1868 he was practising from his home at Northfield Cottage, Newhaven Road which he had probably inherited on his father's death in 1808. He died on 15 June 1893 and was buried at Rosebank Cemetery, Leith. His wife survived him, dying on 30 April 1904.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 330, William Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate1831 *  
Item 2 of 3Northfield Cottage, Newhaven Road, Bonnington, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1845After 1868 
Item 3 of 3Davidsons Mains, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusiness1850  

* earliest date known from documented sources.

Employment and Training

Employers

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this (click on an item to view details):
 NameDate fromDate toPositionNotes
Item 1 of 2William Henry Playfairc. 1823c. 1827Apprentice 
Item 2 of 2William Henry Playfairc. 1827After 1840Assistant 

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 86 Cleopatra's Needle  LondonEnglandUndated measured drawing
Item 2 of 86 Cockpen Parish ChurchCockpen MidlothianScotlandUndated drawings possibly by Notman
Item 3 of 86 Design for a Court of Stable Offices    Undated drawing possibly by Notman
Item 4 of 86 Design for a pulpit    Undated drawings possibly by Notman
Item 5 of 86 Double Villa    Undated plan possibly by Notman
Item 6 of 86 Dunphail House  MorayshireScotlandPossibly assisted Playfair
Item 7 of 86 Lurgan School  County ArmaghNorthern IrelandUndated drawing of window detailing--possibly by Notman as assistant to William Henry Playfair who designed Brownlaw Hall at Lurgan
Item 8 of 86 Monument to Mrs Reid  Edinburgh?ScotlandAssisted Playfair? - date unknown
Item 9 of 86 Mr Laing'sLeith EdinburghScotlandUndated drawings possibly by Notman (label illegible)
Item 10 of 86 Red Heugh Dwelling House and Farm Steading  Edinburgh?ScotlandInvolvement uncertain; date unknown
Item 11 of 86 Small Building in Jacobean Style    Undated elevation possibly by Notman
Item 12 of 86 Unidentified Estate Dwelling or Farmhouse   ScotlandUndated drawings possibly by Notman
Item 13 of 86 Unidentified Glasshouse   ScotlandUndated drawings possibly by Notman
Item 14 of 86 Unidentified Row of Cottages    Undated drawings possibly by Notman
Item 15 of 861825Monument to Professor John PlayfairCalton Hill EdinburghScotlandAssisted Playfair
Item 16 of 861827Minto ManseMinto RoxburghshireScotlandAs assistant to Playfair
Item 17 of 861827St Stephen's Church  EdinburghScotlandPossibly assisted Playfair
Item 18 of 86c. 1828George Heriot's Hospital  EdinburghScotlandUndated survey plans possibly by Notman for Playfair
Item 19 of 86After 1830Small Stables   ScotlandDrawings
Item 20 of 86c. 1830Surgeons' Hall  EdinburghScotlandAssisted Playfair?
Item 21 of 861832Dalcrue Farmhouse, Lynedoch Estate  PerthshireScotlandAssisted Playfair
Item 22 of 861832Lynedoch  PerthshireScotlandPlans and sections possibly by Notman, assisted Playfair
Item 23 of 861832Royal Institution  EdinburghScotlandEnlargement and alterations - assisted Playfair
Item 24 of 86After 1832105 George Street  EdinburghScotlandPossibly assisted Playfair
Item 25 of 861833Advocates' Library  EdinburghScotlandDetail drawings possibly by Notman, assisting Playfair
Item 26 of 861833Bathgate AcademyBathgate West LothianScotlandElevation of entrance front - possibly by Notman
Item 27 of 861833Lurgan House  County ArmaghNorthern IrelandAssisted Playfair
Item 28 of 86After 1833Assembly Halls  EdinburghScotlandIncomplete elevation possibly by Notman
Item 29 of 86c. 1833Drumbanagher House  County ArmaghNorthern IrelandAssisted Playfair
Item 30 of 86c. 1833Minto ChurchMinto RoxburghshireScotlandAssisted Playfair
Item 31 of 861834Spottiswoode HouseWestruther BerwickshireScotlandDetail drawings, as assistant - see Notes
Item 32 of 86After 1834Unidentified Village Schoolhouse     
Item 33 of 861835Shop, 15 Princes Street  EdinburghScotlandAfter Thomas Hamilton
Item 34 of 861836Barmore HouseStonefield ArgyllScotlandAssisted Playfair
Item 35 of 861836Bonaly TowerColinton EdinburghScotlandPossibly assisted Playfair
Item 36 of 861837Calton Burial GroundCalton EdinburghScotlandSurvey possibly by Notman?
Item 37 of 861837Floors CastleKelso RoxburghshireScotlandDrawings possibly by Notman (for Playfair's remodelling)
Item 38 of 861837Minto House and stablesMinto RoxburghshireScotlandAlterations - as assistant to William Henry Playfair
Item 39 of 861838Murrayfield CottageMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandPossibly assisted Playfair
Item 40 of 861839Whytope Farm Farmhouse, Byre, EtcGlen Estate PeeblesshireScotlandPossibly assisted Playfair
Item 41 of 861842Donaldson's Hospital  EdinburghScotlandAssisted Playfair. Detail drawings?
Item 42 of 861843MiddletonFriockheim AngusScotlandAlterations and porte cochere - not extecuted?
Item 43 of 86After 1843St Andrew's Parish Church  EdinburghScotlandDrawings of proposed porches to east and west possibly by Notman
Item 44 of 86After 1843Tudor Style Gateway and Gate Lodge    Drawings possibly by Notman
Item 45 of 861844Mr McLean's Shop  EdinburghScotlandElevations
Item 46 of 861845Middleton School  Angus?ScotlandDrawings signed
Item 47 of 861848Glasgow Western CemeteryHillhead GlasgowScotlandCompetition design under pseudonym 'Alberti'
Item 48 of 861849Cottage at Coltbridge  EdinburghScotlandPlans possibly by Notman
Item 49 of 861852Haymarket MillsHaymarket EdinburghScotland 
Item 50 of 861852Haymarket Mills HouseHaymarkey EdinburghScotland 
Item 51 of 861852Newington and Warriston Feuing Plans  EdinburghScotlandPossibly by Notman
Item 52 of 861853Shop for Mr Scott on Lothian Road  EdinburghScotlandPossibly by Notman
Item 53 of 861855Bonded WarehouseDalry EdinburghScotlandUncertain involvement
Item 54 of 861855Haymarket Mills and Caledonian DistilleryHaymarket EdinburghScotland 
Item 55 of 861855Miscellaneous Estate Cottages    Probably by Notman
Item 56 of 861855Shop on Queensferry Street  EdinburghScotlandAlterations possibly by Notman
Item 57 of 861856W & F Wilson Wool StoreHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 58 of 861857Shop Front, 132 Princes Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 59 of 861857The ElmsGreenhill EdinburghScotland 
Item 60 of 861858Tenement on India Place  EdinburghScotland 
Item 61 of 861859Comiston Farm Farmhouse  EdinburghScotlandProbably responsible for the design of the alterations to the farmhouse.
Item 62 of 861859Plan of Wareroom for Mr KedieHawick RoxburghshireScotland 
Item 63 of 861859Tenement, Barony Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 64 of 861859Villa for Walter WilsonHawick RoxburghshireScotlandPossibly by Notman
Item 65 of 861860House for Mr Hope, Dick Place  EdinburghScotlandPossibly by Notman?
Item 66 of 861860Messrs McLean & Hopes Chemical WorksLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 67 of 861860Star InnMoffat DumfriesshireScotland 
Item 68 of 861860 or 1862Wilton Parish ChurchHawick RoxburghshireScotlandUnsuccessful competition design
Item 69 of 861861Hawick Moor Farmhouse and SteadingHawick Moor RoxburghshireScotlandPossibly by Notman
Item 70 of 861861T & A Wilkie's Shop, 75, 76 (?) Tolbooth WyndLeith EdinburghScotland 
Item 71 of 861862Gardener's House, Kinellan HouseMurrayfield EdinburghScotlandPossibly by Notman
Item 72 of 861862Jock's Lodge  EdinburghScotlandProposed additions possibly by Notman
Item 73 of 861862Tenement, Montgomery Street  EdinburghScotlandScheme drawn up by Notman?
Item 74 of 861862Tenements on Fort StreetNorth Leith EdinburghScotland 
Item 75 of 861862Warehouse for Trotter  EdinburghScotland 
Item 76 of 861863Bernard's Brewery  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions
Item 77 of 861863King's Place, Leith Walk  EdinburghScotlandAlterations and additions to houses
Item 78 of 861863Tenements at Admiralty Street and Cromwell StreetLeith EdinburghScotlandPlans signed - appears to be a survey
Item 79 of 861863Tenements, Windsor Street and Montgomery Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 80 of 861863Villa for Kirkhope   Scotland 
Item 81 of 861864Tenements on Maitland StreetNewhaven EdinburghScotlandSigned drawings
Item 82 of 861866Bell's Brewery  EdinburghScotlandNew kiln and addition of two storeys to malt barn (apparently not executed as drawn)
Item 83 of 861866Shopfronts, Lawnmarket  EdinburghScotland 
Item 84 of 861872Villa for Mr William Gifford  EdinburghScotland 
Item 85 of 861877Eildon LodgeWardie EdinburghScotlandGothic porch proposed
Item 86 of 861877Two storey tenement, Grove Street  EdinburghScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Bailey, Rebecca M1996Scottish architects' papers: a source book Edinburgh: The Rutland Press