Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Watherston
Designation:  
Born: 2 March 1798
Died: 11 October 1869
Bio Notes: John Watherston & Sons were builders with an important architectural office from the 1870s. 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 in the early 1900s.

Information from gravestones in 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 24, Cambridge Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate 1869 

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 1John Watherston & SonsBefore 18561869Partner 

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 1Thomas Ponton Before 1856  

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 10After 1840Straiton House  EdinburghScotlandAdditions
Item 2 of 10c. 185013 Castle Terrace  EdinburghScotlandExecuted Burn's design
Item 3 of 101851Charlotte Place (Randolph Place)  EdinburghScotlandWorking with Thomas Ponton?
Item 4 of 101854Charlotte Place (Randolph Place)  EdinburghScotlandAs builder
Item 5 of 101857Easter Middleton  MidlothianScotlandDrawings not signed but may be by Watherstons
Item 6 of 10c. 18588-12 Castle Terrace  EdinburghScotlandExecuted by Watherston as builders?
Item 7 of 10c. 185942 Greenhill Gardens  EdinburghScotlandBuilt to John Henderson's designs
Item 8 of 10186237-65 Lothian Road  EdinburghScotlandPossibly acted as builder?
Item 9 of 101867New Palace Hotel and shops below  EdinburghScotlandAlterations to no 115
Item 10 of 101875John Watson's School, gardener's house  EdinburghScotlandReconstruction

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Scotlands People Website Wills & Testaments  Edinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories SC70/1/145 and 147 and Wills SC70/4/123

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 the firm.