Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Black
Designation:  
Born:  
Died: 24 May 1841
Bio Notes: James Black was the Town’s Architect of Dundee from 1833 until his death, succeeding David Neave in this post. He stated in 1835 that he had been in practice since 1805 but nothing is known of his career before he arrived in Dundee in 1817. However George Angus from Edinburgh proved a rival and won many of the competitions for major new buildings in Dundee such as the Reform Street competition and the Prison and Bridewell competition which was despite Black’s intrigues to influence the decisions of the assessors. Black was a competent designer but was never given the opportunity to undertake any large commissions. In 1834 Black was a member of the directors of the Board of Directors of the Royal Lunatic Asylum in Dundee 'for the President of the several lodges and societies'. On 8 April 1836 Black advertised for an apprentice.

Black drew up a number of feuing plans for areas of ground in Dundee which are now held in the University of Dundee Archives which are listed below. Some of Black’s papers survive at the Albert Institute in Dundee.

Black died in 1841.

Plan of the North British Railway Company's property at Union Street marked showing the original feuing plan 1835 by James Black, GB 254/MS17/P/259
Plan, 1829 of properties between Candlemaker's Wynd and Trades Lane, belonging to James Keiller et al. GB254/MS17/P/194
Plan of ground at Burnhead, Dundee, 1824; possibly shows proposed new streets and coloured to show lines of existing buildings. Names of some property owners given, some buildings purposes specified. Trades Lane, east line of quay, Seagate noted. GB254/MS17/P/196
Feuing plan of that piece of ground called Bellfield, Dundee belonging to Charles Guthrie of Taybank. Plan altered by James Black, about 1830. GB254/MS57/P/8
Miscellaneous papers relating mainly to the affairs of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway Company, the Newtyle and Coupar Angus Railway Company, the Newtyle and Glammiss Railway Company and the Scottish Midland Junction Railway (1826-1881) (The main shareholders of the Dundee and Newtyle Railway Company - The Town of Dundee, George Kinloch, the Rt. Hon. William Ogilvy, the Earl of Airlie and Lord Wharncliffe - feature prominently in the papers. Other parties include James Sime surveyor, William Blackadder engineer, James Black architect, Archibald McGlashan superintendent of contractors, [?] Baird engineer, Hugh Robertson architect and James Leslie civil engineer) GB254/MS105/II/6
Minutes of meetings of the Directors, and of Special General Meetings, particularly concerning negotiations between Dundee and Newtyle Railway Co. and Dundee and Perth Railway Co, mentioning James Leslie civil engineer and James Black architect. GB254/MS105/II/6/13

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 4North side of the Trades Hall, Dundee, ScotlandPrivate18241825 
Item 2 of 4Jobson's Court, Seagate, Dundee, ScotlandPrivatec. 1829c. 1838 
Item 3 of 412, High Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusiness1834 *  
Item 4 of 431, Reform Street, Dundee, ScotlandBusinessc. 1837c. 1838 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 28 Cottage Orné, BalgilloBalgillo Estate AngusScotlandDate not known
Item 2 of 281819Blacksmith's shopLiff AngusScotland 
Item 3 of 281819Fowlis Easter Parish Church and Monument to Lord GrayFowlis AngusScotlandMonument to Lord Gray
Item 4 of 281820The AcademyArbroath AngusScotland 
Item 5 of 28c. 1820House and stableKingswell PerthshireScotland 
Item 6 of 281824Buildings in West Dock Street, Dock Street, South Union Street and Craig Street  DundeeScotland 
Item 7 of 281824School Wynd Church  DundeeScotland 
Item 8 of 281824St Aidan's ChurchBroughty Ferry DundeeScotland 
Item 9 of 281824Tenements for the Dundee Joint Stock Company  DundeeScotland 
Item 10 of 281826Woodhill FarmBarry AngusScotland 
Item 11 of 281827Tealing House  AngusScotlandE service and nursery wing, W wing and S entrance porch (including re-harling) by William Burn, 1827-29, constructed under supervsion of James Black of Dundee.
Item 12 of 281828ManseForfar AngusScotland 
Item 13 of 281828South Commercial Street layout  DundeeScotlandPlans for Layout
Item 14 of 281828Tenements, 2-8 Perth Road  DundeeScotland 
Item 15 of 281829South Grange HouseMonifieth AngusScotland 
Item 16 of 281830Semi-detached villas, Somerville Place  DundeeScotland 
Item 17 of 281832Reform Street competition  DundeeScotlandInvited to compete in providing elevations for house in new street - unsuccessful
Item 18 of 281833Dundee Court House and Bridewell  DundeeScotlandAwarded third prize
Item 19 of 281833Plan for the layout and feuing of Upper Chapelshade Gardens  DundeeScotlandCompetition design - unsuccessful
Item 20 of 281833The Howff  DundeeScotlandWith David Neave. Provided design for railing and gates in Barrack Street.
Item 21 of 281834Feuing plan for the remainder of the field at Lower Chapelshade  DundeeScotlandSubmitted design in limited competition
Item 22 of 281835Buildings in Lindsay Street   DundeeScotland 
Item 23 of 281838Fowlis Easter Parish Church and Monument to Lord GrayFowlis AngusScotlandRepair to church; manse and gig-house. The Dundee Advertiser just gives 'Church at Fowlis'. Since Black executed work at Fowlis Easter about 1819 it is assumed this further work is for Fowlis Easter rather than Fowlis Wester.
Item 24 of 281839Buildings in Panmure Street North  DundeeScotland 
Item 25 of 281839Ground at LocheeLochee DundeeScotland 
Item 26 of 281839House and garden, Magdalen Yard Road  DundeeScotlandFeuing plan
Item 27 of 281839West Bell Street layout  DundeeScotland 
Item 28 of 281840UP Church  DundeeScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Colvin, H M1995A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18403rd editionNew Haven and London: Yale University Press 
Item 2 of 2Dundee Post Office Directories     

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Dundee Advertiser8 April 1836