Basic Biographical Details

Name: Robert Smith
Designation:  
Born: 9 June 1849
Died: 1908
Bio Notes: Robert Smith was born on 9 June 1849 at Stobsmills, Temple, the youngest of the ten children of Alexander Smith and his wife Euphemia Leadbetter, sister of the Edinburgh architect Charles Leadbetter. The Smith family had a large carpentry and joinery business in Dewar, Heriot , Midlothian but later moved to Gorebridge, Midlothian. Robert Smith was articled to his uncle Charles Leadbetter and began business on his own account probably in the 1870s and built up an extensive business in and near Gorebridge in the later 19th century. His business included not just small local contracts such as schools but work on various estates in the area, namely Arniston, Vogrie and Harvieston. He may be the same as the Robert Smith who worked as an architect/builder with David Bryce.

In 1886-7 Smith designed Newbyres Libraryand adjoining cottage in Gorebridge, built at the expense of Robert Dundas and on its completion Smith was appointed librarian. He took up residencein the adjoining cottage with his wife Elizabeth Ingram Smith who was the local school teacher and their young son Alexander Williamson Smith. The Smiths went on to have six more children and all but one was born at Newbyres Library. Robert Smith appears to have continued to work as architect through perhaps in a reduced way whilst at the same time acting as librarian as he designed Ingram Cottage and Hawthorn Cottage in Stobsmills as family homes for two of his children in the first decade of the twentieth century. He also designed Gowanlea Cottage in Gorebridge for his retirement but died in 1908 aged fifty-nine at Newbyres Library and never took up residence at Gowanlea.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 1Midlothian, Scotland(?)Business   

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 1Charles Leadbetter1860s Apprentice 

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 15 Vogrie Dower HouseFord MidlothianScotland 
Item 2 of 151870s(?)Gorebridge and Crichton Public SchoolGorebridge MidlothianScotland 
Item 3 of 151873Brewers Bush cottageCockpen MidlothianScotland'Probably' (HS)
Item 4 of 151880sGorebridge Co-operative Society buildingsGorebridge MidlothianScotland 
Item 5 of 151880s(?)St Margaret's RC ChapelGorebridge MidlothianScotland 
Item 6 of 151880s(?)Stobhill SchoolGorebridge MidlothianScotland 
Item 7 of 151885Newbyres RowGorebridge MidlothianScotland 
Item 8 of 151886Newbyres Library and adjoining cottageGorebridge MidlothianScotland 
Item 9 of 15Mid 1880sHarvieston TerraceGorebridge MidlothianScotland 
Item 10 of 151895Arniston, Laundry  MidlothianScotland 
Item 11 of 15Late 1800s1-4 Harvieston Mains CottagesBorthwick MidlothianScotlandPerhaps the same Smith that worked with Bryce?
Item 12 of 15Late 1800sOuterston Farm, cottageTemple MidlothianScotlandPerhaps the same Smith that worked with Bryce?
Item 13 of 15After 1900Hawthorn CottageStobsmills MidlothianScotland 
Item 14 of 15After 1900Ingram CottageStobsmills MidlothianScotland 
Item 15 of 15Before 1908GowanleaGorebridge MidlothianScotland 

References

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Dalkeith Advertiser1905  Advertisement for sale of joinery business
Item 2 of 3Dalkeith Advertiser1908  Obituary
Item 3 of 3Dalkeith Advertiser1917  Death of Elizabeth Ingram Smith

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 3H M Register HouseDeath Register  
Item 2 of 3HM New Register HouseOPR (Register of births)  
Item 3 of 3Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive material Information from Smith's great grandson, Royston Smith from family papers and family history research.