Basic Biographical Details

Name: George Burn
Designation:  
Born: 1759
Died: c. 1820
Bio Notes: George Burn was born in 1759 at Yester, East Lothian, the younger brother of James Burn. He practised as architect, civil engineer and bridge builder.

His earliest recorded bridge designs date to about 1798. These were followed by some large and important bridge commissions such as that at Fochabers. There were financial difficulties connected to this commission and the estate was sequestrated in 1803. Nearly 100 years later a petition by George Logie for the appointment of a judicial factor on a certain fund which was part of the estate of ‘George Burn, architect in Fochabers’ appeared in the Edinburgh Gazette in 1892. This and another claim were against the sequestrated estate of George Burn. There seems to have been some residue after all the other claims were paid in full and it is from this the applicants hoped to settle their claims.

Despite the sequestration Burn continued to be involved with civil engineering projects as a contractor employed by the Commissioners of Roads and Bridges in the Highlands, building a number of bridges to the designs of Thomas Telford. He also built various harbours for the British Fisheries Society. He was established in Wick by 1806 (though still referred to as ‘architect in Fochabers’ many years after his death.

Besides the engineering work he is known to have undertaken he built at least one church. He also worked for the Duke of Gordon on his estate.

He died about 1820.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2Fochabers, Morayshire, ScotlandPrivate/business1780s1790s 
Item 2 of 2Wick, Caithness, ScotlandPrivate/businessBefore 1806  

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 22 BridgeWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 2 of 22 BridgeHelmsdale SutherlandScotland 
Item 3 of 22 Fairn-ness Bridge  MorayshireScotland 
Item 4 of 22 Unidentified house   ScotlandPlans drawn up
Item 5 of 221797Bridge at InverbervieInverbervie KincardineshireScotlandWith his brother
Item 6 of 221797Dunglass Bridge  East LothianScotlandWith his brother
Item 7 of 221798BridgeFindhorn MorayshireScotland 
Item 8 of 221798BridgeThurso CaithnessScotlandProposals
Item 9 of 221798Bridge, Bilsdean  East LothianScotland 
Item 10 of 221800Bridge of AvonBallindalloch MorayshireScotland 
Item 11 of 221800St Clement's ChurchDingwall Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 12 of 22c. 1800Lovat BridgeBeauly Inverness-shireScotland 
Item 13 of 221801Spey BridgeFochabers MorayshireScotland 
Item 14 of 221802Chapel on the Gordon estate  MorayshireScotland 
Item 15 of 221802Huntly Parish ChurchHuntly AberdeenshireScotlandDesign for church drawn up - but superseded by that of Laing
Item 16 of 221803Bridge of DonDyce AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 17 of 221807Pultneytown HarbourWick CaithnessScotland 
Item 18 of 22c. 1807(?)Buildings and housesPultneytown CaithnessScotland 
Item 19 of 22c. 1810Grandholm Bridge  AberdeenshireScotland 
Item 20 of 22After 1811HarbourPortmahomack Ross and CromartyScotland 
Item 21 of 22After 1811Kirkwall HarbourKirkwallMainlandOrkneyScotland 
Item 22 of 221817Harbour officePultneytown CaithnessScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3Aberdeen Journal15 November 1803   
Item 2 of 3Caledonian Mercury24 March 1804   
Item 3 of 3Edinburgh Gazette13 September 189210396 p.1045

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Courtesy of Rob CloseInformation via 'Contact Us' on website Sent January 2012