Basic Biographical Details

Name: John Plaw
Designation:  
Born: c. 1745
Died: 24 May 1820
Bio Notes: John Plaw was born about 1745 and was probably the John Plaw who was apprenticed to Thomas Kaygill who was a member of the Tylers’ and Bricklayers’ Company. In 1763 he is described as an architect and builder when he won a prize awarded by the Society of Arts for a drawing of the Banqueting House at Whitehall. He was a member of the Incorporated Society of Artists and had exhibited with it in 1773, 1790 and 1791 and held the post of President at the time it was dissolved in the latter year. He also exhibited at the Royal Academy from 1775.

In about 1795 he moved to Southampton where he drew up plans for a development of houses in Albion Place and Brunswick Place. Little of none of this was executed. Plaw emigrated to Canada in 1807 and settled in Charlottetown, Prince Edward Island where he designed several buildings before his death on 24 May 1820. He had several pupils including John Buonarotti Papworth.

Plaw designed a few buildings in Scotland. His best known works are the circular house on an island in Lake Windermere and a church at Paddington.

Plaw published books on cottages, farms and villas in which a number of his designs were illustrated. These were amongst the earliest of the popular cottage and villa architecture pattern books and show his liking for vernacular materials. His publications are listed below.

‘Rural Architecture; or Designs from the Simple Cottage to the Decorative Villa’ (1785, 1794, 1796, 1800, 1802, 1804)

‘Ferme Ornée or Rural Improvements’ (1785, 1813)

‘Sketches for Country Houses, Villas and Rural Dwellings’ (1800, 1803)

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 2London, EnglandPrivate/business   
Item 2 of 2Prince Edward island, CanadaPrivate/business18071820 

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 3 Glenfiddich Lodge  BanffshireScotlandRebuilt John Baxter building
Item 2 of 31790Wedderburn CastleDuns BerwickshireScotlandThe Lion Gate
Item 3 of 3Before 1795Seacliffe House and cottageNorth Berwick East LothianScotland 

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this :
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 2 of 3Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 3 of 3DNB Dictionary of National Biography   

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this :
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 1Gentleman's Magazine1820ii p376

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Guildhall Library Manuscripts CollectionMSS. 3053/3, 1768, 3053/4, p7MSS. 3053/3, under 1768, 3053/4, p7. Records of the Tylers' and Bricklayers' Company.