Basic Biographical Details

Name: Adam Russell
Designation:  
Born:  
Died: c. 1813
Bio Notes: Adam Russell was a builder in Edinburgh and Leith. Like a number of builders he lent money to other builders and faced prosecution from Edinburgh, Leith and Canongate Incorporations of wrights and masons for 'encroachments' on their rights between 1783 and 1793. They faced fines of up to £100.

In 1789 he seems to have been working in the New Town of Edinburgh with Thomas Russell (perhaps a brother?) as he complained about building materials being an obstruction in Queen Street. He and Thomas owned one of the two brick factories in Edinburgh which supplied materials to the Ediburgh area and further afield. In 1795 he is described as 'Mr Russell, master builder in Brickfield, near Leith'. At that date he owned a property in Leith which was standing empty. In 1800 he was fined (and incarcerated in the Tolbooth until he paid) for failing to obtain a building warrant before proceeding with a building in Greenside. In 1793 he owned a feu on the north side n Charlotte Square. Presumably he had the intention of erecting a building specualtively on this. In 1799 he was building at Leith Links, probably again without a warrant.

His only known work as yet is the High Kirk in Rothesay of 1796.

There are reports of his bankruptcy in 1805, 1807 and 1813. It is not celar if he managed to recover his business between times. He presumably died just after 1813.

John Russell, also a builder, probably succeeded to Adam Russell's business and perhaps his debts. John Russell died before 1817 at which point his creditors were invited to a meeting. He was the builder of William Burn's North Leith Parish Church.

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 11796Rothesay High ChurchRothesayButeButeScotlandSigned plans said to be held in Rothesay. Built by two Greenock wrights.

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 4Caledonian Mercury20 July 1805   
Item 2 of 4Caledonian Mercury23 April 1807   
Item 3 of 4Caledonian Mercury2 March 1813   
Item 4 of 4Caledonian Mercury21 August 1817   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild WARRANT GRANTED: 9 April 1789 [no warrant, answers allowed].
PETITION LODGED: 9 April 1789.
PETITIONER: Adam and Thomas Russell, builders and John Burns, builder with the Procurator Fiscal.
SITE: Hew Town, Queen Street, between Frederick and Castle Streets.
PROPOSAL: Complaint about stones and building materials in the road.
NOTES: The complaint is against Thomas Hill, builder who in his replies states that he is using an area behind Queen Street.
DRAWINGS: None.


WARRANT GRANTED: 12 June 1800.
PETITION LODGED: 7 June 1800.
PETITIONER: The Procurator Fiscal.
SITE: Greenside.
PROPOSAL: Complaint about building without a warrant.
NOTES: The complaint is against Adam Russell, builder. Work stopped on the 7th and the defender fined one Guinea and to be incarcerated in the Tolbooth until he paid.
DRAWINGS: None.


WARRANT GRANTED: 31 January 1793 [no warrant, appointed a visit].
PETITION LODGED: 26 January 1793.
PETITIONER: David Hay, builder and the Procurator Fiscal.
SITE: Charlotte Square, north side.
PROPOSAL: To coordinate work on a mutual gable.
NOTES: The petitioner’s lot is bounded on the west by the feu belonging to Adam Russell, builder and on the east by the ‘stance of a tenement’ belonging to Robert Inglis, mason and builder. The petitioner began his tenement about March last and now has the jointing in place above the ground or sunk floor. He wished to continue the ashlar work but needs the cooperation of Robert Inglis, who has not yet begun to build, to supply a section of the vents in his gable. He also needs Inglis to begin so that they can tie their respective facades together.
DRAWINGS: None.


WARRANT GRANTED: 18 March 1799 [no warrant].
PETITION LODGED: 14 March 1799.
PETITIONER: The Procurator Fiscal.
SITE: Leith Links.
PROPOSAL: Complaint about work without a warrant.
NOTES: The complaint is against James Thomson, mason in Leith who has been erecting a row of houses on Leith Links, all without having presenting a plan and elevation to the Court. In his robust replies the defender states that none of the houses he erected belong to him but to John Scougal, proprietor of a park on Leith Links who has been building a house on his own land, along with his son and Messrs. Strong, Ogilvie, Miln, Crockat and Goodlet each a house for themselves… ‘where no person can interfere with another’s property’. He has completed the mason work and complains that the Court could just as easily have called Mr. Russell, mason who is also building some of the houses, John Thomson, Walter Bruce, Mr. Crockat and every tradesman concerned, but that they chose to pick on him. He goes on that the prosecutor should have known ‘that ever since there was a Guild Court no warrant was taken out for building contiguous to the Links of Leith’. He refers to Messrs. Jamieson, Scales, Ogilvie, Mitchel, Whyte, Ramsay and Paterson who know the Guild laws never applied for or obtained a warrant to build. The Court issues a summons but takes no further action.
DRAWINGS: None.


WARRANT GRANTED: 9 July 1795 [no warrant, a visit appointed].
PETITION LODGED: 9 July 1795.
PETITIONER: Rev. John Ferguson.
SITE: 15 Thistle Street.
PROPOSAL: Complaint about an empty plot.
NOTES: The complaint is against Mr. Russell, master builder in Brickfield near Leith, owner of the plot opposite the petitioner. The area is open and has become a nuisance. The petitioner has written to Mr. Russell as has his landlord, Mr. Ritchie.
DRAWINGS: None.