Basic Biographical Details Name: | James Salisbury | Designation: | | Born: | | Died: | Before 1800 | Bio Notes: | James Salisbury was a carpenter and architect. He came to Edinburgh to supervise the construction of Register House. He is described variously as carpenter and architect when he was made a burgess in Edinburgh in 1778. That same year he was consulted by the Writers to the Signet when they were considering building a library. The banker, Sir William Forbes insisted that the Society hire him since he was 'a person in whose skill or integrity we had prefect conficence'.
Among the prosections, complaints and litigation between builders of the New Town of Edinburgh and the Town Council and Edinburgh's incorporation of wrights and mason, who attempted to impose restrictive trade practices, a group of builders set up their own Society, the Society of Master Builders, Wrights and Masons. Salisbury was president and in due course the Society achieved recognition and status.
In 1783 he acted as a go-between in the dispute between the Duke of Gordon and John Baxter. At that time he was employed by the Duke of Roxburghe and to have ‘a job of consequence’ for Henry Drummond at Lawers House. In 1784-5 he was prosecuted by the Leith Incorporation of Wrights and Builders because he had lent money to otherbuilders which contravened the regulations of the Incorporation.
Later in the 1780s he was employed at New Saughton and in 1796 drew up plans for Bantaskine, Stirlingshire for Sir William Forbes (whose wife produced a sketch).
In Edinburgh Salisbury was employed by the Town Council and undertook alteration work. He also worked in Fife and in West Lothian at Barnbougle. The 3rd Earl of Rosebery described him as ‘a lying, ill-tempered, vulgar builder’.
He is described as 'deceased' by January 1800 when terrace of houses he built and owned was advertised for sale. |
Buildings and Designs
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Lewis, Anthony | 2014 | The Builders of Edinburgh New Town 1767-1795 | | Reading: Spire Books | pp120-1 etc | | Scottish Record Society | 1933 | Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses | | | p139 |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Caledonian Mercury | 30 January 1800 | | | |
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