Basic Biographical Details

Name: James Tait
Designation:  
Born: c. 1762
Died: c. 1834
Bio Notes: James Tait was born about 1762 in Glencorse near Penicuik, Midlothian. He later lived at Belwood and at Portobello. Colvin records the latter two addresses but so far the source of this information has not yet been discovered. It is interesting that the house in Maitland Street in which he lived from at least 1805 until 1820 was called 'Glencross' presumably because of the connection to his birth place. In 1795 anyone with claims against the plasterer Thomas Russell was to submit them to James Tait. In 1810 he was acting as agent in showing a house in Shandwick Place to prospective tenants.

About 1815 Tait appears to have dropped the title 'architect' and simply appears in directories as James Tait Esq. Probably about the mid-1820s he moved to 22 Lynedoch place (in the 1825-26 directory he has the ephithet 'architect'). But afterwards he remains as 'Esq'.

Tait's son was the publisher William Tait and his daughter Isabella married the publisher Adam Black.

Tait died in 1834. He was survived by his wife, Isabella Bertram, who died aged 89 on 1 June 1848.

Private and Business Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this :
 AddressTypeDate fromDate toNotes
Item 1 of 3Lynedoch Place, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate 1848Death place of Tait's widow.
Item 2 of 32, North Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandBusinessBefore 1795After 1799 
Item 3 of 3Glencross/13, Maitland Street, Edinburgh, ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1805After 1820 

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 3178964 Frederick Street  EdinburghScotland 
Item 2 of 31795Bemersyde HouseBemersyde BerwickshireScotlandDesigns for new east wing - not executed. A cheaper design by another architect seems to have been executed.
Item 3 of 31807Shandwick Place  EdinburghScotland 

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 Mercury26 February 1795   
Item 2 of 4Caledonian Mercury12 July 1810   
Item 3 of 4Edinburgh Evening Courant21 December 1807   
Item 4 of 4Fife Herald6 January 1848   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this :
 SourceArchive NameSource Catalogue No.Notes
Item 1 of 1National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Library Notes about Tait family