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 AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Lynedoch Place, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | | 1848 | Death place of Tait's widow. | | 2, North Charlotte Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | Before 1795 | After 1799 | | | Glencross/13, Maitland Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business | c. 1805 | After 1820 | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1789 | 64 Frederick Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1795 | Bemersyde House | Bemersyde | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Designs for new east wing - not executed. A cheaper design by another architect seems to have been executed. | | 1807 | Shandwick Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | |
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 | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Caledonian Mercury | 26 February 1795 | | | | | Caledonian Mercury | 12 July 1810 | | | | | Edinburgh Evening Courant | 21 December 1807 | | | | | Fife Herald | 6 January 1848 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | NMRS Library | | Notes about Tait family |
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