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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Thomas Saunders Robertson
Architect
Year Only
1835
Exact Date
03/02/1923
Thomas Saunders Robertson was born in 1835 at Blairgowrie and educated at Perth Academy. He was articled to Charles Edward c.1851. Around 1857 he joined J Anderson Hamilton who had acquired what was left of Playfair's practice in Edinburgh and thereafter probably worked for a time in England, returning to become Edward's partner He practised in Dundee in partnership with Thomas Saunders Robertson from at least April 1859 when Edward & Robertson advertised for contractors for Rathillet UP Church. He was a member of the Fine Art Committee of the British Association meeting of 1867. He was also a keen angler, curler and golfer. In the 1870s Robertson was co-owner with the solicitor J P Kyd of four houses in Grove Road, Broughty Ferry, which were presumably acquired as an investment.

Either in 1867 or possibly earlier the Dundee industrialist and art collector G B Simpson introduced Robertson to the painter William McTaggart. They became close friends, frequently going sketching together, particularly at Carnoustie in the spring and autumn, and McTaggart’s teaching greatly improved Robertson’s skills as a watercolourist. In 1872 McTaggart painted a portrait of Robertson’s daughter Nellie, exhibited at the RSA in 1873, which was in the possession of Mrg Agnew in Walsall in 1917. After McTaggart’s death Robertson wrote reminiscences of their friendship which were published in the Dundee Courier and Glasgow Herald and have been drawn upon by subsequent writers. Robertson was also closely associated with another of McTaggart’s main patrons, the art collector, mill owner and ironfounder, James Guthrie Orchar, who appointed him as one of the Trustees of his will and specified him as the architect of a new Established Church and a gallery to house his pictures on the expiry of Mrs Orchar’s life rent of his estate, both in Broughty Ferry. In the event Mrs Orchar lived on until 1916, and the Trustees could afford to build neither of these.

Like Edward before him, Robertson lived in considerable style in West Ferry, first at Riverview and later at Balmyle: but by the early years of the twentieth century Robertson had little architectural employment and had become mainly a water-colourist. He retired in September 1904, and diminishing income eventually compelled him to live in a more modest fashion at Willowbank, Camphill Road, where he died on 2 March 1923. He wrote 'Progress of Art in English Church Architecture', numerous newspaper articles, and assisted MacGibbon and Ross with their books.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From CharDate From TypeDate To CharDate To TypeNotes
Riverview West Ferry Dundee ScotlandPrivate
Balmyle West Ferry Dundee ScotlandPrivate
Willowbank Camphill Road Broughty Ferry Dundee ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
31 Reform Street Dundee ScotlandBusinessc. 1861

Employment and Training

The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):

Employers2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Charles Edward100387In year 1851c. 1857Apprentice
Edward & Robertson100389c. 1861In year 1890Partner

Employees or Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2 classic

NameName LinkDate FromDate ToPositionNotes
Alexander Allan Foote2011971902/03/281904/09Apprentice
David Thomson203539In year 1894In year 1898Apprentice
David Thomson203539In year 1898In year 1900Assistant

Buildings and Designs

This person was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs2 classic

Building NameDate StartedTown, District or VillageIslandCity or CountyCountryNotes
Perth District AsylumIn year 1858MurthlyPerthshireScotland
UP ChurchIn year 1859RathilletFifeScotland
TaycliffIn year 1862West FerryDundeeScotland
Rossie Churchc. 1863InchtureDundeeScotland
Rossie PrioryIn year 1865InchturePerthshireScotlandReconstruction of riding school as chapel with arcade and apse
Abernyte Free Churchc. 1865AbernyteAngusScotlandAlterations?
House for D W BowmanIn year 1866Broughty FerryDundeeScotlandAlterations
Carbet CastleIn year 1866Broughty FerryDundeeScotlandReconstruction and additions - probably the west wing
Bank of ScotlandIn year 1866DundeeScotlandUnexecuted scheme for alterations
Kirkton of Tealing Parish ChurchIn year 1867Kirkton of TealingAngusScotlandScrymsoure Fothringham memorial slab
Drill HallIn year 1867DundeeScotland
Catholic Apostolic ChurchIn year 1867DundeeScotland
Office, 135 SeagateIn year 1868DundeeScotland
Ayrshire Lunatic AsylumIn year 1868AyrAyrshireScotlandReceived commision
Offices and Warehouse, Ward Road, Constitution Road and Nicoll StreetIn year 1869DundeeScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Architects Engineers and Building Trades DirectoryArchitect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory1868London, Wyman
Caw, Sir James LWilliam McTaggart1917Glasgow
Errington, LindsayWilliam McTaggart 1935-19101989Edinburgh, National Gallery
Kaverne, PerSinging Songs of the Scottish Heart 1835-19102007Edinburgh

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
RIBA Nomination PapersRIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum100005ARIBA papers of Alexander Allan Foote (A v24 no2788 (microfilm reel 23)) state that Robertson retired in September 1904
Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive materialProfessor David M Walker personal archive100041Information from Edmund Raphael-Beldowski via Iain Flett (1876-77 valuation roll)
Thomas Saunders Robertson's Cutting BooksDundee Central Library100148
Information via \'Contact Us\' on websiteCourtesy of David Weekes201312Sent August 2012