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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

William Lambie Moffatt (originally William Lambie Moffat)
Architect
Exact Date
Exact Date
05/06/1882
William Lambie Moffat was born on 31 October 1807, the son of John Moffat, clerk of works and Sarah Couch. At some stage, for unknown reasons, he adopted the spelling of Moffatt which is continued by his descendents, although his brother Henry retained the single 't' as Moffat throughout his life. William Lambie was articled to William Burn who employed his father as his clerk of works at Carstairs House. The earliest record of work by William Lambie Moffatt dates from when he was seventeen years old and a pupil of Burn: he made the drawings for Carstairs House, designed by Burn, for J P Neale's 'Views of Seats'. He appears to have remained as an assistant: his subsequent career suggests he was engaged on the institutional side of the practice.

In 1833 Moffatt is listed at 8 Morrison Street, Edinburgh which is also the address of his father at this date.

In 1836 he won the competition for Wakefield Corn Exchange with a very original Greek Revival design which induced him to settle in Doncaster. In 1838 William Hurst of Doncaster invited him to become a partner, his previous partner John Woodhead having died, and for the next six years Hurst and Moffatt had a flourishing practice, particularly for churches financed by The Incorporated Church Building Society.

On 8 December 1844 Hurst died. Moffatt continued the Doncaster practice, but was increasingly dependent on winning competitions for business. As a number of his competition wins were for hospitals and poorhouses in Scotland, he closed his Doncaster practice in 1858, the catalyst probably being the new asylum at Montrose (1856). He returned to Edinburgh, his house being at 4 Fettes Row, and he subsequently remodelled 13 Queen Street for his own occupation. By May 1873 he was so busy with school board work, probably mainly won in competition, that James Aitken, of whom nothing is as yet known, was taken into partnership.

Moffatt was equally skilled in Greek, Italianate, Gothic and neo-Jacobean, his work in the last of those being strongly influenced by William Burn's houses of the mid to late 1820s and early 1830s: in the past some writers conflated him with G G Scott's partner, the English William Bonython Moffatt, and in the earlier 'Buildings of England' volumes he is sometimes wrongly given as W B Moffatt.

Moffatt died on 5 June 1882 at 23 Minto Street, survived by his widow Wilhelmina Crystal. Information on the subsequent career of James Aitken - if any - is not yet available.

'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

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
8 Morrison Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business
Doncaster EnglandPrivate/business
4 Fettes Row Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business
23 Minto Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate
13 Queen Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate
ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
8 Morrison Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/businessc. 1833c. 1834
Doncaster EnglandPrivate/businessc. 1836c. 1855
30 George IV Bridge Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessc. 1849c. 1851
23 George IV Bridge Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessBefore 1850After 1855
4 Fettes Row Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate/business1858c. 1868
56 Frederick Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessc. 18691871
12 North St David Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessc. 1872c. 1873And with Aitken at this address until 1882

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
William Burn200136Before 1824Apprentice
Hurst & Moffatt202135In year 1838In year 1844Partner
Moffatt & Aitken (or Moffat & Aitken)200182c. 1874Partner

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
David Brash Dick200681c. 1862c. 1867Apprentice

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
Carstairs Housec. 1824CarstairsLanarkshireScotlandPrepared drawings for publication in Neale (as pupil of William Burn)
Wakefield Corn ExchangeIn year 1836WakefieldYorkshireEnglandWon competition; presumably secured job
Union workhouseIn year 1837SelbyYorkshireEngland
Union workhouseIn year 1838RotherhamYorkshireEngland
Union workhouseIn year 1838ThorneYorkshireEngland
New Independent ChapelIn year 1839LeedsYorkshireEngland
Union workhouseIn year 1839DoncasterYorkshireEngland
Chatsworth Estate, unspecified workIn year 1839DerbyshireEngland
The Ship Hotel and Westgate improvementsIn year 1840RotherhamYorkshireEngland
Grosmont ChurchIn year 1840GrosmontYorkshireEngland
Union workhousec. 1840GatesheadNorthumberlandEngland
Holy Trinity ChurchIn year 1841ThurgolandYorkshireEngland
St Peter's ChurchIn year 1841RockferryCheshireEngland
Christ ChurchIn year 1841ArdsleyYorkshireEngland
St Mary's ChurchIn year 1841WoodsettsYorkshireEngland

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
Colvin, H MA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18401995New Haven and London: Yale University Press3rd editionp522-524
Colvin, H MA biographical dictionary of English architects 1660-184019541st editionp441
Scotlands People WebsiteWills & TestamentsEdinburgh Sheriff Court Wills SC70/4/196 and inventories Sc70/1/216
Pride, Glen LThe Kingdom of Fife1999The Rutland Press2nd Editionp41
Neale, J P Views of Seats18242nd ser, i
Post Office Directories

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
Death RegisterH M Register House100027Death of William Lambie Moffatt
Professor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive materialProfessor David M Walker personal archive100041Information from Professor H K Moffatt, great-great-grandson of William Lambie Moffatt (email 30 June 2006)
William Lambie Moffatt Cash Book 1859-1881 GD 1/412/1National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)200659