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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
Alexander Crombie
Designation :
Architect
Date of Birth:
Year Only
Exact DOB:
05/09/1926
Year of Birth :
1812
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Exact Date
Exact DOD:
27/02/1880
Year of Death:
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
Alexander Crombie was born in 1812, the son of William Miller Crombie, builder, who worked on Lowther Castle 1806 to 1811 under Sir Robert Smirke. Alexander was a pupil of John Brown, a Dumfries mathematician and surveyor. He became local architect and surveyor to the Crichton Royal Institution where his only building appears to have been Hillhead House, built in 1862. His one major work was the very large and surprisingly competent neo-Jacobean house at Duncow built in 1859-60.
In 1860 his twin sons Alan Burgess Crombie and James Crombie, born 1845, became apprentices. Of these Alan sought experience in London with Henry Astley Darbishire from 1864 to 1866, returning to assist his father in the latter year before being taken into partnership in 1870. James had a rather more adventurous career than his brother, seeking experience in the offices of Ewan Christian, Christopher Obee Ellison and Cubitt and Co's in London and Charles Dexter Gambrill and Henry Hobson Richardson in New York, returning to become his brother's partner. Alexander Crombie died on 27 February 1880 at Maryville, Dumfries and his sons' partnership was dissolved by 1881 when James became the partner of Patrick James Byrne of Windsor, with an office address at Lyons Inn Chambers, 303 Strand, London, and a home address at Rutland Lodge, Dulwich. The Dumfries practice was continued by Alan Burgess.
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Private Addresses
Private Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From Char
Date From Type
Date To Char
Date To Type
Notes
3 Queen Street Dumfries Dumfriesshire Scotland
Private/business
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Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
3 Queen Street Dumfries Dumfriesshire Scotland
Private/business
1868
Maryville Dumfries Dumfriesshire Scotland
Business
1880
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Employment and Training
The following individuals or organisations employed or trained this person (click on an item to view details):
Employers2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
A Crombie & Son
200551
In year 1870
c. 1876
Partner
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Employees or Pupils
The following individuals were employed or trained by this person (click on an item to view details):
Employees or Pupils2 classic
Name
Name Link
Date From
Date To
Position
Notes
Alan Burgess Crombie
200343
In year 1860
In year 1864
Apprentice
Assistant in 1866
James Crombie
200552
In year 1860
In year 1864
Apprentice
Alan Burgess Crombie
200343
In year 1866
In year 1870
Assistant
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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 Name
Date Started
Town, District or Village
Island
City or County
Country
Notes
Trustee Savings Bank
In year 1847
Dumfries
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Executant architect - in conjunction with Gregan of Manchester
Rockhall
In year 1854
Mouswald
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Remodelling
Middlebie Manse
In year 1858
Middlebie
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Original design
Duncow House
In year 1859
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
House, stables and lodge
Dwelling House
In year 1860
Lincluden Mains
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Additions
5-7 Victoria Terrace and 1 Moffat Road
c. 1860
Dumfries
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Buccleuch Street UP Church
In year 1861
Dumfries
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Dwelling-house, M'Cheyneston
In year 1861
M\'Cheyneston
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Dwelling House Upper Locharwoods
In year 1861
Upper Locharwoods
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Bridge Duncow
In year 1861
Duncow
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Sweetheart Abbey
In year 1862
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Repairs
Crichton Royal Institution, Hillhead House
In year 1862
Dumfries
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Ruthwell Parish Church
In year 1863
Ruthwell
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
Refurnishing
Hardgate School
In year 1866
Haugh of Urr
Kirkcudbrightshire
Scotland
Mouswald School
In year 1866
Mouswald
Dumfriesshire
Scotland
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References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory
Architect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory
1868
London, Wyman
Colvin, H M
A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840
1995
New Haven and London: Yale University Press
3rd edition
Scotlands People Website
Wills & Testaments
Dumfries Sheriff Court SC15/41/18
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Archive References
The following archives hold material relating to this person:
Arc ref classic
Archive Name
Source
Source Cat No
Building Id
Item Name
Notes
Buildings of Scotland Research Notes (for unpublished volumes)
Buildings of Scotland Research Unit
200354
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