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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
James Lessels
Designation :
Architect
Date of Birth:
Circa (Year)
Exact DOB:
17/10/1925
Year of Birth :
Circa Year of Birth :
1834
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Circa (Year)
Exact DOD:
17/10/1925
Year of Death:
Circa Year of Death:
1905
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
James Lessels (born c.1834) was the younger son and partner of John Lessels Senior, the elder brother John having gone into government service. He inherited his father's interest in the practice and his appointment as architect to the City Improvement Trust when his father died in 1883 and worked in a very similar Scots Jacobethan style. He remained sole practitioner at 50 George Street, Edinburgh until 1890 when he took Harry Ramsay Taylor into partnership, the office subsequently moving to 7a Young Street by 1901.
Much of the work of the practice depended on the connection with Nelsons the publishers which had been established by John Lessels. When James Lessels died c.1905 Taylor merged the practice with that of William Ormiston of Cousin & Ormiston as Cousin, Ormiston & Taylor. At the time of his death James Lessels was residing with his sister Elizabeth at Great Ha', Roslin and had been there for some years.
Bio Notes continued...
Additional Notes
Addresses
The following private or business addresses are associated with this person:
Business Addresses
Business Addresses2 classic
Address
Class
Date From
Date From Type
Date To
Date To Type
Notes
7 East Preston Street Edinburgh Scotland
Business
Listed separately from father's practice
50 George Street Edinburgh Scotland
Business
With father's practice. After 1891 Lessels & Taylor
7a Young Street Edinburgh Scotland
Business
Lessels & Taylor's address
140 Princes Street Edinburgh Scotland
Business
Lessels & Taylor's address
Great Ha' Roslin Midlothian Scotland
Business
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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
James Lessels and Harry Ramsay Taylor
200582
In year 1890
c. 1905
Partner
John Lessels & Son
200584
c. 1860
In year 1883
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
Henry ('Harry') Ramsay Taylor
200581
In year 1884
In year 1890
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
10-11 Abbotsford Crescent
In year 1869
St Andrews
Fife
Scotland
Nelsons Publishing Works
In year 1881
Edinburgh
Scotland
Royal Crescent
In year 1884
Edinburgh
Scotland
Executed design. Completed to modified design by John Lessels
39 Jeffrey Street
In year 1886
Edinburgh
Scotland
Block of buildings on the corner of Chambers Street and Guthrie Street
In year 1887
Edinburgh
Scotland
Following David Cousin's City Improvement Act designs
86-90 Grassmarket
c. 1887
Old Town
Edinburgh
Scotland
3-37 Jeffrey Street
In year 1888
Edinburgh
Scotland
Grassmarket Mission Hall
In year 1890
Old Town
Edinburgh
Scotland
St Leonard's Works
After 1890
Parkside
Edinburgh
Scotland
Additions
Parsonage
After 1890
Haddington
East Lothian
Scotland
Printing Works for Ballantyne, Hanson & Co
After 1890
Additions
Stonefield House and estate
After 1890
Argyll
Scotland
Alterations and additions
Craigpark
After 1890
Ratho
Midlothian
Scotland
Alterations and additions
The Lodge
After 1890
Ratho
Midlothian
Scotland
Alterations and additions
Fosswell
After 1890
Auchterarder
Perthshire
Scotland
Alterations and additions
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References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
Post Office Directories
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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
City Improvement Trust Minutes
Edinburgh City Archives
200168
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