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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

James Lessels
Architect
Circa (Year)
1834
Circa (Year)
17/10/1925
1905
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.

Addresses

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

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
7 East Preston Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessListed separately from father's practice
50 George Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessWith father's practice. After 1891 Lessels & Taylor
7a Young Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessLessels & Taylor's address
140 Princes Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessLessels & Taylor's address
Great Ha' Roslin Midlothian ScotlandBusiness

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
James Lessels and Harry Ramsay Taylor200582In year 1890c. 1905Partner
John Lessels & Son200584c. 1860In year 1883Partner

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
Henry ('Harry') Ramsay Taylor200581In year 1884In year 1890Assistant

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
10-11 Abbotsford CrescentIn year 1869St AndrewsFifeScotland
Nelsons Publishing WorksIn year 1881EdinburghScotland
Royal CrescentIn year 1884EdinburghScotlandExecuted design. Completed to modified design by John Lessels
39 Jeffrey StreetIn year 1886EdinburghScotland
Block of buildings on the corner of Chambers Street and Guthrie StreetIn year 1887EdinburghScotlandFollowing David Cousin's City Improvement Act designs
86-90 Grassmarketc. 1887Old TownEdinburghScotland
3-37 Jeffrey StreetIn year 1888EdinburghScotland
Grassmarket Mission HallIn year 1890Old TownEdinburghScotland
St Leonard's WorksAfter 1890ParksideEdinburghScotlandAdditions
ParsonageAfter 1890HaddingtonEast LothianScotland
Printing Works for Ballantyne, Hanson & CoAfter 1890Additions
Stonefield House and estateAfter 1890ArgyllScotlandAlterations and additions
CraigparkAfter 1890RathoMidlothianScotlandAlterations and additions
The LodgeAfter 1890RathoMidlothianScotlandAlterations and additions
FosswellAfter 1890AuchterarderPerthshireScotlandAlterations and additions

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Post Office Directories

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
City Improvement Trust MinutesEdinburgh City Archives200168