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Architects

Basic Biographic Details

William Leslie
Architect
Year Only
1802
Exact Date
18/02/1879
William Leslie was born at New Deer in 1802. His family were Independents, i.e. Congregationalists. He established himself at Park Cottage, Broadford, Aberdeen by at least 1828 when he designed a castellated lodge and gate for Hatton Castle. As a contractor his first job is said to have been the additions at Craibstone House, presumably those built in 1829, but it is not clear whether he designed them. He certainly built the North Church in Aberdeen to John Smith's designs in 1829-30 and Castle Newe to Simpson's designs in 1831. In 1836 he was appointed agent for the Sutherland estates, undertaking architectural and civil engineering work, from 1838 in partnership as McDonald & Leslie, based in Dornoch. His Sutherland appointment did not exclude contracting for others and in 1840-41 McDonald & Leslie widened the Bridge of Dee to the designs of James Walker of Walker & Burgess, London, using the original facings as far as practicable, a contract which marked the beginning of a shift of his business interests towards Aberdeen.

In 1844 the Duke of Sutherland commissioned designs from Sir Charles Barry for the enlargement of Dunrobin. These could not be fitted into the contours of the site, and after a castellated design made by the Duke himself had been discarded, the Duke returned to Barry's design and adapted it to the site with William Leslie as his architect in 1845, Barry being consulted on the details as the work proceeded. Leslie's role there is detailed in a letter by Leslie to Barry's son and biographer the Rev Alfred Barry 11 September 1866, enclosing a sketch elevation and ground plan by the Duke, 30 June 1844. Much of the detail design work was however in the hands of a pupil of Archibald Simpson's, Peter Kerr, from 1845 until 1848 when he joined Barry's staff in London.

In 1851 Leslie is recorded as living in Aberdeen and described as an 'architect and builder employing 150 hands'. The partnership of McDonald & Leslie was dissolved in 1853 when Leslie concentrated his business interests and practice in Aberdeen. Sometime thereafter he became a town councillor and was Lord Provost 1869-73; during his tenure of that office he became a landed gentleman buying the small estate of Nethermuir, remodelling the house as a neat Scots baronial villa. Although he appeared as an architect in the 'Architects Engineers and Building Trades Directory' 1868, with an address at Union Street his principal businesses were those of railway contractor and granite merchant. The buildings known to have been designed by him are few in number and mostly on the Sutherland estate. He died in Aberdeen on 18 February 1879.

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
Park Cottage Broadford Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate/business
8 Golden Square Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
Park Cottage Broadford Aberdeen ScotlandPrivate/business1828
Dornoch Aberdeenshire ScotlandBusiness18381858
123 Union Street Aberdeen ScotlandBusiness1868

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
McDonald & Leslie201898In year 1838In year 1858Partner

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
Peter Kerr201775After 1845c. 1848Draughtsman
John Malcolm202639c. 1862c. 1865Apprentice

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
Hatton Castle Lodge and GatesIn year 1828TurriffAberdeenshireScotlandLodge and gates
Kingussie Parish ChurchIn year 1833KingussieInverness-shireScotlandAdditions
Dornoch CathedralIn year 1835DornochSutherlandScotlandAssisted Alexander Coupar with restoration work
Bridge of DeeIn year 1840AberdeenScotlandExecuted plans by James Walker of London
Rhives HouseIn year 1840RhivesSutherlandScotlandDesign probably by Leslie
Helmsdale HarbourIn year 1841HelmsdaleSutherlandScotlandEmbanked the river\'s shore
Dunrobin CastleIn year 1844DunrobinSutherlandScotlandReconstruction incorporating suggestions from Duke of Sutherland based on Charles Barry' s scheme
Lairg Parish ChurchIn year 1845LairgSutherlandScotland
Dornoch SchoolIn year 1845DornochSutherlandScotland
Dunnet ManseIn year 1846DunnetCaithnessScotland
Uppat HouseIn year 1846GolspieSutherlandScotlandExtensive additions
Little Ferry Pier and boathouseAfter 1850GolspieSutherlandScotlandRebuilding
Dunrobin Castle, Flagstaff Lodgec. 1850SutherlandScotlandAttribution by Elizabeth Beaton - with William Fowler
Dunbeath CastleIn year 1851CaithnessScotlandAdditions
Lochmore LodgeIn year 1851Ross & CromartyScotland

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
British Architectural Library, RIBADirectory of British Architects 1834-19142001
Architects Engineers and Building Trades DirectoryArchitect's, Engineer's and Building Trades' Directory1868London, Wyman