Skip to Main Content

Architects

Basic Biographic Details

Thomas Bonnar
Builder
Circa (Year)
1821
Exact Date
10/01/1862
Thomas Bonnar was born in Saline, Fife about 1821, the son of Robert Bonnar and his wife Janet. He practised as a builder and mason in Dunfermline. He was one of the Bonnar family of Dunfermline who ran a business as builders, joiners and cabinetmakers. The firm finally was sold off in 1870.

There is some confusion between this Thomas Bonnar and the Thomas Bonnar who died in 1847. Their relationship if any has yet to be established. (See separate entry for earlier Thomas Bonnar). It must have been the earlier Thomas Bonnar who was responsible for building in the New Town of Edinburgh. In 1851 Thomas Bonnar of Dunfermline was described as a building contractor accasionally employed as an architect and 'surgeon' (a mis-reading for surveyor?) and employing 7 masons and 3 apprentices.

In 1856 Thomas Bonnar of Dunfermline moved his office to Edinburgh, although he is still referred to at that time as 'of Dunfermline'. There is an entry for him in the 1856-7 Post Office directory showing he was in Edinburgh.

He was residing in Scotland Street, Edinburgh at the time of his death in Aberdeen on 1 October 1862.

According to Architects'Index, John Sinclair House, Bonnar's debts (but much more likely what he was owed) at the time of his death were as follows:
Scotsman Office, Cockburn Street £136 13.4
Blcok H Cockburn Street £29 5.6
Building Saxe Coburg Place £10.0.0
Merchiston £10.0.0

The last two were estimated at this stage at the time of his death.

Rev Dr Alexander's Congregation for building church: £29 11.6

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
East Port Street or Viewfield Dunfermline Fife ScotlandPrivate
Woodhead Cottage Woodhead Street Dunfermline Fife ScotlandPrivate
32 Clarence Street Glasgow ScotlandPrivate/business
28 Scotland Street Edinburgh ScotlandPrivate

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

AddressClassDate From Date From TypeDate ToDate To TypeNotes
32 Clarence Street Glasgow ScotlandPrivate/business
Silver Mills Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness
Scotland Street Lane Edinburgh ScotlandBusiness
Dunfermline Fife ScotlandBusiness

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
Dwelling house, St Margaret StreetIn year 1841DunfermlineFifeScotlandPrepared plan for house
TownhouseIn year 1846DunfermlineFifeScotlandPlan for converting townhouse to County and Burgh use
Helensburgh Free ChurchIn year 1852HelensburghDunbartonshireScotlandBuilder, selected by Hays of Liverpool
Inverkeithing Parish ChurchIn year 1852InverkeithingFifeScotlandReplaced spire
West Free ChurchIn year 1854AlloaClackmannanshireScotlandas mason, for Hays of Liverpool
Dunfermline AbbeyIn year 1854DunfermlineFifeScotlandRecommendations for improvements
Buccleuch Free ChurchIn year 1855EdinburghScotlandAs builder for Hays of Liverpool
Free Tolbooth ChurchIn year 1856EdinburghScotlandas mason for Bryce
Free Church, Main StreetIn year 1856CambuslangLanarkshireScotlandas builder for Hays of Liverpool

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Scotlands People WebsiteWills & TestamentsEdinburgh Sheriff Court Wills Sc70/4/87 and Inventories SC70/1/117

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive NameSourceSource Cat NoBuilding IdItem NameNotes
CensusesCensus records online201011