Architects

Name:

John Mylne junior

Designation :

Architect

Date of Birth:

Year Only

Exact DOB:

23/06/1926

Year of Birth :

1611

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DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):

Date of Death:

Exact Date

Exact DOD:

24/12/1667

Year of Death:

Circa Year of Death:

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Bio Notes :

John Mylne was probably born in Perth in 1611, the son of John Mylne who died in 1657. He was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh by right of patrimony on 9 October 1633 and became a ‘fellow of craft’ in the Masonic Lodge in Edinburgh on the same day. He succeeded his father as Master Mason to the Crown in February 1636 and in 1646 was appointed Captain of Pioneers and Master Gunner of Scotland.

In 1643 Mylne succeeded William Aytoun as master mason to Heriot's Hospital. This had been begun in 1628 was was still incomplete owing to financial troubles and political changes at the time.

Mylne became a well-known figure in Edinburgh for the next thirty years. He was Deacon of the Edinburgh masons several times and for a number of years served on the Town Council. In 1652 he was sent to London as one of the Scottish Commissioners to negotiate the Treaty of Union with the English Parliament. From 1655 to 1659 he represented Edinburgh at the convention of royal burghs. He was elected MP for Edinburgh in the Scottish Parliament in 1662. He attended the second and third sessions of Charles II’s first parliament in Edinburgh.

After the Restoration Mylne was confirmed in his office of master Mason to the Crown. Thereafter he work at Holyroodhouse.

Panmure House (1666) bore some resemblance to Heriot's Hospital with its quadrangular plan and picturesque silhouette. However like Drumlanrig Castle it looked back to the early 17th century rather than encapsulating the new architectural ideas already current in England and soon to be introduced by Sir William Bruce into Scotland. Mylne may be seen as the leading master of the last phase of Scottish Mannerism.

Mylne was married three times but his only son died in infancy. He died on 24 December 1667. The dynasty of Mylnes was carried on by his brother Alexander’s children. His nephew Robert Mylne (1633-1710) succeeded him as Master Mason to the Scottish Crown. John Mylne was buried in Greyfriars Cemetery and Robert designed a monument to his memory. There is also an inscription over the door of St Mary’s Chapel which was the meeting place of the masons which was erected by the Incorporated Trades of Scotland. It notes that he was the fourth John Mylne and the sixth master mason to seven successive kings.

There is a portrait of Mylne in the Scottish National Portrait Gallery.

'Biography authored by the Dictionary of Scottish Architects Compilation Team.'

Bio Notes continued...

Additional Notes

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

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
Palace of Holyroodhouse, sundial	In year 1633			Edinburgh	Scotland	Assisted his father in the construction of this.
Church, Castlelhill	After 1633			Edinburgh	Scotland
Cowane's Hospital	In year 1634	Stirling		Stirling	Scotland	Provided design
Tron Church	In year 1637			Edinburgh	Scotland
Jedburgh Abbey	In year 1642	Jedburgh		Roxburghshire	Scotland	Reported on the dangerous state of the Abbey at Jedburgh
George Heriot's Hospital	In year 1648	Old Town		Edinburgh	Scotland	Was instructed to take down the upper part of the south west tower abd rebuild it uniform with the others.
St Giles Cathedral	In year 1648			Edinburgh	Scotland	Repair of crown spire
Leith Citadel and fortifications	In year 1649	Leith		Edinburgh	Scotland	Working on the fortifications at Leith.
Newbattle Abbey	1650/02	Newbattle		Midlothian	Scotland	Drew up estimate for adding frontispiece - \'in a perfect manner off gudlie Architect[ure]\'.
College, professor's house and six chambers	In year 1656			Edinburgh	Scotland
George Heriot's Hospital	In year 1659	Old Town		Edinburgh	Scotland	Was still working at Heriot\'s Hospital
Coldingham Church	In year 1661	Coldingham		Berwickshire	Scotland	Repair and partial rebuilding to be carried out \' by the sught of John Milne master mason and any other they shall bring to visite the same after finishing thereof\'.
Addiston House	1661/11	Ratho		Midlothian	Scotland	Contracted to execute the masonry of a \'great addition\'
Palace of Holyroodhouse	In year 1663			Edinburgh	Scotland	Drew up a survey of the second floor showing how it was to be completed. Not executed until after his death.
Fort Charlotte	In year 1665	Lerwick	Mainland	Shetland	Scotland	Employed to design (probably) but certainly to build this.

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The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

Author	Title	Date	Publisher	Part	Notes
Wood, M (ed.)	Extracts from the Records of the City of Edinburgh, 1655-65
Gifford, John	The Buildings of Scotland: Angus and Dundee	2012	Yale		p720
Colvin, Howard	A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840	2008	London: YUP. 4th edition
Mylne, R S	The Master Masons to the Crown of Scotland
APSD	The Dictionary of Architecture		The Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892)	ed Wyatt Papworth
DNB	Dictionary of National Biography
Wood, M (ed.)	Extracts from the Records of the City of Edinburgh, 1642-55

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Basic Biographic Details

Addresses

Buildings and Designs

Buildings and Designs2 classic

References

Bibliographic References

Bib ref classic