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Dictionary of Scottish Architects (1660 - 1980)
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Basic Biographic Details
Name:
Robert Burn
Designation :
Mason - Architect
Date of Birth:
Year Only
Exact DOB:
27/05/1926
Year of Birth :
1752
Circa Year of Birth :
Date of Birth Before (Year):
Date of Birth After (Year):
DOB (1st 'Or' Year):
DOB (2nd 'Or' Year):
Date of Death:
Exact Date
Exact DOD:
06/05/1815
Year of Death:
Circa Year of Death:
Date of Death Before (Year):
Date of Death After (Year):
DOD (1st 'Or' Year):
DOD (2nd 'Or' Year):
Town of Birth :
Bio Notes :
Robert Burn was born in 1752 probably at Jessfield, Portobello. He was a mason by trade. The earliest reference to him found so far is in 1775 when he was acting as overseer of the masonry of St Cuthbert’s Church, Edinburgh. The church was being completed by the contractor James Weir.
On 4 April 1782 he was admitted a burgess of Edinburgh. In 1796 he was a member of the Dean of Guild Council in Edinburgh. Compared to some of his contempraries his name appears frequently in newspapers. Part of his business seems to have been acting as an agent for letting out houses. He was also the owner of an estate called Jessfield in North Leith.
Robert Burn was the father of the better known William Burn who was one of sixteen children. The older Burn died on 5 June 1815 and was buried in Calton Cemetery in a Gothic burial place erected by his wife and children in 1816.
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
Rose Street Edinburgh Scotland
Business
1787
Leith Walk Edinburgh Scotland
Business
c. 1800
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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
Public Dispensary
In year 1776
Edinburgh
Scotland
Cairness House
In year 1782
Aberdeenshire
Scotland
With Adam Porter. Burn responsible for layout of walled garden.
Houses, Nicolson Street
In year 1785
Edinburgh
Scotland
Plan for houses drawn up
Hermitage of Braid
c. 1785
Morningside
Edinburgh
Scotland
Houses, 141-171 Leith Street
In year 1790
Edinburgh
Scotland
Netherurd House
In year 1791
Peeblesshire
Scotland
Burn and James McLeran both described as \'architects\' in a building contract and in the case of any dispute, Burn to act as arbitrator.
Teviot Bank
c. 1791
Hawick
Roxburghshire
Scotland
Orbiston House
c. 1795
Bellshill
Lanarkshire
Scotland
St Giles Cathedral
In year 1796
Edinburgh
Scotland
Alterations - mason work
Cairnfield House
In year 1799
Buckie
Banffshire
Scotland
James Gillespie's School
In year 1800
Edinburgh
Scotland
Gordon Castle
In year 1800
Fochabers
Morayshire
Scotland
Lakeside House - probably by Robert Burn who was building a similar pavilion and teahouse at Cairnfield.
Feuing plan of stances for villas, leith Links
In year 1801
Leith
Edinburgh
Scotland
Royal Bank of Scotland building
In year 1803
Edinburgh
Scotland
Designs for new entrance etc
Aberdour Manse
In year 1803
Aberdour
Fife
Scotland
row(s) 1 - 15 of 25
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References
Bibliographic References
The following books contain references to this person:
Bib ref classic
Author
Title
Date
Publisher
Part
Notes
Scottish Record Society
Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses
1933
p28
Colvin, Howard
A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840
2008
London: YUP. 4th edition
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
Periodical References
The following periodicals contain references to this person:
Period ref classic
Periodical Name
Publisher
Date Circ
Edition
Notes
Gentleman\'s Magazine
1815
i
p647
Scots Magazine
1815
p559
row(s) 1 - 2 of 2
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
NMRS Photographic Archive
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS
200159
Photo of portrait
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