Architects

Name:

Thomas Bonnar

Designation :

Architect

Date of Birth:

Year Only

Exact DOB:

24/05/1926

Year of Birth :

1770

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:

Year Only

Exact DOD:

24/05/1926

Year of Death:

1847

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 :

Thomas Bonnar was born in Edinburgh probably about the 1770s. He was probably not the son of John Bonnar, painter, who, with his descendants, ran the decorating business in Edinburgh. He was admitted a burgess of the city in June 1795. He married Margaret Gairdner, daughter of Ebenezer Gairdner, merchant in June or July 1800.

In 1801 he was an agent in the sale of houses in St James's Square, St James's Street and Gayfield Place which 'are now finishing' and also in 1809. It is possible he had some input into the design or construction of these houses. In 1807 he was appointed a Sworn Measurer and in 1809 the Superintendent of Public Works. However he lost this job in December 1818 when he was made a scapegoat for the bungled hanging of Robert Johnston for highway robbery which ended in a public riot.

From 1810 he was surveyor to Heriot's Hospital. He was also involved with laying out streets in the New Town of Edinburgh. He should not be confused with Thomas Bonnar who was born about 1821 and who practised in Edinburgh as architect and builder from the mid-1850s.

Thomas Bonnar retired about 1832 and died in the winter of 1847-8.

Bio Notes continued...

Additional Notes

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

Private Addresses2 classic

Address	Class	Date From Char	Date From Type	Date To Char	Date To Type	Notes
Heriot\'s Bridge Edinburgh Scotland	Private
2 Drummond Street Edinburgh Scotland	Private
1 Rankeillour Street Edinburgh Scotland	Private

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Business Addresses2 classic

Address	Class	Date From	Date From Type	Date To	Date To Type	Notes
Magdelene Chapel Cowgate Edinburgh	Business	1809				Workshop

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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	City or County	Country	Notes
Edinburgh City Chambers	In year 1810		Edinburgh	Scotland	Repairs and alterations - advertisement for tenders
University of Edinburgh, Old College	In year 1812		Edinburgh	Scotland	Considerable alterations to Chemical Theatre
Nelson Monument	In year 1814		Edinburgh	Scotland	Custodian\'s house built under his direction.
Drummond Place	In year 1817		Edinburgh	Scotland	Partly revised elevations designed by Robert Reid
Hermitage Place	In year 1817	Leith	Edinburgh	Scotland
Granary and stockmarket	In year 1817		Edinburgh	Scotland
Queen Street Gardens, gardener's house	In year 1819		Edinburgh	Scotland
Bellevue Crescent, Northern Half	c. 1819		Edinburgh	Scotland	Original design, subsequently revised by Thomas Brown after Bonnar\'s dismissal
Houses, 4-15 Gloucester Place	In year 1822		Edinburgh	Scotland
London Street	In year 1823		Edinburgh	Scotland	Nos 42-54
1-85 East Claremont Street	In year 1824		Edinburgh	Scotland
Atholl Crescent, Atholl Place and Torphichen Street	In year 1824		Edinburgh	Scotland
Bellevue Terrace	c. 1830		Edinburgh	Scotland	Drew up plans

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The following books contain references to this person:

Bib ref classic

Author	Title	Date	Publisher	Part	Notes
Colvin, Howard	A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840	2008	London: YUP. 4th edition
Scottish Record Society	Roll of Edinburgh Burgesses	1933

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The following periodicals contain references to this person:

Period ref classic

Periodical Name	Date Circ	Edition	Notes
Caledonian Mercury	1809/01/14
Scots Magazine	1800/07/01
Caledonian Mercury	1801/02/05
Scots Magazine	1819	NS iv	pp49-54

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The following archives hold material relating to this person:

Arc ref classic

Archive Name	Source	Source Cat No	Building Id	Item Name	Notes
Edinburgh Town Council Minutes	Edinburgh City Archives	200043		177-8	12 December 1809
Wills and Testaments	New Register House	200769

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Basic Biographic Details

Addresses

Private Addresses

Private Addresses2 classic

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2 classic

Buildings and Designs

Buildings and Designs2 classic

References

Bibliographic References

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Periodical References

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Archive References

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