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Practices

Basic Biographic Details

R & R Dickson
Architectural practice
Year Only
1817
Before (Year)
1865
Richard and Robert Dickson were the sons of John Dickson (1766-1828), an Edinburgh builder, and his wife Mary Crichton, sister of the architect Richard Crichton, to whom they were probably articled and whose practice they took over on his death in 1817.

In 1829 the practice was sequestrated. At that time they operated from addresses in Edinburgh and in Portobello.

There is evidence that the Dickson supplied designs for their builder father. Like their uncle they were able designers and designed buildings in a variety of styles. Their Gothic work was not archaeologically accurate as Pugin advocated but had plenty of inventive detail. They were equally adept at the Grecian style and at the Town Hall in Leith successfully fused together Grecian and Renaissance styles reminiscent of C R Cockerell. In 1840 they acted as agents in the sale of a number of New Town properties. In 1844 one of the Dickson brothes acted as a witness in a case regarding compensation to a landowner on whose property the extension of the Edinburgh Leith and Granton Railway was to be built.

Richard died in 1857. Robert died sometime just before 1866. There is a mounment to Richard Dickson and his parents in Old Calton Burial Ground.

Addresses

The following private or business addresses are associated with this architectural practice:

Business Addresses

Business Addresses2

AddressTypeDate FromDate ToNotes
10 James Street Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessIn year 1817
Portobello Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessIn year 1829
11 Broughton Place Edinburgh ScotlandBusinessIn year 1865Robert's address at his death

Partners, Employees and Pupils

The following individuals were employed or trained by this architectural practice (click on an item to view details):

Employees or Pupils2

NamePositionDate FromDate ToNotes
Richard DicksonPartnerIn year 1817
Robert DicksonPartnerIn year 1817c. 1865

Buildings and Designs

This architectural practice was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details):

Buildings and Designs

BuildingPartnership GPRoleDate FromDate ToTown DistrictIslandCity CountyCountryNotes
AbercairneyDIn year 1817PerthshireScotlandCompleted original house (begun by Richard Crichton)
Row of shops, North BridgeAArchitectural practiceIn year 1817EdinburghScotland
Cockpen Parish ChurchDArchitectIn year 1817In year 1820CockpenMidlothianScotlandExecuted the commission.
Coach house and stable behind Abercromby PlaceAArchitectural practiceIn year 1818EdinburghScotlandDrew up designs
Kilconquhar Parish ChurchDArchitectural practiceIn year 1819In year 1821KilconquharFifeScotland
Coul HouseAArchitectural practiceIn year 1820In year 1821Ross and CromartyScotland
Cortachy CastleEArchitectIn year 1820In year 1821KirriemuirAngusScotlandRemodelled house with crenellated porch and relocated stair. New stairhall.
WhitehaughAArchitectural practiceIn year 1822In year 1823NewcastletonRoxburghshireScotland
Shop front, 8 St Andrew SquareAArchitectural practiceIn year 1823EdinburghScotland
Balbirnie House, West LodgeAArchitectural practiceIn year 1824MarkinchFifeScotland
MillearneAArchitectural practiceIn year 1826In year 1835PerthshireScotlandAttribution
Tenements, Gardner's Crsecent and Morrison StreetAArchitectural practiceIn year 1826EdinburghScotland
Leith Town Hall and Sheriff Court, Queen Charlotte StreetIn year 1827In year 1828LeithEdinburghScotlandCorner block
Church, Gardner's CrescentAArchitectural practiceIn year 1827EdinburghScotland
Inchrye LodgeIn year 1827Denmylne CastleFife

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this architectural practice:

Bib ref

AuthorTitleDatePublisherPartNotes
Colvin, H MA Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-18401995New Haven and London: Yale University Press3rd edition
Scotlands People WebsiteWills & TestamentsEdinburgh Sheriff Court Inventories SC70/1/128
Scottish Record SocietyRoll of Edinburgh Burgesses1933
Pride, Glen LThe Kingdom of Fife1999The Rutland Press2nd Editionp194

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this architectural practice:

Period ref

Periodical NamePublisherDate CircEditionNotes
Caledonian Mercury1840/01/09
Caledonian Mercury1844/11/21