Basic Biographical Details Name: | Thomas Brown I | Designation: | | Born: | c. 1781 | Died: | 5 June 1850 | Bio Notes: | Thomas Brown was born c.1781 in England. By 1809 he had established himself as a surveyor and drawing master. On 22 March 1817 he married Jane Dick Brown, daughter of Robert Brown of Much Coldstream.
In 1819 he was appointed Superintendent of the City Works in Edinburgh in place of Thomas Bonnar (who had been dismissed in the previous year) with a salary of £250 without freedom to practise privately, a condition not strictly adhered to. In 1847 he retired on a pension of £150.
In 1824 Brown subscribed to the fund for erecting a memorial to James Watt.
Jane Dick Brown had died on 31 August 1839, aged 48. The 1841 Census shows Thomas Brown living with two female servants. Brown died at 54 George Square on 5 June 1850 at the age of 69 and was buried in Greyfriars Churchyard. In his later years, David Cousin joined him from William Henry Playfair's office as his principal assistant and succeeded him as superintendent of the City Works. Brown's office papers were integrated with that of Thomas Brown II of Uphall who was previously thought to be his son, but has now been proved otherwise. | Private and Business AddressesThe following private or business addresses are associated with this : | | Address | Type | Date from | Date to | Notes | | Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | | | | | 11, Infirmary Street, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private/business(?) | c. 1815 | | | | 7, Hill Place, Nicolson Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Business | 1819 | | | | 6, Argyle Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1841 * | | | | 54, George Square, Edinburgh, Scotland | Private | 1850 | | |
* earliest date known from documented sources.
Employment and TrainingEmployees or PupilsThe following individuals were employed or trained by this (click on an item to view details): | | Name | Date from | Date to | Position | Notes | | John Cunningham | | | Apprentice | | | Thomas Brown II | Before 1833 | Before 1837 | Apprentice | | | David Cousin | 1841 | | Principal Assistant | |
Buildings and DesignsThis was involved with the following buildings or structures from the date specified (click on an item to view details): | | Date started | Building name | Town, district or village | Island | City or county | Country | Notes | | 1804 | Broughton Parish Church | Calzeat | | Peeblesshire | Scotland | | | 1809 | Exchange Buildings and Assembly Rooms | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | New frontage and extensive additions | | 1815 | Channelkirk Manse | Channelkirk | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Addition at east end of north elevation | | 1815 | Nicolson Square Methodist Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1816 | Trinity House | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1817 | Comely Bank | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1818 | North Leith UP Church | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1819 | London Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Revision of Reid's elevation for the south side of street | | c. 1819 | Bellevue Crescent, Northern Half | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Revised Thomas Bonnar's original design after Bonnar's dismissal | | 1820 | Green Market | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | Before 1820 | New Calton Burying Ground | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Attribution by B of S | | 1821 | Fettes Row | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Elevations | | 1821 | Tenement, Market Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1822 | Infirmary Street UP Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1823 | 5-57 Inverleith Row | Inverleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Only the layout is documented although he probably did design many of the houses | | 1823 | Cumberland Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design of elevations | | 1823 | Housing, James Place | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1823 | St Mary's Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1823 | The Binns | | | West Lothian | Scotland | East Gate | | 1824 | 86-102 South Clerk Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1824 | Bathgate Academy | Bathgate | | West Lothian | Scotland | Design only | | 1824 | Leith Prison | Leith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1824 | West Preston Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1824 | Trinity Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1825 | Houses, 3-6 West Newington Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1825 | Newington Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1825 | Royal Crescent | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design of elevations | | 1825 | Tenement, 1-2 West Newington Place and 56 Newington Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | c. 1825 | St Stephen Street | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design of quadrant linking Stockbridge Market to St Vincent Street- not built | | 1826 | 21-25, 37 and 39 Inverleith Place | Inverleith | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Nos 21-25, 39 | | Before 1826 | 120-134 Trinity Road | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1829 | Clarence Street corner block | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1829 | West Hall, farmstead and farm offices, cottages etc | Monimail | | Fife | Scotland | Alterations and repairs proposed | | 1831 | 3 and 5 Hamilton Place | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1831 | Tolbooth St John's Church | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Design only - not built | | 1839 | Edinburgh City Chambers | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations for City Chambers | | 1842 | St Giles Cathedral | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Refitting of the nave as St Giles West Parish Church | | 1845 | West Hall, farmstead and farm offices, cottages etc | Monimail | | Fife | Scotland | Inspected work on farmhouse and offices - or younger Brown? | | 1846 | Auchterderran Manse | Auchterderran | | Fife | Scotland | Repairs and alerations | | 1849 | Manse and offices, Ceres | Ceres | | Fife | Scotland | Drew up report and plans on manse accommodation - plans by Brown not executed |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, H M | 1995 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | 3rd edition | New Haven and London: Yale University Press | |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Caledonian Mercury | 8 April 1819 | | | | | Caledonian Mercury | 12 August 1824 | | | |
Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this : | | Source | Archive Name | Source Catalogue No. | Notes | | Census Records | Census 1841 | | | | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Dean of Guild | | | | Edinburgh City Archives | Edinburgh Town Council Minutes | | | | GROS | Records of Marriages | | | | H M Register House | Death Register | | | | Steven Robb | Information from Steven Robb (from Scotland's People website and other sources) | | Sent May 2011 |
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