Name: | Walter Newall |
Designation: | |
Born: | 3 April 1780 |
Died: | 25 December 1863 |
Bio Notes: | Walter Newall was born at Doubledyke, New Abbey, Kirkcudbrightshire, on 3 April 1780. He was the son of a farmer.
He began his career as a cabinet-maker. He was admitted to the trade incorporation of Dumfries in December 1807 and, as a cabinet-maker, became a burgess of Dumfries in 1808. He was a partner in Newall Hannah & Reid, a firm of cabinet-makers in Dumfries. His drawings of furniture show that he was a competent draughtsman. However, the cabinet-making business failed about 1814 and as a result he began to practice as an architect. There is no information to suggest what kind of formal training he had or where he served his articles. However, his buildings show that he had a knowledge of contemporary thinking in the Greek Revival and the Picturesque Gothic styles. His papers show him to have made tours of Germany, (France?) and Italy, as well as part of England, notably Oxford, Cambridge and Fonthill.
Newall had a large practice, mainly in Dumfriesshire and Kirkcudbrightshire. He tackled a varied range of work including churches, country houses, villas and farmsteads, many of which were on Buccleuch estates. He was responsible for the development in and around George Street - the New Town of Dumfries - and the conversion of a windmill in Maxweltown into an observatory which became one of the town’s landmarks. Newall’s Greek Revival bungalows are distinctively Scottish and are particularly successful.
J C Loudon thought sufficiently of Newall’s work to give a detailed account of one of the Greek Revival villas, Hannayfield, in his ‘Encyclopaedia of Cottage, Farm and Villa Architecture’ (Vol. II p.850/853) and also illustrated eight of Newall’s farmsteads. He states that in the summer of 1831 he went over Hannayfield - now Ladyfield West - with the owner, John Hannah or Hannay, and Walter Newall. As befits a landscape gardener, Loudon commented on the deficiencies of the landscaping (which Mr Hannah had designed) but did not criticise the house.
In 1841 Newall, who never married, was living on the west side of High Street with his unmarried sister, Nicholas [sic]. He had moved to George Street ten years later, still with his sister. At that date he is described as ‘architect and civil engineer’ and he had two employees. About this time Newall abandoned the Greek Revival style in favour of the Tudor/Scots vernacular style favoured by William Burn and others. Kirkmahoe is one of the best examples of Newall’s Gothic style churches. He designed various churchyard monuments, both Gothic and classical, and two examples of the latter are illustrated in Loudon’s Gardener’s Magazine, 1831.
Newall had retired to Craigend, New Abbey, by 1861 where he is described as ‘heritor and farmer, retired architect’. His sister was still in his household as was his 9-year-old nephew from Canada, Walter Copeland. Walter Newall died at Craigend on Christmas Day 1863. He is buried in St Michael’s Churchyard, Dumfries.
Accounts in Dumfries Museum for the following: Estimate for Benjamin Bell, no date (alterations) Estimate for Mrs Copeland, no date, but about 1811 (alterations) House for Archibald MacDougall, probably 1811-12, cost £1310 Alterations for William Monies, no date but about 1812. William Thomson, for making a 'meal chest', no date but about 1812. Estimate for Messrs Thomson & Kerr, 1817, alterations. Estimate for Mrs Williamson, no date, but about 1811. |
This 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 |
![Item 1 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Aldermanhill | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attirbution - no date |
![Item 2 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Bank building (or similar), High Street | Lockerbie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution - no date |
![Item 3 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Blacket House | Eaglesfield, Middlebie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 4 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Bridge over the River Cairn | Jardington | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Date not known. |
![Item 5 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Castle Dykes | Dumfries (near) | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 6 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Cavens House | Kirkbean | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Proposed additions |
![Item 7 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Comlongan Estate, farm houses and steadings | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Date uncertain |
![Item 8 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Courance House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution - addition to earlier house which was retained to serve as rear wing. |
![Item 9 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Crindau House | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 10 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Earlston | Douglas | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Attribution - no date known. |
![Item 11 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Friars Carse House | Dunscore | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Additions to old house and offices |
![Item 12 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Gelston, Douglas of Castle Douglas Mausoleum | Gelston | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Date not given by MacKechnie. Attribution. |
![Item 13 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Holecleuch Farm | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Date uncertain |
![Item 14 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | House, 34 High Street | Lochmaben | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution |
![Item 15 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Huntly Lodge | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution - on the grounds of similarity to nearby Hunter's Croft. |
![Item 16 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Justenlees, house | Annan | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | No date known |
![Item 17 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Kindar Lodge | New Abbey | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Additions to existing house. Attribution. |
![Item 18 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Kirkbean Cottage | Kirkbean | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | No location or date |
![Item 19 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Kirkcolm House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | No date |
![Item 20 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Kirkcowan Parish Church | Kirkcowan | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Attribution - date not known |
![Item 21 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Mains House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Proposed additions - no date |
![Item 22 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Munches | Dalbeattie | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Original house - date unknown |
![Item 23 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Premises, Castle Street and George Street | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution |
![Item 24 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Schools | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Project sketches - not certain if executed. |
![Item 25 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Tenement, High Street | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 26 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | | Woodlands, House, lodge and gatepiers | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | No date known. |
![Item 27 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1811 | Barjarg Tower | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Repairs |
![Item 28 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1811 | River Nith | | | Dumfreisshire | Scotland | Supervision of river improvements to scheme by Holinsworth. |
![Item 29 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1812 | Hannahfield | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | | |
![Item 30 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1813 | Dildawn | Rhonehouse | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | |
![Item 31 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1814 | Borgue Parish Church | Borgue | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Attribution |
![Item 32 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1817 | Buittle Parish Church | Buittle | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Original church (Colvin gives 1818-19) |
![Item 33 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1817 | Dumfries Court House | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Repairs and superintending |
![Item 34 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1817 | Unidentified Church | | | | Scotland | Estimate |
![Item 35 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1818 | Lochrutton Church | Lochrutton | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution - unsigned plans in NRA. Building contract refers to Newall as arbiter but probably not his design. |
![Item 36 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1820 | Brownhall, Powder Magazine | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 37 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1820 | Premises, 41 Castle Street | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Newall 'involved in the building' of this property. |
![Item 38 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1820 | Broomlands House | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 39 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1820 | Commercial Bank of Scotland, Dumfries | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 40 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1820 | Kilquhanity | Kirkpatrck Durham | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | |
![Item 41 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1820 | The Holm | Balmaclellan | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Proposed house - not clear if it was the same building as that demolished by Wolffe. |
![Item 42 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1821 | Youngfield house and stable block | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Stables |
![Item 43 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1822 | Kells Parish Church | New Galloway | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Resonsible for datestone? - attribution by MacKechnie? |
![Item 44 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1822 | Kirkmahoe Parish Church | Kirkmahoe | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 45 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1823 | Moat Brae | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 46 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1824 | Bridge over River Cairn at Gribton | Gribton | | Dunfriesshire | Scotland | Unexecuted scheme 'Mr Newall's Plan of a Suspension Bridge over the Cairn at Gribton Ford'. Span 100 feet. Stone pylons in neo-Egyptian style. |
![Item 47 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1824 | Maxwellton House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Submitted scheme for west range - unexecuted. |
![Item 48 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1824 | Moffat Assembly Room and Baths | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Built as Baths Hall |
![Item 49 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1824 | New Abbey RC Church with integral priest's house | New Abbey | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | |
![Item 50 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1824 | Kerrfield Cottage | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 51 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1824 | Youngfield house and stable block | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 52 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1825 | Underwood House | Dryfesdale, near Lockerbie | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 53 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1826 | Anwoth Parish Church | Anwoth | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Original building |
![Item 54 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1826 | Spottes Hall | | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Broad full-height piend roofed projection added. |
![Item 55 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1827 | Tenement, High Street and Bank Street | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Possibly also responsible for the adjoing tenement 43-49 Bank Street. |
![Item 56 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | After 1827 | Gribton Estate | Hollywood | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Gifford gives 'about 1830' |
![Item 57 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1828 | 61 Irish Street | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution - bears some similarities to Moat Brae |
![Item 58 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1828 | Cardoness House | Kirkcudbright | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | |
![Item 59 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1828(?) | Alton Farm, Drumlanrig Estate | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Date uncertain but most work for the Duke of Buccleuch dates from before 1828 at which point William Burn took over as the preferred architect by the Duke. |
![Item 60 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1828 | Inglestone East Farm | Durisdeer | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Not clear if Newll worked on Ingleston East or West Farm |
![Item 61 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1828 | Inglestone West Farm | Durisdeer | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Not clear if Newall design East or West Ingleston. |
![Item 62 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1829 | Castlehill steading | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Steading - incorporating existing barn |
![Item 63 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1829 | Coshogle | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 64 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1829 | Crairiehill Farmhouse and steading | Durisdeer | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 65 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1829 | Sweetbit Farm | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution by Gifford because of similarity to Alton. |
![Item 66 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1829 | Gateslack | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 67 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1830 | Glenlair | Parton | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Double pile house with twin gabled flanks, perhaps enlarging existing house. Newall's house relagated to rear wing following additions by Peddie & Kinnear. |
![Item 68 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | After 1830 | Broadholm | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 69 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1830 | Crairiepark Farmhouse and Steading | Durisdeer | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Original building (probably- HS) |
![Item 70 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1830 | Riddingwood House | Kirkmahoe | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | 'villa residence and farmery' |
![Item 71 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1831 | St Michael's Kirkyard, two headstones for the Hood Family | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 72 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1831 | Holestane Farmhouse, Steading Dairy and outbuildings | Durisdeer | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Date from HS |
![Item 73 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1832 | Moat Brae | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Newall known to have made measurements of the garden boundary. |
![Item 74 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1832 | Parton Parish Church | Parton | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | |
![Item 75 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1832 | Sidmount Cottage | Moffat | | Dunfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 76 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1834(?) | Murraythwaite | Dalton, Cummertrees | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations? |
![Item 77 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1835 | Glencairn Parish Church | Kirkland | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Plans drawn up - McCandlish's designs preferred. |
![Item 78 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1835 | Irving Street Congregational Church | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution |
![Item 79 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1835 | Kirkbean Parish Church | Kirkbean | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Two upper stages of tower added. |
![Item 80 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1835 | Windmill | Dumfries | | Maxwelltown | Scotland | Conversion of windmill into observatory to coincide with the 1835 visit of Halley's Comet. |
![Item 81 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1835 | Mount Annan Cottage | Annan | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 82 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1837 | Amisfield House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Front range - attribution on stylistic grounds. See Riddingwood and Cleughheads. |
![Item 83 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1837(?) | Mouswald Manse | Mouswald | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | MacKechnie gives the date as 1830c. |
![Item 84 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1837 | Tinwald Parish Manse | Tinwald | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 85 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1837 | Muirhouse (possibly), farmhouse and farmstead | Lockerbie | | Dumfreisshire | Scotland | |
![Item 86 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1837 | Upper Cluden, farmhouse and steading | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | No date. |
![Item 87 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1838 | Corsock parish Church | Corsock | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | May have been the architect - he provided a design for the pulpit gratis. |
![Item 88 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1838 | Manse | Lochmaben | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 89 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1839 | British Linen Bank | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 90 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1839 | Halleaths, double cottage and stables | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Double cottage |
![Item 91 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1840 | Caerlaverock Manse | Caerlaverock | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 92 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1840 | Glencairn Manse | Glencairn | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 93 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1840 | Manse | Kirkland | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 94 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1840 | Granton House | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Incorporates previous house. Greek revival country house composed about a central tower in the manner of Smirk's Kinmount and William Burn's Craigielands (1817) (discussed by D Walker (1984)). See also entrance compared to that of Newall's Dumfries Observatory. |
![Item 95 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1840 or c. 1830(?) | Dallawoodie | Holywood | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | House, gatepiers and lodge. |
![Item 96 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1842 | Southerness Lighthouse | Southerness | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Remodelling of existing navigational pillar. |
![Item 97 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1842 | Wallace Hall Academy | Closeburn | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Alterations |
![Item 98 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1843 | Halleaths, double cottage and stables | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | May be by Newall - sophisticated composition with colonnaded angles and deep eaves. |
![Item 99 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1843 | Lochmaben Free Church | Lochmaben | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 100 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1843 | Gillesbie House | Boreland | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Greatly enlarged |
![Item 101 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1844 | Orchardton | Auchencairn | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | New build? Additions? |
![Item 102 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1845 | Devorgilla Cottage | New Abbey | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Survey plan of grounds. |
![Item 103 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1845 | Stroquan House | Dunscore | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Additions to existing house - attribution |
![Item 104 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1846 | Cleugheads | Annan | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attribution - which seems likely as the Dirom family held Mount Annan and Cleugheads. |
![Item 105 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1847 | Devorgilla Cottage | New Abbey | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Outbuildings in the style of Newall - dated 1847. |
![Item 106 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1847 | River Nith | | | Dumfreisshire | Scotland | Drawing showing levels and depths, Dumfries to Southerness. |
![Item 107 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Before 1848 | Mavisgrove | Dumfries (near) | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | No date in Colvin. |
![Item 108 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1849 | Dumfries and Maxwelltown water supply | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Designs carried out in conjunction with William Gale of Glasgow. |
![Item 109 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1849 | Parish Church | Kirkpatrick Durham | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | |
![Item 110 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | 1850 | Glassmount | Moffat | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 111 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | c. 1850(?) | Gracefield | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Attirbution. |
![Item 112 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Early 1800s | Conheath House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | |
![Item 113 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Early 1800s | Hoddom Castle | Ecclefechan | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Gateway and porter's lodge |
![Item 114 of 114](images/table_item.gif) | Early 1800s | Netherwood House | Dumfries | | Dumnfriesshire | Scotland | |