Basic Biographical Details Name: | William Adam | Designation: | | Born: | 30 October 1689 | Died: | 24 June 1748 | Bio Notes: | William Adam was born on 30 October 1689, the son of John Adam, builder, Kirkcaldy, whose progenitors were hereditary proprietors of a small Angus estate, and his wife Helen Cranstoun. William Adam probably attended the grammar school in Kirkcaldy, leaving in 1704 when he was fifteen. He trained as a mason, possibly with his father. He was a member of the Incorporation of Hammermen of Linktown, Kirkcaldy from at least 1717 to 1734 (and probably before but the records of this Incorporation are fragmentary). In 1728 Adam was admitted as a burgess and guild brother of Edinburgh gratis. Probably later that year he moved his family to Edinburgh. He had given up even nominal membership of the Linktown incorporation. He had emerged by that date as ‘the universal architect’.
Unlike William Bruce and James Smith, who had Jacobite sympathies, Adam was a Presbyterian Whig and therefore acceptable to both government and to men of influence. He was on excellent terms with members of the Scottish aristocracy and leading figures of the Enlightenment.
At some point before 1720 Adam visited the Low Countries and Northern France. Clerk of Eldin (Adam’s son-in-law) later stated that Adam had brought a model of a barley mill back from his trip and introduced barley-making (probably at the mill at Saltoun of 1711). But his involvement in this must have been small. Clerk also claimed that he introduced the making of pantiles to Scotland. In 1714 Adam obtained a license in partnership with William Robertson of Gladney, formerly factor on the Wemyss estate for a tile and brick works at Linktown. Records show that he later supplied bricks and tiles at Donibristle and elsewhere.
In 1716 Adam married his partner’s daughter, Mary Robertson. They lived at Gladney House with Mary’s father. Of their children four sons (John, Robert and James who followed in their father’s footsteps and William who had a chequered career in the City) and six daughters (Susannah married John Clerk of Eldin) survived until adulthood.
In the 1720s Adam’s practice burgeoned. His emergence as a major player in Scottish architecture may owe something to the collapse of the architectural and contracting partnership of James Smith and Alexander McGilll.
Adam was supported by the success of the brick and tile works. He was equipped with a knowledge of construction because of his training as a mason and his knowledge was probably furthered by his trip to the Low Countries. His descendants’ library at Blair Adam contained a number of books published before 1720 (Vitruvius, Palladio, Serlio, Scamozzi, etc) and may have belonged to him. By 1726 he owned an edition, at least a fragmentary one, of Palladio’s ‘Quattri Libri’ and the first two volumes of Colen Campbell’s ‘Vitruvius Britannicus’.
During the 1720s, Adam’s patrons and friends tried to obtain for him government posts and contracts and almost succeeded but for the death of the king. In 1727 although he not officially appointed he was able to draw the salary of Surveyor of the King’s Works. The following year he was appointed Clerk and Storekeeper of the King’s Works in Scotland. In 1730 he was appointed Mason to the Board of Ordnance in North Britain, a post which brought him large military contracts after the ‘45. At the behest of the 2nd Earl of Stair and probably in connection with seeking appointments he travelled to London 1727. Sir John Clerk of Penicuik joined him in Stamford. Through Sir John and his circle of antiquarian friends, Adam met Lord Burlington and a number of Scottish noblemen. He may also have met James Gibbs (later a subscriber to his book). Adam’s trip to London was also to find an engraver to prepare plates of his drawings for his planned publication, ‘Vitruvius Scoticus’. It was modelled on Colen Campbell’s ‘Vitruvius Britannicus’ and was to contain plates of work by Adam and his immediate predecessors in Scotland. After he returned to Scotland in late 1727 Adam began to collect subscriptions for the book. Subscribers were difficult to find and this combined possibly with the slowness of the engraver and Adam’s own diffidence, the book was not printed until about the time of Adam’s death and not published for another sixty years.
It is not clear how so many prestigious commissions came his way in the 1720s. It may have been through his patronage of Sir John Clerk or of Adam’s ‘great friend’ the second earl of Stair. He was employed by John Ker, first duke of Roxburgh at Floors. Although paid as a mason there, he later claimed to have designed the building. In the room ratios, pedimented towers and union of pavilions with the centre, he seems to have been referring to Palladio. He worked at Hopetoun House in the 1720s which involved ‘taking down the old house’; and he and his sons were to continue working there until the 1750s. A few years later he made additions at Newliston, where the second Earl of Stair was ‘making a canal and several very grand improvements’, very probably designed by Adam as well as working at Dalmahoy, Redbraes, Craigdarroch, The Drum and Arniston to name but a few.
Although Stair was unable to afford a new house, Adam had better luck with Sir John Clerk at Mavisbank, which was a villa and occasional residence of Sir John. It has been observed that Mavisbank with its awkward proportions, banded pilasters and excess of carving is unlike contemporary English villas. Adam’s approach was pragmatic. He drew detail from a range of sources with considerable freedom and inventiveness. He applied whatever style or detailing he chose to each separate commission, drawing both on his Scottish past but also on recent classical architecture from England and the Continent. Despite his friendship with Sir John Clerk, he had little taste for the English neo-Palladian architecture. The work of Gibbs and Vanbrugh were influential but he also used Continental Baroque as a source.
Adam’s work in the 1720s was not confined to architecture. Adam often acted as landscape gardener, for example at Newliston, Hopetoun, Arniston and Craigston. Alongside this he had business interests some of which had been inherited from his father. Along with the Linktown brickworks and the barley mills, he had, according to Sir John Clerk in 1728 nearly twenty projects in hand: ‘Timber Mills, Coal Works, Salt Pans, Marble Works, Highways, Farms, houses of his own a-building and houses belonging to others not a few’. His enterprises included the ownership of a quarry at South Queensferry, the stone from which could be easily shipped anywhere by sea. Although some of his friends and patrons considered that he might have over-stretched himself, he accumulated considerable wealth. He invested this in house property in Edinburgh and in acquiring the estate of Blair Crambeth in Kinross-shire which he purchased in 1731 for £8010 Scots and renamed it Blair Adam.
That Adam’s status was very high by about 1730 is shown by the fact that Lord Polwarth in considering remodelling Redbraes Castle consulted Colen Campbell and James Gibbs, two of the most fashionable architects in London and from French architects but was also advised to consult William Adam as well. The list below shows the extent of his practice.
Adam’s life in the 1740s was dogged by the dispute with William Duff, Lord Braco. Lord Braco had employed Adam at Banff in 1730. By 1735 he had decided to build a new house which was begun in June of that year. Adam initiated the proceedings because Lord Braco had not paid his account. He claimed he was due the sum of £5,786 12s 11d, the principal point at issue was whether Adam had been the contractor for the mason work as well as the architect. Adam was clearly in the right but it is not clear if Lord Braco misunderstood or if because of some falling out, he intended to ruin the architect. The dispute dragged on until almost the end of Adam’s life. Adam’s later works consisted of strengthening of fortifications in the wake of the ’45, and a series of public buildings. His last country house, Inveraray, designed by Roger Morris but executed by Adam was when completed the first major manifestation of the Gothic Revival.
Adam, nicknamed ‘Old Stone and Lime’ by his children died in Edinburgh on 24 June 1748 and was buried in the family mausoleum in Greyfriars Kirkyard. His business enterprises were continued by John Adam while his architectural practice was extended by Robert and James in Edinburgh and London.
There is an oil painting of Adam at Blair Adam and a bust in the SNPG. |
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 | | | Belhaven House | Belhaven | | East Lothian | Scotland | Scheme drawn up - not executed. Date not known. | | | Cally Estate, Cally Palace and other estate buildings | Gatehouse of Fleet | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Scheme illustrated in Vitruvius Scoticus - not executed. | | | Castle Kennedy | Stranraer | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Garden temple designed - perhaps not executed | | | Fasque Castle | | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Plans drawn up. | | | Kenmure Castle | New Galloway | | Kirkcudbrightshire | Scotland | Plans drawn up | | | Makerston (or Makerstoun) House | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | Alterations to house - details uncertain | | | Preston Hall | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Plans drawn up - not executed | | | Saughton House | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Plans drawn up - not executed. | | | Torrance House | | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Plans drawn up - perhaps not executed - with exception of wings. (Colvin unclear) | | 1720s | Castle Kennedy | Stranraer | | Wigtownshire | Scotland | Perhaps designed garden layout. | | 1720s | Newhall House | Gifford | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | c. 1720 | Airth House | Airth | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Designs drawn up - not executed | | c. 1720 | Lonmay | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Only pavilions seems to have been built. One of these since demolished. | | 1721 | Floors Castle | Kelso | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1721 | Hopetoun House | Abercorn | | West Lothian | Scotland | Remodelling and enlargement. Continued until 1748 when his son took over. | | 1723 | Mavisbank House | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1724 | Lawers House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1725 | Dalmahoy House and lodges | Ratho | | Edinburgh | Scotland | 'Buildings of Scotland' states it was finished in 1725 | | 1725 | Mellerstain House | | | Berwickshire | Scotland | Wings added | | c. 1725 | Newliston | Kirkliston | | West Lothian | Scotland | Stables, offices and garden layout | | 1726 | Arniston House | | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1726 | Craigdarroch House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Design by William Adam but existing house bears only general ressemblance to Adam's design and is less sophiticated and must be the work of a master builder. | | 1726 | Garvald Manse | Garvald | | East Lothian | Scotland | | | 1726 | The Drum | Gilmerton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Rebuilding | | 1729 | Aberdeen Town House | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Enlargement | | 1729 | Keith Hall | Inverurie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Designs for rebuilding the tower house and remodelling the remainder in an Early Georgian manner with Palladian wings - not executed | | After 1729 | Culter House | Peterculter | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Remodelling of grandest room on the second floor of the 17th century block | | Before 1729 | Eglinton Castle and Tournament Bridge | | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Original Castle - demolished to make way for new house of late 18th/early 19th century. | | 1730 | House of Dun | Dun | | Angus | Scotland | | | 1730 | Robert Gordon's College | Schoolhill | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Original building | | 1730 | Yester House | Gifford | | East Lothian | Scotland | Alterations including new roof and addition of pilasters and attic to centre of north front. | | c. 1730 | Balgregan House | Stoneykirk | | Midlothian | Scotland | Remodelling | | c. 1730 | Craigiehall | Cramond | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Alterations including new front doorway (removed 1852) and additions including north east pavilion (remodelled 1828). Also bridge in grounds. | | c. 1730 | Red Braes | Bonnington | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | 1731 | Blair Adam | | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | Original house which forms centerpiece of the present east range | | 1731 | Chatelherault | Hamilton High Parks | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1731 | Cumbernauld House | | | Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1731 | Old Parish Church | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | 1732 | Bridge over Cowie Water | Stonehaven | | Kincardineshire | Scotland | Superseded by the James Fraser bridge | | 1732 | Dundee Town House | | | Dundee | Scotland | | | 1732 | Glasgow University Library | | | Glasgow | Scotland | | | 1732 | Haddo House | Haddo/Methlick | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | House and layout of formal gardens | | 1732 | St Nicholas Church | | | Aberdeen | Scotland | Drew up report on remedial work as church had had to be abandoned. | | 1733 | Craigston Castle | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | Prepared scheme for landscaping of grounds. May also have drawn up Paladian scheme for house - not executed. | | 1733 | Fyvie Castle and ancillary buildings | Fyvie | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | May have been responsible for part refitting for William, 2nd Earl of Aberdeen as temporary residence while Haddo being built. | | 1733 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Repairs | | 1733 | The Tay Bridge | Aberfeldy | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1734 | The Orphans' Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1735 | Brunstane House | Duddingston | | Edinburgh | Scotland | South range rebuilt and office court added. | | 1735 | Duff House | | | Banffshire | Scotland | Also designed temple on the Hill of Doune and a triumphal arch on an island in the River Deveron and provided a design for the garden. | | 1735 | The Town House | Sanquhar | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | | c. 1735 | Fala House | | | Midlothian | Scotland | | | c. 1735 | Murdostoun | Newmains | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | | | c. 1735 | Niddrie House | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Additions | | 1736 | Blair Adam | | | Kinross-shire | Scotland | Addition of wings | | 1736 | Hamilton Palace | Hamilton | | Lanarkshire | Scotland | Temple on the bowling green.
Adam was employed at Hamilton Palace from 1727 to 1743, making plans for the gardens and designing the church and dog-kennel, but appears to have been responsible only for minor repairs and alterations to the Palace itself, for the enlargement of which he made an unexecuted design illustrated in 'Vitruvius Scoticus'. | | 1736 | Harbour | Cullen | | Banffshire | Scotland | Plan of harbour commissioned by 5th Earl of Findlater | | 1736 | Mausoleum for the 1st Duke of Montrose | Aberuthven | | Perthshire | Scotland | | | 1736 | Tweeddale Lodging | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Stables and coach-house | | 1737 | Lawers House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Further work | | 1737 | Pollok House, including lodges | | | Glasgow | Scotland | May have drawn up plans | | 1738 | Falkirk Old Parish Church | Falkirk | | Stirlingshire | Scotland | Octagonal steeple added | | 1738 | George Watson's Hospital | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1738 | The Royal Infirmary | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | | | 1738 | Tinwald House | | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | | c. 1738 | Minto House and stables | Minto | | Roxburghshire | Scotland | | | 1739 | Balveny House | | | | Scotland | Repaired roof. | | 1740s | Dumfries House | Cumnock (near) | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Drew up initial designs. | | 1740 | Carnousie House and Lodge | Carnousie | | Banffshire | Scotland | Addition to old house - large wing | | 1740 | Caroline Park House | Granton | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Offices | | 1740 | Palace of Holyroodhouse | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Decoration of apartment for 5th Duke of Hamilton | | c. 1740 | Elie House | Elie | | Fife | Scotland | Work including carved pediment. | | c. 1740 | Gartmore House | | | Perthshire | Scotland | Designs drawn up but perhaps not executed. | | c. 1740 | Taymouth Castle | Taymouth | | Perthshire | Scotland | Addition of wings and other alterations. Rebuilding in 19th century appears to have obliterated these. | | c. 1740 | The Hirsel | Coldstream | | Berwickshire | Scotland | North extension | | 1741 | Dalkeith House | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Stables, coachhouses, gardener's cottage and bridge over the South Esk. 'Buildings of Scotland' notes construction date of stables and coach house as 1740. Home Farm built over former Smeaton House credited to William Adam under name East Park | | c. 1741 | Buchanan Castle | Drymen | | Stirlingshire/Dunbartonshire | Scotland | | | 1742 | Town House | Haddington | | East Lothian | Scotland | Elevations produced in 1742 but nothing remaining from this period | | Before 1742 | Barnton Castle | | | Midlothian | Scotland | Repairs and other work | | 1743 | Cullen House and estate buildings | Cullen | | Banffshire | Scotland | Bridge over ravine adjoining house. | | Before 1743 | Airdrie House | | | Fife | Scotland | Works, probably including the addition of wings. | | Before 1743 | Broxmouth and estate buildings | | | East Lothian | Scotland | Bridge, cascades and repairs to house | | Before 1743 | Eglinton Castle, house and stables | | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Rebuilding of south side and building of new kitchen and back court. | | 1744 | Kilkerran House | Maybole | | Ayrshire | Scotland | Two chimneypeices in parlour are probably those provided by William Adam in 1744. | | 1744 | Newliston | Kirkliston | | West Lothian | Scotland | Extensive internal alterations - demolished 1790. | | 1744 | Royal Bank of Scotland | | | Edinburgh | Scotland | Plans accepted | | c. 1744 | St Michael's Church | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | Plan for reconstruction submitted by Adam but rejected as being too expensive. | | 1745 | Castle Dounie | | | Inverness-shire | Scotland | Work begun | | 1745 | Inveraray Castle | Inveraray | | Argyll | Scotland | Supervised construction to designs by Roger Morris | | c. 1745 | House, High Street | Dumfries | | Dumfriesshire | Scotland | | | c. 1745 | Skene House | | | Aberdeenshire | Scotland | May have been responsible for SE wing - or perhaps John Adam responsible | | 1747 | Pollok House, including lodges | | | Glasgow | Scotland | Possibly but the evidence is not clear cut | | Before 1748 | Dailly Parish Churchyard, Mausoleum of the Fergussons of Kilkerran | Dailly | | Ayrshire | Scotland | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this : | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes | | Colvin, Howard | 2008 | A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 | | London: YUP. 4th edition | | | Gifford, John | 1989 | William Adam | | Edinburgh | | | New DNB | | New Dictionary of National Biography | | | Article by James Macaulay. |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this : | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes | | Aberdeen Journal | 5 July 1748 | | | Death note | | Architectural Heritage | 1990 | I | | |
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