John Murray Robertson
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/8c/GlenstalAbbeyHouse.jpg/265px-GlenstalAbbeyHouse.jpg)
John Murray Robertson FRIBA (31 January 1844 – 31 January 1901) was a Scottish architect who did much to change Dundee.
Life
[edit]![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d3/Giffen_House%2C_near_Dalry%2C_Ayrshire_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1606260.jpg/220px-Giffen_House%2C_near_Dalry%2C_Ayrshire_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1606260.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/43/The_Drummond_Hotel_on_Loch_Earn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_677754.jpg/220px-The_Drummond_Hotel_on_Loch_Earn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_677754.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/12/Balmuir_House.jpg/220px-Balmuir_House.jpg)
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/The_grave_of_John_Murray_Robertson%2C_Wellshill_Cemetery%2C_Perth.jpg/220px-The_grave_of_John_Murray_Robertson%2C_Wellshill_Cemetery%2C_Perth.jpg)
He was born on 31 January 1844 at Strathord in Perthshire the son of James Robertson and Catherine Smeaton, who were a strict Plymouth Brethren couple. Murray (as he was usually called) was articled to the architect Andrew Heiton in Perth in 1859. In 1865 Heiton opened a Dundee branch and Murray Robertson was asked to run it as senior draughtsman, primarily overseeing church projects.[1] His offices were at Albert Square in Dundee.[2]
One of his final projects was Glenstal Castle in Ireland.[3]
Death
[edit]Robertson died at Crossmount, Bridgend, Perth, on 31 January 1901, his 57th birthday.[4] He is buried in the city's Wellshill Cemetery. The grave lies on the wall on the south path leading to the Jeanfield section.
Personal life
[edit]Robertson was married to Rachel Mitchell Robertson (1858–1931). Their only son, Murray Mitchell Robertson, died in his youth.[5]
Principal works
[edit]- Free East Church, Broughty Ferry (1863)
- Westwood House, Newport-on-Tay (1865)
- Hamilton House, Perth (1865)
- Redgorton Manse (1866)
- Castleroy, Broughty Ferry (1867)
- Newfargie House, Glenfarg (1867)
- Kinfauns Castle (1868; with Andrew Heiton)
- Orchill, Dunblane (1868)
- Port-an-Eilean, Strathtummel (1868)
- Giffen House, Dalry, Ayrshire (1869)
- Craigclowan, Perthshire (1870)
- Taybank, Perth (1870)
- St Fillans RC Church (1871)
- Greig Institute, Leven, Fife (1872)
- Kinbrae House, Newport, Fife (1872)
- Newtyle Parish Church (1872)
- Victoria Buildings, Perth (1872)
- Drummond Arms Hotel, St Fillans (1872)
- Samnugger Jute Company, housing in Calcutta in India (1873) without going to India
- Luncarty Bleachworks (1873)
- Perth Savings Bank, Perth (1873)
- Drumore House, Perthshire (1874)
- Elmgrove, Broughty Ferry (1874)
- Hope Park, Blairgowrie (1874) and extension 1892
- India Buildings, Dundee (1874/1876)
- Ravenscraig, Dundee (1874)
- Reres Cottage, Barnhill, Dundee (1874)
- Rosebay House, Broughty Ferry]] (1875)
- Craigmount, Broughty Ferry (1875)
- Breachtower, Dundee (1875)
- Sack factory for James J Sinclair, Dundee (1876)
- Hunter's Department Store, Dundee (1877)
- Tayfield Works, Dundee (1877)
- 3 Norwood Crescent, Dundee (1880)
- Great Eastern Bar, Dundee (1880)
- Rosebank, Broughty Ferry (1880)
- Merchants Shelter, Royal Exchange, Dundee (1880)
- Broughty Ferry Baptist Church (1881)
- Knowehead House, Crieff (1882)
- The Bughties, Broughty Ferry (1882)
- Duncraggan, Newport, Fife (1883)
- Seathwood House, Dundee (1883)
- The Knowe, Broughty Ferry (1883)
- Rockknowe, Broughty Ferry (1884) rebuilt 1897 after a fire
- Balmuir House and model farm (1885)
- The Croft, Longforgan (1885)
- Ashton Works, Dundee (1886)
- Caledonian Insurance Offices, Dundee (1886)
- Elmslea, Dundee (1886)
- Dundee Technical Institute and University College (1886)
- Craigard, Broughty Ferry (1887)
- Dryburgh House, Camperdown House (1887)
- Station Hotel, Perth (1888)[6]
- Glengate, Kirriemuir (1889)
- Drill Hall, Arbroath (1890)
- Remodelling of Jordanstone House, Meigle (1890)
- Glamis House, Dundee (1891)
- The Cairn, Longforgan (1891)
- St Clare, Tayport (1892)
- Arima, Broughty Ferry (1893)
- Castellar, Crieff (1893)
- Dudhope Works, Dundee (1893)
- Tighnamuirin, Monifieth (1893)
- Cox's Library and Baths, Lochee, Dundee (1894)
- Pitlochry Institute (1894)
- Barnhill Sanatorium, Perth (1897)
- Caird Maternity Block, Dundee Royal Infirmary (1897)
- Warehouse and offices for William Low & Co, Dundee (1897)
- Glenstal Castle additions, Ireland (1898/9)
- Hillside House, Perth (1898)
- Comerton Children's Home, Fife (1899)
- Heathfield Works, Dundee (1899)
- Lindertis, Kirriemuir (1899)
- Stanley manse (1900)
References
[edit]- ^ "Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report".
- ^ Dundee Post Office Directory 1890
- ^ "ROBERTSON, JOHN MURRAY # - Dictionary of Irish Architects".
- ^ Dundee Courier 1 February 1901
- ^ Grave of J M Robertson, Wellshill Cemetery
- ^ Leonard Street, Station Hotel, Including Gate Piers – Historic Environment Scotland