His date and place of birth are not known. In his will, he appears as John Douglas of Pinkerton,[7] late architect in Leith, who died on 20 June 1778.[8] The Edinburgh Recorder (records of the Edinburgh Friendly Fire Insurance Company, which began in 1720 as a loose-knit association of Edinburgh property owners for mutual financial protection against loss by fire),[9] shows that he owned properties in High Street North at Fleshmarket Close East (Thomson’s Close) (records 2754-2757) and at Old Provost Close, East Head (record 2717).[10]
Work as architect
John Douglas designed and renovated several country houses during the middle of the 18th century. He was considered an efficient designer and many of his projects are characterised by a horizontal hierarchy which is signposted by a central projecting body[1] (for example, Archerfield House and Campbeltown Town House).
A cache of his drawings was discovered, curated and exhibited in 1989 by Ian Gow at the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland, entitled "John Douglas – William Adam's Rival?". This material has been further analysed, to reveal more about his style in both executed and unexecuted designs (Archerfield House, Galloway House,[11] Finlaystone House,[4] and two designs for Blair Castle [12]). A broader study of his work shows how his designs explored the plastic treatment of the volume and the materiality of elevation in rather eclectic manners beyond his period, often though deemed too fashionable or personal.[13][14] He is an interesting less-known case of the early 18th century context in Scotland characterised by the professional establishment of architectural practice and a more conscious exploration of personal styles and external influences, often treatises.
Analysis of his major buildings (Archerfield (1745-9), Finlaystone House (1746-7), Wardhouse (1757); student halls in St. Salvator’s (1754–58); the disastrous intervention in Holyrood Abbey church (1760); and the town halls for Lochmaben (1756) and Campbeltown (1760)) show a characteristic treatment of the materiality of elevations and a mannerism that is restrained and more influenced by the earlier Palladianism of Inigo Jones than James Gibbs. More on his professional practice can be revealed from the study of the building contracts for Archerfield and Finlaystone for example, as also the litigation with his journeyman George Paterson,[15] which also confirm disputed authorship of his work
List of buildings
A book by Howard Colvin lists several of his projects, but some of the facts are incorrect (for example, Douglas was indeed responsible for the disastrous repair of the church of Holyrood Abbey in 1760 and the dispute over non-payment of the rest of his fees was resolved only after his death).[16][17] A map of the buildings on which he worked shows their distribution across Scotland.[18]
^Pinkerton is not in the 2007 Times Atlas. The place may at the Burgh of Crail and in the Shire of Fife.
^Will of John Douglas, 20 June 1778. National Archives of Scotland CC8/8/124
^Gilhooley, James, ed. (1990). The Edinburgh Recorder: Spotlight on the Personalities, Properties and Their Fire Insurance Policies from 1720 to 1840. Edinburgh: Privately printed.
^(Lybell) State and Report in the Process George Patterson, Writer at Newmills (Pursuer) Against John Douglas, Architect in Edinburgh (Defender). Date 1762. National Records of Scotland CS232/P/3/18
^Grater, Abigail (2000). The United College: The Architectural Development of the United College of St Salvator and St Leonard, University of St. Andrews, 1757–1931. St Andrews: University of St. Andrews.
