John Murray Robertson
John Murray Robertson FRIBA (1844–1901) was a 19th-century Scottish architect who did much to change Dundee.
![](../I/GlenstalAbbeyHouse.jpg.webp)
Life
![](../I/Giffen_House%252C_near_Dalry%252C_Ayrshire_-_geograph.org.uk_-_1606260.jpg.webp)
![](../I/The_Drummond_Hotel_on_Loch_Earn_-_geograph.org.uk_-_677754.jpg.webp)
![](../I/Balmuir_House.jpg.webp)
![](../I/The_grave_of_John_Murray_Robertson%252C_Wellshill_Cemetery%252C_Perth.jpg.webp)
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]
One of his final projects was Glenstal Castle in Ireland.[2]
His offices were at Albert Square in Dundee.[3]
He died suddenly at Crossmount, Bridgend in Perth on his 57th birthday, 31 January 1901.[4] He is buried in Wellshill Cemetery in Perth. The grave lies on the wall on the south path leading to the Jeanfield section.
Family
He was married to Rachel Mitchell Robertson (1858-1931). Their only son, Murray Mitchell Robertson, died in his youth.[5]
Principal Works
- 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 Parish Church (1868)
- 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)
- 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
- http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/architect_full.php?id=200015
- http://www.dia.ie/architects/view/6279/ROBERTSON%2C+JOHN+MURRAY+%23
- Dundee Post Office Directory 1890
- Dundee Courier 1 February 1901
- Grave of J M Robertson, Wellshill Cemetery