James Simpson (1830–1894) was a 19th century Scottish architect. He is particularly associated with Leith. He served as the Burgh Assessor and Town Architect of Leith and created and oversaw the Leith Improvement Plan of 1888.

Life

He was born in Leith in 1830. In 1867 he was living at 11 Bonnington Place off Ferry Road. George Craig trained under him. His office was at 31 Charlotte Street (now known as Queen Charlotte Street) and his final home was Rainesfield on Ferry Road. In his role as Town Architect he devised the Leith Improvement Plan around 1870 but this was not executed until 1885 to 1888. One of the most dramatic elements was the levelling of Leith Links, leaving only two upstands: Giants Brae (a military fortification); and Lady Somerset's Brae (a large sand dune erroneously identified as a military work in the 1888 plan). The works also created

Henderson Street Henderson Street is a street in Leith, a district of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland. It forms a curving artery between Great Junction Street and an area known as the Shore, where the Water of Leith runs into the Port of Leith/Leith Docks. Hend ...

as a link between Leith Walk/Great Junction Street and The Shore. Whilst this improved communications it swept away 700 medieval buildings and changed the historic street pattern beyond recognition. 2150 people lost their homes and the scheme cost £100,000. The only major building surviving this clearance was The Vaults, dating from pre-1555 and then owned by the wine merchants J & G Thomson. This building was obtained by the Scotch Malt Whisky Society in 1983. He died at home on 20 February 1894 and is buried with his wife and children in Rosebank Cemetery. The grave lies on the north edge of the raised central section. The obelisk topping his grave has been toppled. His practice was continued by his son George Simpson (d.1944) after his death. His masterpiece, the huge Chancelot Flour Mill was visible across most of northern Edinburgh (and from his own house). It was demolished in 1971.

Works

see *Leith Institute (1867) *Extension to Leith Town Hall (1868) one of Britain's first facade retentions *Scandinavian Church, North Junction St (1868) now used as

Leith School of Art Leith School of Art (LSA) is an independent art college in Edinburgh, Scotland, providing tertiary education in art and design. LSA is located in the Leith area of Edinburgh, in the converted former Norwegian Seamen's Church, originally built by ...

*Dr Bell's School (1869) *Union Bank Leith (1871) *

Leith Hospital Leith Hospital was situated on Mill Lane in Leith, Edinburgh, and was a general hospital with adult medical and surgical wards, paediatric medical and surgical wards, a casualty department and a wide range of out-patient services. It closed in 1 ...

King Street extension (1873) *Bonnington Road School (1875) now the Edinburgh Gaelic School * Links Place School (1875) *Lorne Primary School (1875) *North Fort Street School (1875) *Yardheads School (1875) now converted to flats *Tenement at 64-70

Constitution Street Constitution Street is a thoroughfare in Leith, Edinburgh, Scotland. It runs north from the junction of Leith Walk, Great Junction Street and Duke Street to the Albert Dock in Leith Docks. History The street takes its name from Constitution ...

(1878) *Huge department store for Scottish Cooperative Society, Leith Links (1878) *South Leith Parish Church Halls (1878) *Warehouse at 42,43 Water Street (1879) *Gladstone Place, Leith Links (1880) *Tenement and bank 22-26 Bernard Street (1880) *Portobello Cooperative Society (1882) *Industrial School, 92 Restalrig Road (1885) *Tenement and shops at 59-61

(1890) *The huge and majestic Chancelot Mills, Bonnington (1891) demolished 1971 *Learmonth House,

Dean, Edinburgh Dean Village (from ''dene'', meaning 'deep valley') is a former village immediately northwest of the city centre of Edinburgh, Scotland. It is bounded by Belford Road to the south and west, Belgrave Crescent Gardens to the north and below the ...

(1891) *New chambers in Leith Town Hall (1891) internal *

tenements (1888-1891) *Whisky bond, Water Street (1891) *Warehouses on Maritime Street (1892/3) *Extension to Leith Hospital (1893) *Model Lodging House, Parliament Street (1893)

Family

He married Margaret Matilda Boak (1838-1883) daughter of William Boak (1803-1903) and Margaret Affleck. Almost all his family died young. Their children included William Boak Simpson (d.1891), Margaret (Maisy) (1864-1907), Jemima Boak Simpson (d.1894), Alfred Boak Simpson (1870-1872), Maud (1875-1875), Jessie (1874-1876), Charles (1864-1884), James Miller Simpson (1865-1908), Allan Boak Simpson (1879-1909). Allan's wife, Jessie Anderson Simpson, was listed as a "pauper/lunatic" from 1913 until at least 1923. She was housed at the Asylum for Female Incurables on Mill Lane.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Simpson, James 1830 births 1894 deaths People from Leith Scottish architects