The Livingstone Memorial Institute, Cowgate, Edinburgh

Richard Crichton (died 1817) was a Scottish architect operating in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. He was described as "competent and versatile".

Life

He was born around 1771, the son of James Crichton (d.1797) an

Edinburgh Edinburgh ( ; gd, Dùn Èideann ) is the capital city of Scotland and one of its 32 Council areas of Scotland, council areas. Historically part of the county of Midlothian (interchangeably Edinburghshire before 1921), it is located in Lothian ...

mason. He trained under

John John is a common English name and surname: * John (given name) * John (surname) John may also refer to: New Testament Works * Gospel of John, a title often shortened to John * First Epistle of John, often shortened to 1 John * Second ...

and

Robert Adam Robert Adam (3 July 17283 March 1792) was a British neoclassical architect, interior designer and furniture designer. He was the son of William Adam (1689–1748), Scotland's foremost architect of the time, and trained under him. With his o ...

, probably the best training an architect in 18th century Britain could hope for. In May 1797 he was appointed as a

burgess __NOTOC__ Burgess may refer to: People and fictional characters * Burgess (surname), a list of people and fictional characters * Burgess (given name), a list of people Places * Burgess, Michigan, an unincorporated community * Burgess, Missouri, U ...

in the city of

, reflecting the public esteem with which he was viewed. He continued the style of the Adams: a simple but very well-proportioned Classicism, occasionally venturing to the Gothic or Greek Revival styles, all with equal competence. In 1813 he submitted a competition design for the extension of

Princes Street Princes Street ( gd, Sràid nam Prionnsan) is one of the major thoroughfares in central Edinburgh, Scotland and the main shopping street in the capital. It is the southernmost street of Edinburgh's New Town, stretching around 1.2 km (three ...

over to

Calton Hill Calton Hill () is a hill in central Edinburgh, Scotland, situated beyond the east end of Princes Street and included in the city's UNESCO World Heritage Site. Views of, and from, the hill are often used in photographs and paintings of the ci ...

but despite winning this (jointly with William Reid of Glasgow), the scheme was ultimately executed by

Archibald Elliot Archibald Elliot (August 1761 – 16 June 1823) was a Scottish architect based in Edinburgh. He had a very distinctive style, typified by square plans, concealed roofs, crenellated walls and square corner towers. All may be said to derive from ...

. Crichton’s career was cut short by his premature death on 17 August 1817, aged only 46. He is buried in St Cuthberts Churchyard in Edinburgh in the grave of his parents (which is of Richard's design). The grave lies just north of the church. His practice was continued by his nephews, and pupils, Richard and Robert Dickson who completed his several unfinished projects.

Works

See * Craig Parish Church (1796) * Rossie Castle (1797-1800) demolished 1957 *

Bank of Scotland The Bank of Scotland plc (Scottish Gaelic: ''Banca na h-Alba'') is a commercial and clearing bank based in Scotland and is part of the Lloyds Banking Group, following the Bank of Scotland's implosion in 2008. The bank was established by th ...

head office, The Mound,

(jointly with Robert ReidBuildings of Scotland: Edinburgh - 1801) later extended – unrecognisable in its original form *Gask House,

Findo Gask Findo Gask is a small village in Perth and Kinross in Scotland, just off the main A9 road. It is in Strathearn. There are nearby remains associated with the Roman Road to the south and the Roman Frontier on the Gask Ridge. The area was asso ...

(1801) *

Merchiston Castle School Merchiston Castle School is an independent boarding school for boys in the suburb of Colinton in Edinburgh, Scotland. It has around 470 pupils and is open to boys between the ages of 7 and 18 as either boarding or day pupils; it was modelled a ...

(1801-6) later extended and remodelled * Abercairney House, near

Crieff Crieff (; gd, Craoibh, meaning "tree") is a Scottish market town in Perth and Kinross on the A85 road between Perth and Crianlarich, and the A822 between Greenloaning and Aberfeldy. The A822 joins the A823 to Dunfermline. Crieff has become ...

(1805-1818) completed by

R & R Dickson Richard and Robert Dickson (usually simply referred to as R & R Dickson) were brothers, acting as architects in Scotland in the early and mid-19th century. Whilst most of their work is typified by remote country houses they are best known for th ...

demolished in 1950s *Stirling Courthouse and Jail (1806) *

Dunglass Dunglass is a hamlet in East Lothian, Scotland, lying east of the Lammermuir Hills on the North Sea coast, within the parish of Oldhamstocks. It has a 15th-century collegiate church, now in the care of Historic Scotland. Dunglass is the birthpla ...

House (1807) *

Blair Drummond Blair Drummond is a small rural community northwest of Stirling in the Stirling district of Scotland, predominantly located along the A84 road. Lying to the north of the River Forth, the community is within the registration county of Perthshire ...

(1813) *Kincardine-in-Menteith Parish Church,

(1814) *Remodelling of

Balbirnie House Balbirnie House is an early 19th-century country house in Glenrothes, in central Fife, Scotland. The present house was completed in 1817 as a rebuild of an 18th-century building, itself a replacement for a 17th-century dwelling. The home of the B ...

(1815) *Remodelling of

Lawers Lawers is a village situated in rural Perthshire, Scotland. It lies on the banks of Loch Tay and at the foot of Ben Lawers. It was once part of a vibrant farming industry in the area. The Lady of Lawers The Lady of Lawers was possibly a S ...

House (1815) *Carriden Manse, near

Bo’ness Borrowstounness (commonly known as Bo'ness ( )) is a town and former burgh and seaport on the south bank of the Firth of Forth in the Central Lowlands of Scotland. Historically part of the county of West Lothian, it is a place within the Falkirk ...

(1816) * Cockpen Parish Church (1816) completed by

References

*A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, H M Colvin *Buildings of Scotland: Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker {{DEFAULTSORT:Crichton, Richard Architects from Edinburgh 1817 deaths