Richard Cementarius (a.k.a. Richard the Mason) was a 13th-century
Scottish architect
An architect is a person who plans, designs and oversees the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to provide services in connection with the design of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the buildings that h ...
and became the first
Provost of Aberdeen
The Lord Provost of Aberdeen is the convener of the Aberdeen City local authority in Scotland.
They are elected by the city council and serve not only as the chair of that body, but as a figurehead for the entire city. They are equivalent in m ...
in 1272. He held the title of ''Kings Master Mason'' to King
Alexander III of Scotland
Alexander III (Medieval ; Modern Gaelic: ; 4 September 1241 – 19 March 1286) was King of Scots from 1249 until his death. He concluded the Treaty of Perth, by which Scotland acquired sovereignty over the Western Isles and the Isle of Man. His ...
.
He is believed to have designed the old tower of
Drum Castle
Drum Castle is a castle near Drumoak in Aberdeenshire, Scotland. For centuries it was the seat of the chief of Clan Irvine. The place-name Drum is derived from Gaelic ''druim'', 'ridge'. The site is located approximately northeast of Banchory an ...
and is known to be the architect of the nearby
Brig o' Balgownie, both of which contain distinctive pointed
arch
An arch is a vertical curved structure that spans an elevated space and may or may not support the weight above it, or in case of a horizontal arch like an arch dam, the hydrostatic pressure against it.
Arches may be synonymous with vau ...
es characteristic of his work.
Architects from Aberdeen
13th-century Scottish architects
Year of birth unknown
Year of death unknown
Lord Provosts of Aberdeen
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