William Wallace (died 1631) was a Scottish master mason and

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 ...

. He served as King's Master Mason under

James VI James is a common English language surname and given name: *James (name), the typically masculine first name James * James (surname), various people with the last name James James or James City may also refer to: People * King James (disambiguat ...

. From 1615, Wallace is known to have been the leading mason working on the King's Lodgings at Edinburgh Castle. On 18 April 1617 he was appointed King's Master Mason, holding this post until his death. Wallace was commissioned in 1618 to rebuild the north range of Linlithgow Palace, which had collapsed in 1605. He was responsible for design as well as building, and executed the new range in an Anglo-Flemish style, which he helped to popularise in Scotland.Colvin, p.862 He followed this with works to Winton House, near Pencaitland, for

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, which he undertook from 1620 to 1627.Buildings of Scotland:Lothian by Colin McWilliam In 1621 he was made a burgess of Edinburgh, and later served as

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of the Edinburgh Masons Lodge. From 1628 until his death Wallace was engaged on the design and construction of

Heriot's Hospital George Heriot's School is a Scottish independent primary and secondary day school on Lauriston Place in the Old Town of Edinburgh, Scotland. In the early 21st century, it has more than 1600 pupils, 155 teaching staff, and 80 non-teaching staff. ...

, a school, again in the Anglo-Flemish style. He was almost certainly the principal designer of the building, which was continued after his death by William Aytoun. One of Wallace's last works was carving the monument to

John Byres of Coates Sir John Byres of Coates (1569–1629) was a 16th/17th century Scottish banker and merchant who served as Treasurer and Lord Provost of Edinburgh, Old Provost for Edinburgh Town Council. Old Provost is the equivalent of Deputy Provost. By ...

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, Edinburgh, unpaid for at his death, and his will also includes debts for works at Moray House for the Countess of Home. In addition,

Pinkie House Pinkie may refer to: Biology * Pinky finger or little finger * Pinkie, a baby mouse used as a food for exotic pets * Bilby or pinkie, an animal in Southern Australia * Pinkie, a rosemary cultivar People * Pinkie Barnes (1915–2012), English ...

and the original, unexecuted, design for

Drumlanrig Castle Drumlanrig Castle is situated on the Queensberry Estate in Dumfries and Galloway, Scotland. The category A listed castle is the Dumfriesshire home of the Duke and Duchess of Buccleuch and Queensberry. It is open to the public at set times. Co ...

have been attributed to Wallace on stylistic grounds, although no documentary evidence exists to confirm his involvement.

References

*Colvin, Howard '' A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840'' John Murray, 1978, citing will, National Archives of Scotland. Master Masons to the Crown of Scotland Year of birth missing 1631 deaths 17th-century Scottish people 17th-century Scottish architects Burgesses in Scotland Scottish stonemasons People of Linlithgow Palace Foto by die eerste {{scotland-bio-stub