Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland
Encyclopedia
The Master of Works to the Crown of Scotland was responsible for the construction, repair and maintenance of royal palaces, castles and other crown property in Scotland
. The main buildings were; Holyroodhouse; Edinburgh Castle
; Stirling Castle
; Linlithgow Palace
; and Falkland Palace
. The position was roughly equivalent to that of Surveyor of the King's Works
in the English Royal Household. The emergence of the position reflected a shift in responsibility from the masons, or administrators in holy orders, to designers with little hands-on knowledge of stonemasonry
. Earlier holders of the office were often courtiers: James Hamilton of Finnart
was the king's kinsman; John Scrymgeour was a heraldic
expert; while William Schaw
, an administrator, was a key figure in the development of Freemasonry
, itself a 'craft' having little to do with building. Later holders filled a role similar to that of architect
s in the modern sense. Some Masters were craftsmen; Robert Robertson, who was master of work at Stirling Castle after the excecution of the aristocrat Hamilton of Finnart, was a carpenter. During the reign of James V
there was also a Principal Master Wright or carpenter, John Drummond of Milnab
, and as well as building works he was concerned with the artillery and its logistics.
In the 15th century, a Master of Works would be appointed to oversee an individual construction project, such as a new palace, or a rebuilding of an old one. Thus the exchequer records identify several postholders who might be regarded as accountants rather than architects. In the 16th century, during the reign of James V, the appointment of a Principal Master of Works began, with overall responsibility for all the king's works. The appointment was usually for life. Following the death of James Smith
in 1714, the post became a sinecure
, with a salary of £400, and the post declined in importance. In 1808 Robert Reid
was named Architect and Surveyor to the King in Scotland, and he became Master of Works following the death of James Brodie in 1824. However, in 1831 the Scottish Office of Works was merged with the English Office of Works
, and when Reid retired in 1840, he was not replaced. The Office of Works was later reconstituted as the Ministry of Works.
The office was unoccupied from 1668–1671.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
. The main buildings were; Holyroodhouse; Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle
Edinburgh Castle is a fortress which dominates the skyline of the city of Edinburgh, Scotland, from its position atop the volcanic Castle Rock. Human habitation of the site is dated back as far as the 9th century BC, although the nature of early settlement is unclear...
; Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle
Stirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
; Linlithgow Palace
Linlithgow Palace
The ruins of Linlithgow Palace are situated in the town of Linlithgow, West Lothian, Scotland, west of Edinburgh. The palace was one of the principal residences of the monarchs of Scotland in the 15th and 16th centuries. Although maintained after Scotland's monarchs left for England in 1603, the...
; and Falkland Palace
Falkland Palace
Falkland Palace in Falkland, Fife, Scotland, is a former royal palace of the Scottish Kings. Today it is in the care of the National Trust for Scotland, and serves as a tourist attraction.-Early years:...
. The position was roughly equivalent to that of Surveyor of the King's Works
Office of Works
The Office of Works was established in the English Royal household in 1378 to oversee the building of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings...
in the English Royal Household. The emergence of the position reflected a shift in responsibility from the masons, or administrators in holy orders, to designers with little hands-on knowledge of stonemasonry
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
. Earlier holders of the office were often courtiers: James Hamilton of Finnart
James Hamilton of Finnart
Sir James Hamilton of Finnart was a Scottish nobleman and architect, the illegitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran, and Mary Boyd of Bonshaw....
was the king's kinsman; John Scrymgeour was a heraldic
Heraldry
Heraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
expert; while William Schaw
William Schaw
William Schaw was Master of Works to James VI of Scotland, and is claimed to have been an important figure in the development of freemasonry.-Biography:...
, an administrator, was a key figure in the development of Freemasonry
Freemasonry
Freemasonry is a fraternal organisation that arose from obscure origins in the late 16th to early 17th century. Freemasonry now exists in various forms all over the world, with a membership estimated at around six million, including approximately 150,000 under the jurisdictions of the Grand Lodge...
, itself a 'craft' having little to do with building. Later holders filled a role similar to that of architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
s in the modern sense. Some Masters were craftsmen; Robert Robertson, who was master of work at Stirling Castle after the excecution of the aristocrat Hamilton of Finnart, was a carpenter. During the reign of James V
James V of Scotland
James V was King of Scots from 9 September 1513 until his death, which followed the Scottish defeat at the Battle of Solway Moss...
there was also a Principal Master Wright or carpenter, John Drummond of Milnab
John Drummond of Milnab
John Drummond of Milnab was a 16th-century Scottish carpenter in charge of the woodwork of the palaces, castles and guns of James IV of Scotland and James V of Scotland.John Drummond was the second son of James Drummond of Auchterader...
, and as well as building works he was concerned with the artillery and its logistics.
In the 15th century, a Master of Works would be appointed to oversee an individual construction project, such as a new palace, or a rebuilding of an old one. Thus the exchequer records identify several postholders who might be regarded as accountants rather than architects. In the 16th century, during the reign of James V, the appointment of a Principal Master of Works began, with overall responsibility for all the king's works. The appointment was usually for life. Following the death of James Smith
James Smith (architect)
James Smith was a Scottish architect, who pioneered the Palladian style in Scotland. He was described by Colen Campbell, in his Vitruvius Britannicus , as "the most experienced architect of that kingdom".-Biography:...
in 1714, the post became a sinecure
Sinecure
A sinecure means an office that requires or involves little or no responsibility, labour, or active service...
, with a salary of £400, and the post declined in importance. In 1808 Robert Reid
Robert Reid (architect)
Robert Reid was the King's architect and surveyor for Scotland from 1827 to 1839. He is responsible for a number of public works particularly the façade of Parliament Square in Edinburgh, which houses the Court of Session....
was named Architect and Surveyor to the King in Scotland, and he became Master of Works following the death of James Brodie in 1824. However, in 1831 the Scottish Office of Works was merged with the English Office of Works
Office of Works
The Office of Works was established in the English Royal household in 1378 to oversee the building of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings...
, and when Reid retired in 1840, he was not replaced. The Office of Works was later reconstituted as the Ministry of Works.
Principal Masters of Works to the Crown of Scotland
The dates given are those of their appointment. These appointments were made by the issue of a warrant recorded in the Register of the Privy Seal. William MacDowall, though acting as master of work never had a warrant, and some appointments ran concurrently.- 1529: Sir James Nycholay, or Nicolson, Master of Work at Stirling CastleStirling CastleStirling Castle, located in Stirling, is one of the largest and most important castles, both historically and architecturally, in Scotland. The castle sits atop Castle Hill, an intrusive crag, which forms part of the Stirling Sill geological formation. It is surrounded on three sides by steep...
. - 1537: John ScrymgeourJohn Scrimgeour of MyresJohn Scrimgeour of Myres Castle near Falkland, Fife was Master of Work for royal buildings for James V and Mary, Queen of Scots, and Precentor of the Scottish Chapel Royal....
- 1539: Sir James Hamilton of FinnartJames Hamilton of FinnartSir James Hamilton of Finnart was a Scottish nobleman and architect, the illegitimate son of James Hamilton, 1st Earl of Arran, and Mary Boyd of Bonshaw....
- 1541: Robert Robertson (Principal master wright in Stirling Castle)
- 1543: John Hamilton of Milneburn
- 1579: Sir Robert Drummond of CarnockRobert Drummond of CarnockSir Robert Drummond of Carnock was Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland from 1579 to 1583. This was the responsibility for building and repair of palaces and castles. His appointment was made to be "as Sir James Hamilton of Finnart had it."...
- 1583: William SchawWilliam SchawWilliam Schaw was Master of Works to James VI of Scotland, and is claimed to have been an important figure in the development of freemasonry.-Biography:...
- 1602–1607: Sir David Cunninghame of RobertlandDavid Cunninghame of RobertlandSir David Cunninghame of Robertland, in Ayrshire, was Master of Work to the Crown of Scotland from 1602 to 1607.Involved in the murder of the Earl of Eglinton in 1585, Cunninghame spent some time in exile at the royal court of Denmark, and the Danish government wrote to James VI of Scotland to...
, also Surveyor of the King's WorksOffice of WorksThe Office of Works was established in the English Royal household in 1378 to oversee the building of the royal castles and residences. In 1832 it became the Works Department within the Office of Woods, Forests, Land Revenues, Works and Buildings...
in England, 1604–1606. - 1607–1634: Sir James Murray of KilbabertonJames Murray (architect)Sir James Murray of Kilbaberton, , was a Scottish master wright and architect. He served as the King's Master of Works under James VI, and Charles I. He was one of the first men in Scotland to be called an architect....
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- 1615: Walter Murray (Assistant Master of Works)
- 1629–1637: Sir Anthony Alexander
- 1632: William Govane of Cardrona and James Murray Jr. (Assistant Masters of Works)
- 1637–1641: Henry Alexander, 3rd Earl of Stirling
- 1641: Sir John Veitch of Dawyck
- 1643–1644: John Carmichael
- 1645–1649: Sir David Carmichael of Hyndford
- 1649: Sir Robert Montgomery
- 1660–1668: Sir William Murray of DreghornDreghornDreghorn is a village near Irvine, North Ayrshire, Scotland. This parish comprehends the old parishes of Dreghorn and Pearston, which were united in 1668. The whole of the parish was historically the property of the De Morvilles, who were Constables of Scotland and Lords of Cunninghame...
- 1615: Walter Murray (Assistant Master of Works)
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The office was unoccupied from 1668–1671.
- 1671–1678: Sir William Bruce of BalcaskieWilliam Bruce (architect)Sir William Bruce of Kinross, 1st Baronet was a Scottish gentleman-architect, "the effective founder of classical architecture in Scotland," as Howard Colvin observes...
, Baronet - 1678–1683: David Maitland (acting Master of Works)
- 1683–1788: James SmithJames Smith (architect)James Smith was a Scottish architect, who pioneered the Palladian style in Scotland. He was described by Colen Campbell, in his Vitruvius Britannicus , as "the most experienced architect of that kingdom".-Biography:...
- 1689–1700: Sir Archibald Murray of BlackbaronySir Archibald Murray, 3rd BaronetSir Archibald Murray of Blackbarony, 3rd Baronet , was a Scottish soldier and Gentleman.He was the son of Sir Alexander Murray, 2nd Baronet of Blackbarony, Sheriff of Peeblesshire , and Margaret Cockburn...
, Baronet - 1700–1704: James Scott of Logie
- 1704–1705: Sir Francis Scott of Thirlestane
- 1705–1714: John Campbell of Mamor
- 1705–1717: John Urquhart of Meldrum
- 1707–1714: James SmithJames Smith (architect)James Smith was a Scottish architect, who pioneered the Palladian style in Scotland. He was described by Colen Campbell, in his Vitruvius Britannicus , as "the most experienced architect of that kingdom".-Biography:...
(position renewed) - 1717–1743: Sir John Anstruther of AnstrutherSir John Anstruther, 1st Baronet (1700 creation)Sir John Anstruther, Baronet was a Scottish politician.He served as Member of Parliament for Anstruther Burghs from 1708–1712 and from 1713–1715 and for Fife from 1715–1741....
- 1743–1761: George Dundas
- 1761–1764: William Stewart of Hartwood
- 1764–1768: James Duff, of the Middle Temple, London
- 1768–1809: Lieutenant-Colonel James Pringle
- 1809–1824: James BrodieJames BrodieJames Brodie may refer to:*James Brodie of Brodie , Scottish botanist and politician*James Brodie , 20th century Canadian politician*James William Brodie , New Zealand geologist-See also:*James Brody, American composer...
of Brodie - 1824–1840: Robert ReidRobert Reid (architect)Robert Reid was the King's architect and surveyor for Scotland from 1827 to 1839. He is responsible for a number of public works particularly the façade of Parliament Square in Edinburgh, which houses the Court of Session....