Robert Wilson (9 September 1834 – 1 July 1901) was architect for the Edinburgh Board of Education and responsible for a high percentage of the city's schools. He is also noteworthy for involvement in several institutions aimed at improving the life of the poor and destitute in the city.
Life
He was the son of
Patrick Wilson (architect)
Patrick Wilson (c.1798 – 6 February 1871) was a British architect with a long career spanning across the 19th century from the Georgian aesthetic to the Victorian. He was a strong advocate of purpose-built housing for the poor working clo ...
and Catherine Peddie. His mother died in 1843 when Robert was only eight.
In 1849 he began working with his father at 2 Queen Street. He entered the Trustee's Academy (then on Picardy Place) in October 1850 to improve his drawing skills. He moved to London probably around 1860. In February 1871 his father died and he inherited his office and clients and he returned to Edinburgh. The office remained at 2 Queen Street. Robert then lived at 1 Craigie Terrace.
Following the
Elementary Education Act 1870
The Elementary Education Act 1870 ( 33 & 34 Vict. c. 75), commonly known as Forster's Education Act, set the framework for schooling of all children between the ages of 5 and 12 in England and Wales. It established local education authorities wit ...
(coming into force in 1872) he was entrusted with the design of all new city schools.
From 1893 he employed the highly talented
John Alexander Carfrae who added yet another dimension to Edinburgh school design. Following Wilson's death in 1901, Carfrae took over this role in its entirety.
He married Isabella Gunn (d.15.8.1911) and they lived together on Blacket Place in Edinburgh. They were Baptists, and Wilson was vice-president of the Baptist Union of Scotland.
They are buried together in the
Grange Cemetery
The Grange (originally St Giles' Grange) is an affluent suburb of Edinburgh, just south of the city centre, with Morningside and Greenhill to the west, Newington to the east, The Meadows park and Marchmont to the north, and Blackford Hi ...
on the southmost line of stones in the western extension.
Principal Works (all in Edinburgh)
His philanthropic works include the design, building and operation of the Free Breakfast Mission on Fishmarket Close, and also close involvement with Carrubbers Close Mission, the Medical Mission on the Cowgate and the operation of the Destitute Sick Society.
*
Dean Village
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 ...
School (1874)
*Cambridge Street School (1879)
*North Canongate School, now the "Canongate Venture" (1879)
*St Leonards School (1879)
*Abbeyhill School (1880)
*Clarebank School (1880)
*Villa, 5 Tipperlinn Road (1881)
*Marchmont Road School (1882)
*North Merchiston School (1882)
*
Leith
Leith (; ) is a port area in the north of Edinburgh, Scotland, founded at the mouth of the Water of Leith and is home to the Port of Leith.
The earliest surviving historical references are in the royal charter authorising the construction of ...
Baptist Church (1884)
*Edinburgh Sabbath Free Breakfast Mission, Fishmarket Close (1885)
*Granton School (1885)
*South Bridge School, Infirmary Street (1885)
*Edinburgh School Board Offices (1886)
*Milton House School and janitor's house,
Canongate
The Canongate is a street and associated district in central Edinburgh, the capital city of Scotland. The street forms the main eastern length of the Royal Mile while the district is the main eastern section of Edinburgh's Old Town.
David ...
(1886)
*Castlehill School (1887)
*Heriot's Trust School, St Bernard's Crescent (1887)
*
London Street School (1887)
*Torphichen Street School (1887)
*
Sciennes
Sciennes (pronounced , ) is a district of Edinburgh, Scotland, situated approximately south of the city centre. It is a mainly residential district, although it is also well-known as the site of the former Royal Hospital for Sick Children. ...
School (1889)
*Reconstruction of Alnwickhill Industrial Home for Fallen Women (1890)
*Colinton Cottage Homes (original block) (1891)
*Bonaly School, Thorburn Road (now an old people's home) (1891)
*South
Morningside School (1891)
After 1893 Wilson seems to have taken a back seat as regards design, and Carfrae effectively takes over long before his official appointment in the role.
[Dictionary of Scottish Architects: J A Carfrae]
References
*Buildings of Scotland, Edinburgh by Gifford McWilliam and Walker
*Dictionary of Scottish Architects: Robert Wilson
*Who's Who in Architecture
{{DEFAULTSORT:Wilson, Robert
1834 births
1901 deaths
People associated with Edinburgh
19th-century Scottish architects
Architects from Edinburgh
Alumni of the Edinburgh College of Art