William Notman (architect)


William Notman was a 19th-century Scottish architect. Early work assisting Playfair focussed on country houses, but his later independent work was more commercial in nature.

Life

He was born in the small village of Kirkurd in Peebleshire in February 1809, the son of John Notman a clerk of works, and his wife Margaret Kemp. The family moved to Northfield Cottage on Newhaven Road west of Leith in the 1820s where he was articled to William Henry Playfair to train as an architect in 1823. His cousin, John Notman joined him a few years later. All Notman’s works until 1842 are under the umbrella of Playfair’s office.
Around 1850 he set up his own practice in Davidsons Mains on the western edge of Edinburgh.
He died in Northfield Cottage on 15 June 1893 and is buried in Rosebank Cemetery in north Edinburgh. The fallen stone lies near the centre of the graveyard on an infilled north-south path.

Family

He was married to Barbara Graham. Their children included John Notman FFA FRA.

Works