James Murray (architect) facts for kids

James Murray (died 1634) was a skilled Scottish builder and architect. He worked for King James VI and King Charles I. His job was called the King's Master of Works. He was one of the first people in Scotland to be known as an architect.

James Murray's Early Career

James Murray's father, also named James, was a builder and gunner at Edinburgh Castle. In 1601, his father became the Overseer of the King's Works in Scotland. On the very same day, the younger James Murray became the main master builder and gunner, just like his father.

In 1605, James Murray took over from his father as Overseer. Two years later, in 1607, he became the main Master of Works for Scotland. This was a very important job, overseeing all royal building projects.

Designing and Building Homes

In 1612, James Murray was given land near Juniper Green, which is outside Edinburgh. Between 1622 and 1623, he designed and built his own home there. This house was called Baberton House.

Baberton House was built in a special "U" shape, which was new and modern for its time. The house is still standing today, though it has been changed a bit over the years. You can even see Murray's initials on the house, along with those of his wife, Katherine Weir.

Murray is also thought to be the main designer of Malleny House in Balerno. However, this house was finished after he passed away.

Working on Royal Palaces

King James VI wanted to visit Scotland in 1617. So, in 1616, he ordered James Murray to make repairs to several royal palaces.

At Holyrood Palace, Murray had to fix the roof of the Chancellor's Lodging. He also had to take down some old buildings and rebuild other parts to make the courtyard look better.

At Stirling Castle, Murray was in charge of taking down buildings between the inner and outer gates. He also had to put new roofs on the inner gate and the king's kitchen. He rebuilt the court kitchen, bakehouse, and pantry too.

For Falkland Palace, Murray's job was to put new roofs on the king's and queen's galleries. These galleries looked out over the garden. He also had to build a new wall-walk on the roof and fix the entire palace, adding new doors and windows where needed.

Rebuilding Linlithgow Palace

Part of Linlithgow Palace had fallen down in 1607. In 1619, James Murray got permission to remove some of the remaining walls. He was asked to figure out how much lead was needed to cover the roof of the new north section of the palace. He arranged to buy a very large amount of lead for this project.

Other Important Projects

In 1629, Murray and the gardener William Watts were responsible for planning and creating a new garden and orchard at Stirling Castle. This garden includes a special octagonal mound called the King's Knot, which you can still see today.

In 1633, James Murray drew up plans for Parliament House in Edinburgh. This important building was constructed based on his designs in the years that followed. As Master of Works, he also oversaw changes to the Great Hall at Edinburgh Castle.

Later Life and Knighthood

In 1633, King Charles I came to Scotland for his coronation. During this special event, James Murray was made a knight. This was a great honor. He passed away in December of the next year, in 1634.

Sources

• Colvin, Howard (1978) A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects, 1600-1840 John Murray
• McWilliam, Colin (1994) The Buildings of Scotland: Lothian, Penguin