John Mylne (died 1621) facts for kids
John Mylne (died 1621) was a very important Scottish master mason. He was the first of three generations of his family to hold the special job of Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland. This meant he was the main builder for the King!
John Mylne was born in Dundee into a family of skilled builders. His great-grandfather, also named John, was a Master Mason for Kings James III and James IV. John's father, Thomas Mylne, was also a Master Mason to the Crown.
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What Did John Mylne Build?
John Mylne was already a well-known mason by the 1580s. He did many important jobs in Dundee.
Building in Dundee
In 1587, John Mylne became a special citizen, called a burgess, of Dundee. This was because of his great work in the city. He helped fix up the city's harbour, which is where ships dock. He also built the mercat cross, a special market cross that used to stand in the High Street.
Other Important Projects
John Mylne also worked on other big projects:
- In 1584-1585, he made changes to The Drum. This was a large tower house in Lothian.
- In 1589, he built or added to Bannatyne House in Newtyle, Angus. This house was for a judge named Thomas Bannatyne.
Master of the Masons' Lodge
Mylne was also the Master of the Masons' Lodge at Scone. Back then, these lodges were like clubs for skilled builders. They were starting to become more than just simple craft groups. John Mylne even welcomed King James VI (who was also King James VI of Scotland) into the lodge as a "Freeman Mason."
The Famous Perth Bridge
One of John Mylne's biggest projects was building a large bridge over the River Tay in Perth.
Building the Bridge
From 1604 to 1617, Mylne spent many years planning and building this bridge. It had eleven arches and was a huge task! In 1607, he became a burgess of Perth because of his work on the bridge.
The Bridge's Fate
Sadly, the bridge was destroyed by a big flood in October 1621. This happened only four years after it was finished. It was also very soon after John Mylne himself had passed away.
John Mylne's Later Life and Family
In 1620, John Mylne started working on a new church in Falkland. He worked on this project with his son, also named John, until he died.
Mylne was married to Helen Kinnereis (or Kenneries). They had one child, his son John, who also became a famous builder.
John Mylne passed away in early 1621. He was buried in Greyfriars Burial Ground in Perth. You can still see his monument there today. A tablet was added to it in 1774 by his descendant, Robert Mylne, who was also a well-known architect.
