James Smith Richardson

James Smith Richardson (1883–1970) was a Scottish architect, antiquarian and archaeologist. He was the first Inspector of Ancient Monuments for Scotland, and was responsible for a series of popular guidebooks to monuments in public care.

Early life and education J.S. (Jamie) Richardson was born in Edinburgh on 2 November 1883 to Dr James T Richardson of North Berwick and his wife Christina Thomson. The family moved to North Berwick in 1887, where Richardson attended first the Abbey School and then North Berwick High School. Richardson developed an early interest in archaeology in which he was encouraged by his father – both near to home and on foreign holidays.

Richardson was articled to the Edinburgh architect James Macintyre Henry from 1899–1903, and during this time studied at the School of Applied Art (now part of the Edinburgh College of Art). In 1902 he produced his first publication, co-authored with his father, Prehistoric remains near Gulllane. In 1903 he joined the office of Robert Lorimer as an assistant, and in 1906 he travelled south to study English church woodwork with Aymer Vallance.

Professional life and war-time service Richardson set up his own practise in Edinburgh in 1909. His first notable work was in North Berwick, the angel screen of the south apse of St Baldred Episcopal Church (1909). He was then responsible for the restoration of the ruined church of St Moluag, Teampall Mholuaidh, at Eoropie on the Isle of Lewis. In 1912 he was elected a fellow of the Society of Antiquaries in Scotland and in March 1914 was appointed inspector of Ancient Monuments in Scotland, this being at the time a part-time position. In 1932 he excavated a cairn near Kalemouth, Roxburghshire. This was not published until 1951. Other investigations included The Broch of Gurness and at Jarlshof, Shetland. was involved in the establishment of the Burgh Museum in North Berwick (opened in 1957) and was often consulted on restorations, in particular by the Queen Mother regarding the Castle of Mey and the garden at Pitmmedden for the National Trust.

He suffered a major heart attack in 1969, and died, in North Berwick on 12 September 1970 at the age of 86.

Guidebooks

Richardson wrote and published numerous official guide-books to the monuments in public care. The following titles were made available (All published by HMSO):

Edinburgh Castle (with Marguerite Wood), 1929. Full text of Second Edition 1948 available here Huntingtower, 1931. Full text of Second Edition 1950 available here Dryburgh Abbey (with Marguerite Wood), 1932. Full text of Second Edition 1948 available here Melrose Abbey (with Marguerite Wood), 1932. Full text of Second Edition 1949 available here Tantallon Castle, 1932. Full text of Second Edition 1950 available here Hailes Castle, 1933 The Castle of Dirleton, 1934. Full text of Second Edition 1950 available here The Abbey of Dundrennan, 1934 The Abbey of Sweetheart, 1934. Full text of Second Edition 1950 available here The Cathedral Kirk of Moray: Elgin (with H.B. Mackintosh), 1934. Full text of Second Edition 1950 available here Linlithgow Palace (with James Beveridge), 1934. Full text of Second Edition 1948 available here The Abbey and Palace of Holyroodhouse, 1936. Full text of Third Edition 1950 available here The Castle of Balvenie (With Margaret Simpson), 1936 The Castle of Stirling (with Margaret Simpson), 1936. Full text of Second Edition 1948 available here Inchmahome Priory (with Margaret Simpson), 1937 The Broch of Gurness, Aikerness, 1948. Full text available here

Other publications