John Lessels

John Lessels (9 January 1809 – 12 November 1883) was a Scottish architect and artist, active in Edinburgh and the Scottish Borders (particularly in the former county of Berwickshire).

Life

He was born and educated in Kirkcaldy, Fife, and initially worked for his father as a carpenter on the Raith estate. He joined the office of William Burn (1789–1870), acting as one of his inspector of works until he established his own practice in a flat at 7 St Vincent Street in Edinburgh's Northern or Second New Town in 1846. Important commissions included the Walker Estate, the area of the Western New Town developed from the 1850s and the Edinburgh publishing firm of Thomas Nelson by 1860. He was appointed as joint architect to the City Improvement Trust, with David Cousin, in 1866, and oversaw the redevelopment of parts of the Old Town and completion of multiple incomplete schemes in the New Town. partnered his father with a branch office in Perth. His second son, James (c.1834–c1905?), partnered and succeeded his father, finishing some schemes (such as Royal Crescent) following his father's death.

List of Works

Lessels was a prolific tenement designer over and above his individual "landmark" buildings. His works include: 4–24, 48–58 Manor Place, Edinburgh (1866–1892) 15–32 West Maitland Street, Edinburgh (1864) 3–21 Palmerston Place, Edinburgh (1870) Replacement Trinity College Church on Jeffrey Street with a hall (Trinity Apse) attached to rear on Chalmers Close built from stones from original kirk (1877)