Samuel Bell (architect) explained
Samuel Bell (1739 - 1813) was a Scottish architect mainly associated with the town of Dundee. He was the prime shaper of the city centre and in particular the Nethergate.
Life
He was born on 6 May 1739, the son of John Bell, a wright in Dundee and originally trained as a wright himself. In this role he would have worked with local architects from 1755 to 1770. He then became an architect and received many local commissions from 1770 onwards.[1]
He was the first person to be officially Town Architect for Dundee.[2] His most important commission in terms of prestige was the major rebuilding of Dundee's primary church: the Steeple Church.[3]
He died on 23 January 1813 and is buried in The Howff burial ground in Dundee.[4]
Main works
All works are in Dundee unless otherwise stated.
- St Andrews Church (1772) working with James Craig
- Trades Hall (1776)
- English Episcopal Chapel (1783)
- St Clements Church (1786) later renamed the Steeple Church
- Forfar Parish Church (1788)
- "Miln's Building" at 136 Nethergate (1790)
- Morgan Tower, 133-139 Nethergate (1790)
- Town house for Alexander Riddoch (1790) now known as Nethergate House
- Sailor's Home (1790)
- Trinity House (1790)
- Lintrathen manse (1795)
- Tannadice manse (1797)
- Duntrune Mill (1799)
- Aberlemno Parish Church (1799)
- Theatre Royal (1808)
- Kinnettles Parish Church (1811)
- St Rule's Church, Monifieth (1812)
The Theatre Royal still exists as a frontage; at 7 to 21 Castle Street Nethergate House also survives.[5]
Family
Not known
Notes and References
- Web site: Dictionary of Scottish Architects - DSA Architect Biography Report (July 22, 2021, 4:24 am).
- The Dundee Book by Billy Kay
- Web site: Outline History.
- Web site: Stone No.570 . Tombs of the Dundee Howff . Dundee Howff Conservation Group . 13 August 2023.
- Web site: Nethergate House from the Gazetteer for Scotland.
