John Mylne (d.1621)
Encyclopedia
John Mylne was a Scottish
master mason
, the first of three successive generations of the name to serve as Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland. He was born in Dundee
into a family of master builders. His great-grandfather, also John (died 1513), had been Master Mason to both James III
and James IV
. He was the son of Thomas Mylne (d. 1605), Master Mason to the Crown and burgess of Dundee. His grandfather Robert Mylne (d. 1549) had been provost
of Dundee.
Mylne was well established as a mason by the 1580s. He was made a burgess of Dundee in 1587 for various works in the city, and in particular his renewing of the royal burgh
's harbour. He also built the mercat cross
which formerly stood in the High Street. In 1584-5 he was engaged on alterations to The Drum, a tower house
in Lothian
, for the 7th Lord Somerville
. The Drum, now on the south-east edge of Edinburgh
, was rebuilt as a Palladian house by William Adam in the 18th century. In 1589 he built or extended Bannatyne House in Newtyle, Angus
, for justice Thomas Bannatyne. Mylne was Master of the Mason's Lodge at Scone
at a time when the mason's lodges were moving away from being simply craft guild
s, and he admitted King James VI
to the lodge as a Freeman Mason.
From 1604 to 1617 he was engaged planning and executing an eleven-arched bridge across the River Tay
at Perth
. Mylne was made a burgess of Perth in 1607, although his bridge was destroyed by a flood in October 1621, just four years after completion, and shortly after Mylne's death. In 1620 he was engaged by the Laird
of Scone to build a new church at Falkland
, which he worked on with the assistance of his son until his death.
Mylne married Helen Kinnereis, or Kenneries, and had one recorded child, his son John
. He died in early 1621, and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Perth, where his monument, including a 1774 tablet added by his descendent Robert Mylne
, still stands.
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
master mason
Stonemasonry
The craft of stonemasonry has existed since the dawn of civilization - creating buildings, structures, and sculpture using stone from the earth. These materials have been used to construct many of the long-lasting, ancient monuments, artifacts, cathedrals, and cities in a wide variety of cultures...
, the first of three successive generations of the name to serve as Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland. He was born in Dundee
Dundee
Dundee is the fourth-largest city in Scotland and the 39th most populous settlement in the United Kingdom. It lies within the eastern central Lowlands on the north bank of the Firth of Tay, which feeds into the North Sea...
into a family of master builders. His great-grandfather, also John (died 1513), had been Master Mason to both James III
James III of Scotland
James III was King of Scots from 1460 to 1488. James was an unpopular and ineffective monarch owing to an unwillingness to administer justice fairly, a policy of pursuing alliance with the Kingdom of England, and a disastrous relationship with nearly all his extended family.His reputation as the...
and James IV
James IV of Scotland
James IV was King of Scots from 11 June 1488 to his death. He is generally regarded as the most successful of the Stewart monarchs of Scotland, but his reign ended with the disastrous defeat at the Battle of Flodden Field, where he became the last monarch from not only Scotland, but also from all...
. He was the son of Thomas Mylne (d. 1605), Master Mason to the Crown and burgess of Dundee. His grandfather Robert Mylne (d. 1549) had been provost
Provost (civil)
A provost is the ceremonial head of many Scottish local authorities, and under the name prévôt was a governmental position of varying importance in Ancien Regime France.-History:...
of Dundee.
Mylne was well established as a mason by the 1580s. He was made a burgess of Dundee in 1587 for various works in the city, and in particular his renewing of the royal burgh
Royal burgh
A royal burgh was a type of Scottish burgh which had been founded by, or subsequently granted, a royal charter. Although abolished in 1975, the term is still used in many of the former burghs....
's harbour. He also built the mercat cross
Mercat cross
A mercat cross is a market cross found in Scottish cities and towns where trade and commerce was a part of economic life. It was originally a place where merchants would gather, and later became the focal point of many town events such as executions, announcements and proclamations...
which formerly stood in the High Street. In 1584-5 he was engaged on alterations to The Drum, a tower house
Tower house
A tower house is a particular type of stone structure, built for defensive purposes as well as habitation.-History:Tower houses began to appear in the Middle Ages, especially in mountain or limited access areas, in order to command and defend strategic points with reduced forces...
in Lothian
Lothian
Lothian forms a traditional region of Scotland, lying between the southern shore of the Firth of Forth and the Lammermuir Hills....
, for the 7th Lord Somerville
Lord Somerville
Lord Somerville was a title in the Peerage of Scotland which is subject to a number of ambiguities. The date of creation is not known with certainty but it was probably created about 1435 for Thomas Somerville, Justiciar of Scotland...
. The Drum, now on the south-east edge of Edinburgh
Edinburgh
Edinburgh is the capital city of Scotland, the second largest city in Scotland, and the eighth most populous in the United Kingdom. The City of Edinburgh Council governs one of Scotland's 32 local government council areas. The council area includes urban Edinburgh and a rural area...
, was rebuilt as a Palladian house by William Adam in the 18th century. In 1589 he built or extended Bannatyne House in Newtyle, Angus
Angus
Angus is one of the 32 local government council areas of Scotland, a registration county and a lieutenancy area. The council area borders Aberdeenshire, Perth and Kinross and Dundee City...
, for justice Thomas Bannatyne. Mylne was Master of the Mason's Lodge at Scone
Scone, Scotland
Scone is a village in Perth and Kinross, Scotland. The medieval village of Scone, which grew up around the monastery and royal residence, was abandoned in the early 19th century when the residents were removed and a new palace was built on the site by the Earl of Mansfield...
at a time when the mason's lodges were moving away from being simply craft guild
Guild
A guild is an association of craftsmen in a particular trade. The earliest types of guild were formed as confraternities of workers. They were organized in a manner something between a trade union, a cartel, and a secret society...
s, and he admitted King James VI
James I of England
James VI and I was King of Scots as James VI from 24 July 1567 and King of England and Ireland as James I from the union of the English and Scottish crowns on 24 March 1603...
to the lodge as a Freeman Mason.
From 1604 to 1617 he was engaged planning and executing an eleven-arched bridge across the River Tay
River Tay
The River Tay is the longest river in Scotland and the seventh-longest in the United Kingdom. The Tay originates in western Scotland on the slopes of Ben Lui , then flows easterly across the Highlands, through Loch Dochhart, Loch Lubhair and Loch Tay, then continues east through Strathtay , in...
at Perth
Perth, Scotland
Perth is a town and former city and royal burgh in central Scotland. Located on the banks of the River Tay, it is the administrative centre of Perth and Kinross council area and the historic county town of Perthshire...
. Mylne was made a burgess of Perth in 1607, although his bridge was destroyed by a flood in October 1621, just four years after completion, and shortly after Mylne's death. In 1620 he was engaged by the Laird
Laird
A Laird is a member of the gentry and is a heritable title in Scotland. In the non-peerage table of precedence, a Laird ranks below a Baron and above an Esquire.-Etymology:...
of Scone to build a new church at Falkland
Falkland, Fife
Falkland is a town and former royal burgh, formerly known as the Parish of Kilgour c1300AD in Fife, Scotland at the foot of the Lomond Hills.According to the 2008 population estimate, the village has a population of 1,180.- History :...
, which he worked on with the assistance of his son until his death.
Mylne married Helen Kinnereis, or Kenneries, and had one recorded child, his son John
John Mylne (d.1657)
John Mylne of Perth was a Scottish master mason who served as Master Mason to the Crown of Scotland. He was born in Perth, the son of John Mylne, also a master mason, and Helen Kenneries....
. He died in early 1621, and was buried in Greyfriars Kirkyard in Perth, where his monument, including a 1774 tablet added by his descendent Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne
Robert Mylne was a Scottish architect and civil engineer, particularly remembered for his design for Blackfriars Bridge in London. Born and raised in Edinburgh, he travelled to Europe as a young man, studying architecture in Rome under Piranesi...
, still stands.