William Robertson (Irish architect)

William Robertson
photograph of Rosehill House in Kilkenny
Rosehill House, where he resided until his death
Born1770
Died1850
Kilkenny
Other namesWilliam Robinson
Alma materRoyal Dublin Society
OccupationArchitect
SpouseCatherine Jones
ParentWilliam Robertson & Margery Jones
Awardssilver medal for drawing (1795)
BuildingsSt. Canice's Church, Waterford Courthouse, Kilkenny Jail
ProjectsKilkenny Castle (remodelled), St. Canice's Cathedral

William Robertson, an Irish architect, was born in Kilkenny, Ireland, some days before 4 December 1770.[1] He attended the Dublin Society where he was awarded with a silver medal for his drawing skills in 1795.[2]

After some years in London, he returned to Kilkenny, where he designed the Gaol, St. Canice's Church and the Psychiatric Hospital ("Lunatic Asylum"). He also remodelled Kilkenny Castle and worked on his baptismal church St. Mary's and St. John's Priory.[3] Furthermore, he worked on other buildings in his home county as well as buildings in County Cork, County Tipperary,[4] County Laois and County Waterford.[5] William Robertson's work has been confused in the past with that of Daniel Robertson, so that some work attributed to Daniel has been re-attributed to William by now.[6]

William Robertson's grave in St. Mary's Graveyard

He died on 23 May 1850 at his home in Rosehill, Kilkenny[7] which he had also designed himself and is buried in St. Mary's Graveyard alongside his family.[8]

  1. ^ John Lucey: William Robertson (1770-1850), Kilkenny's First Architect, in: Old Kilkenny Review 2018, p. 144
  2. ^ "William Robertson". Dictionary of Irish Architects. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  3. ^ "St. John's Priory". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage.
  4. ^ "Lismacue House". National Inventory of Architectural Heritage. Retrieved 3 March 2020.
  5. ^ Lucey, pp.161-163
  6. ^ Lucey, pp. 166
  7. ^ "DEATHS". Kilkenny Moderator (23 May): 3. 1850.
  8. ^ Buggy, Madge. "St Mary's Graveyard (off High St.)" (PDF). Kilkenny Archaeological Society. Retrieved 11 March 2020.