John Mylne (d.1657)
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John Mylne of Perth (c.1585-1657), was a Scottish master mason and builder. He was born in Perth, the son of John Mylne, Master Mason to the Crown, and Helen Kenneries. He married Isobel Wilson in 1610 and had two sons, John, and Alexander, both of whom followed him into the building profession, and a daughter, Barbara, who was later accused of witchcraft in Edinburgh.
He learned his craft through assisting his father on his Tay Bridge project at Perth. In 1616 he was invited to Edinburgh to work on a statue of James VI for the Netherbow Port, or city gate, and was made a burgess in August 1617. From 1619 he was again assisting his now elderly father on a church at Falkland in Fife (since destroyed). Between 1622 and 1629 he built the tolbooth steeple in Aberdeen, and was rewarded by being made a burgess of the royal burgh. Following this he carried out alterations to Drummond House for the Earl of Perth.
On the death of William Wallace in 1631, Mylne was appointed Master Mason to the Crown, and returned to Edinburgh. One of his earliest tasks was the construction of a large pond at the palace of Holyroodhouse. With the assistance of his two sons, he also erected the famous sundial at Holyrood for Charles I, which bears numerous Stuart emblems. He held his Royal post for five years, before resigning it in favour of his eldest son John in 1636.
In 1643 Mylne was made a burgess of Kirkcaldy, probably for works to Gladney House. Over the following years he was engaged on several public works in Dundee, inlcuding the church steeple, tolbooth, and the royal burgh's fortifications.
Mylne was also a prominent Freemason, a member of the Lodge of Edinburgh from 1633, and Master of the Lodge of Scone from 1621 to 1627.
[edit] References
- Dictionary of National Biography, Oxford University Press, 1921-22
- McEwan, Peter J. M. Dictionary of Scottish Art and Architecture, Antique Collectors' Club, 1994
