Alexander Black (architect)

Alexander Black (c. 1790 – 19 February 1858) was a Scottish architect, born in Edinburgh around 1790 who is mainly known for his association with George Heriot’s School, where he acted as Superintendent of Works for most of his active life.

[1] He operated as an architect for George Heriot's School from 1833, taking over from Thomas Bonnar on his retiral.

His work is identifiable in its reuse of detailing from the main school particularly on the corner “quoins”.

This device was later copied by Edward Robert Robson for some of his London School Board buildings, where land was equally tight.

[4] He died on 19 February 1858 and is buried under a huge but simple stone sarcophagus on the edge of the south path in Dean Cemetery.