Born in Strathmiglo in 1821, James Campbell Walker became an architect who would leave his mark on Lundin Links during the mid-19th century. Early in his career, he was employed by the famed Scottish architect William Burn, whose works spanned sixty years and included Madras College in St Andrews, Inverness Castle and the Scottish National Gallery of Modern Art in Edinburgh. During the mid 1850s, Walker transferred to another high-profile and prolific Scottish architect - David Bryce. Bryce was responsible for Fettes College and many prominent bank and insurance company offices around George Street, Princes Street and St Andrews Square. It was through Bryce's friendship with Manger of the Standard Life Assurance Company, William Thomson, that Walker found himself designing buildings for the proposed holiday destination of Lundin Links. Around the same time, Walker established his own architectural practice.
It is fortunate that one of Walker's Lundin Links designs was selected to feature in the 1868 book entitled "Villa and Cottage Architecture: Select Examples of Country and Suburban Residences Recently Erected" published by Blackie & Son. A full description of each building was given along with detailed engravings of various elevations, floor plans and architectural detail. Below is the front elevation of the 'Cottage at Lundin Links' by J.C. Walker from the book. Now much extended to the right hand side and with a new porch, this cottage is located on Crescent Road and named Bourtree Brae House. The book states that the external walls were "two feet thick, and built of whinstone rubble, obtained by breaking up the boulders strewn along the shore of the firth" while the sills, lintels, and wall corners were of freestone from Grange Quarry, Burntisland, and the roof was Westmoreland slate. A full breakdown of the cost of the build are detailed as follows:
It is fortunate that one of Walker's Lundin Links designs was selected to feature in the 1868 book entitled "Villa and Cottage Architecture: Select Examples of Country and Suburban Residences Recently Erected" published by Blackie & Son. A full description of each building was given along with detailed engravings of various elevations, floor plans and architectural detail. Below is the front elevation of the 'Cottage at Lundin Links' by J.C. Walker from the book. Now much extended to the right hand side and with a new porch, this cottage is located on Crescent Road and named Bourtree Brae House. The book states that the external walls were "two feet thick, and built of whinstone rubble, obtained by breaking up the boulders strewn along the shore of the firth" while the sills, lintels, and wall corners were of freestone from Grange Quarry, Burntisland, and the roof was Westmoreland slate. A full breakdown of the cost of the build are detailed as follows:
James Campbell Walker is more than likely responsible for the design of around eight buildings in Lundin Links, including the first permanent railway station building built during the Standard Life era and Homelands, formerly on Leven Road. The images below show the entrance of Homelands (on the left) and the entrance of a villa in Edinburgh, Hay Lodge (on the right), also designed by Walker (both now demolished).
After the Lundin Links development was halted, Walker went on to design Blair Drummond House and Estate, Hawick Town Hall, Dunfermline Town Hall and the Central Library in Dunfermline, among many other works. He inherited some of David Bryce's clientèle after Bryce's death in 1876. Walker married late in life, in 1875, and died in 1888, leaving behind his wife and two young daughters.
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