Robert Paterson
Robert Paterson (1825–1889) was a 19th-century Scottish architect. His most famous work is the Cafe Royal in Edinburgh. Almost all his works are in Edinburgh, mainly in the Scots Baronial style, including a number of churches for the United Presbyterian Church.
Also recorded as Robert I Paterson
Robert Paterson

Stephencdickson · CC BY-SA 4.0
- Name
- Robert Paterson
- Born
- 1825
- Birthplace
- Edinburgh, Scotland
- Died
- 1889
- Occupation
- Architect
VALÉORINE Encyclopedia
VALÉORINE documentary reading
Documentary summary
Robert Paterson (1825–1889) was a 19th-century Scottish architect. His most famous work is the Cafe Royal in Edinburgh. Almost all his works are in Edinburgh, mainly in the Scots Baronial style, including a number of churches for the United Presbyterian Church.
Admitted source layer · organised and presented by VALÉORINE
Reference Check
Propose documentary evidence for Robert Paterson. A contribution is never written directly as fact: identity, source, rights and evidence gates still decide.
Sign in to contribute
Documentary evidence
Documentary basis
Authority files
wikidata · Q54326515
In this article
Key facts
Key facts
• Name — Robert Paterson • Born — 1825 • Birthplace — Edinburgh, Scotland • Died — 1889 • Place of death — Edinburgh, Scotland • Occupation — Architect • Notable Works — Cafe Royal • Illustration — Interior of first floor bar, Cafe Royal, Edinburgh
Life
Life
• Illustration — Cafe Royal Bar He was born at 13 Richmond Place in south Edinburgh the son of Robert Paterson (1790–1846), a builder, architect and surveyor in Edinburgh, and his wife Margaret (1789–1867). In 1839/40 he was articled to George Beattie (born 1810) (father of William Hamilton Beattie builders and wood merchants at 23 Bread Street. His family was then living at 138 Causewayside. From 1850 he was living at practising from Madeira Cottage at 187 Causewayside, close to his family home. From 1860 onwards he had offices at 6 Hanover Street in Edinburgh's First New Town, moving to 10 Hanover Street around 1870, and is later described as both architect and city assessor (valuing property under the Valuation of Lands Act). He was Session Clerk to the United Presbyterian Church in Newington. He died at 47 Grange Road on 5 October 1889 and is buried nearby in the Grange Cemetery.
Works
Works
• Illustration — Portobello Police Station see • 97-103 High Street on the Royal Mile (1862) incorporating the sculpted head of a boy by John Rhind • Cafe Royal, Edinburgh (1863) • Morningside United Presbyterian Church (1864) • Newington United Presbyterian Church (1864) Grange Road/Causewayside (generally called Salisbury Church) • Saltcoats West UP Church (1866) • West wing, Edinburgh Royal lunatic asylum (1867) • Canongate UP Church (1869) • Southern Literary Institute (1870) • Tenement in Leith (1873) Great Junction Street? • Enlargement of Hamilton Prison (1876) • Portobello Cemetery and entrance lodge (1876) • Portobello Police Station (1877) • Tenement in Portobello (1877) • Canongate Christian Institute (1878) • Tenements, Queen Charlotte Street, Leith (1878) • Windsor Hotel, 100 Princes Street (1878) • Villa, 6 Strathearn Road (1880) extension and alteration • 6 to 8 Shandwick Place (1880) • Tenement 147-151 Warrender Park Road (1881) • Tenement Leslie Place/Carlton Street, Canonmills (1881) • Villa, 5 Chalmers Crescent for Thomas Landale (1884) • Villa, 59 Dick Place (1885) • Shop, 130 Princes Street (1886) • Warrender Baths (1886)
Family
Family
In 1848 he married Margaret Wyllie. Their eldest son Robert (born 1850) was also an architect. He was cousin to the architect Robert Hamilton Paterson.
Citations
References
Each reference names the institution holding it, so a reader may go to the document itself.
reference work
Secondary witness
The Encyclopedia exists whether or not anything is for sale. Corrections are recorded rather than overwritten, and every version of this record is kept. Published 18 August 2026.
Elsewhere in Design
11,558 published records in this field, each with its sources named.
- Robert of LuzarchesDesigner
- Robert P. MadisonDesigner
- Robert P. WilsonDesigner
- Robert Palmer BrowneDesigner
- Robert PearsallDesigner
- Robert Perry RodgersDesigner
- Robert PflugDesigner
- Robert PiotrowskiDesigner
Best supported in this field
For owners
Own a work by Robert Paterson?
A specialist will read what you send and tell you what the house can establish, what it cannot, and whether the object is suited to sale. There is no charge and no obligation. The object stays with you throughout; nothing is shipped to us unless it is arranged in writing beforehand.