Royal tailor sew important to city

Stirling Civic Trust has added another name to its list of unsung heroes who have made significant contributions to the city.

The latest name is a tailor who received a country estate in settlement of his bill: Robert Spittal.

The bill in question was incurred by Queen Margaret, James IV’s queen, and a feu of the Easter Coldoch estate was granted to Spittal by the king in August 1513, just a month before his death at Flodden.

Spittal was born in about 1480 and by 1509 he is shown in the exchequer rolls as tailor to the queen and as receiving a fee of £10 for his services.

In 1521 he acquired his first house in the burgh, thought to be on the site of the house at 54 Spittal Street which bears his name.

By 1544 he had acquired several other properties and had put together a site stretching from Irvine Place to Baker Street, on which he erected an almshouse known as the Nether Hospital, subsequently Spittal’s Hospital.

In 1558 he died leaving a will providing for the upkeep of the hospital and “ye puir crateris” within it from the revenues of lands including Southfields, an area which today comprises Melville Terrace, Laurelhill, Dumbarton Road, Wellgreen and most of what lies between.

He is best known as a bridge builder. Frustrated by the inconvenience and delay on the road to Edinburgh caused by the ford at Bannockburn, he built a bridge which still serves houses in The Path, The Brae and Carpet Close.

It bears the inscription: “This bridge was built by Robert Spittal taylor to King James the Fourth 1516 pro patria et posteris. Repaired by the justices of peace 1710. 12 feet added to breadth by the trustees 1781.”

Like all his bridges, the inscription carries the emblem of his trade: a pair of scissors.

The widowed queen lived principally at Doune Castle with her son James V. To reach her from Easter Coldoch Spittal would have had to go to the bridge at Callander.

At least partly for his own convenience, he built the bridge over the Teith at Doune.

Either as a reward or in settlement of another bill, James V granted him a feu of Cobbiland, an estate adjoining the bridge.

The feu, like that of Easter Coldoch, obliged him to build a mansion house with a garden and stables.

He built a third bridge over the Devon near Tullibody, which fell into disuse but is A-listed and was restored for walkers and cyclists in 2003.

Stirling Civic Trust says there are many people who have made contributions to the Stirling area with little or no acknowledgement.

It wants to add their names to its list and place commemorative plaques where appropriate.

Anyone with suggestions can call Jack Sutherland on 01786 870699.