Plaque honours brothers who built the White House
A PLAQUE has been unveiled honouring the Scots brothers who 224 years ago helped build the White House in Washington DC
John and James Williamson were among a group of six stonemasons from Edinburgh who travelled to the USA in 1794, and whose skilled craftsmanship would make its mark on the Presidential residence.
The Williamson brothers, members of Edinburgh Lodge number 8, carried out elaborate carvings on the façade of the structure, including the iconic “Double Scottish Rose” which features on many different parts of the building.
Alex Paterson, chief executive of Historic Environment Scotland (HES), was joined yesterday by Stewart Mclaurin, president of The White House Historical Association, to unveil the plaque at 66 Queen Street in Edinburgh.
The building was one worked on by the Williamson brothers before they travelled to Washington D.C. to commence work on the White House.
Mr Paterson said: “Skilled Scottish stonemasonry was highly soughtafter during the 18th century, and the important work undertaken on the White House demonstrates its lasting global significance. At HES, as well as highlighting the historic importance of Scottish stonemasonry, we are committed to keeping traditional skills alive.
“We are helping to sustain stonemasonry and other traditional craft skills in a range of ways, from our training and apprenticeship programmes, including our partnership with Forth Valley College and our dedicated Conservation Centre in Elgin, to the research and cutting-edge technology at the Engine Shed, Scotland’s first building conservation centre.
“This plaque is a fitting tribute to the pioneering Scottish stonemasons of over two centuries ago, and I hope it will provide inspiration for our next generation of craftspeople to carve their names in history.”
Mr Mclaurin said: “The stone masons of Scotland today are the legacy of great craftsmen from the 18th century who came to Washington and created the beautiful carvings that we still see on the White House.
“The Double Scottish Rose that we see on every pilaster is a Scots wink from those stonemasons and we were thrilled to have a reminder of that extraordinary stonemason talent.”
The story of the stonemasons is explored in a new exhibition now on display at the Engine Shed in Stirling.