James Spreull (c.mid-eighteenth century – c.early-nineteenth century), was the Glasgow City Chamberlain, and was the youngest of two sons of John Shortridge, Merchant Bailie of Glasgow. He took the surname ‘Spreull’ (inscribed as ‘Sproul’ on the Adam office drawings) in 1784 upon the death of a distant relative, Miss Margaret Spreull, who bequeathed her estates to him. In 1792, Adam made unexecuted designs for a group of buildings on George Square for Spreull’s eldest brother William Shortridge and his company Todd, Shortridge and Co.

Robert Adam called at Linthouse on his journeys in Scotland in September 1791. The Adam office prepared designs in December 1791 and Spreull paid Adam £21 in full for the plans on 4 January 1792. However, Robert Adam died in March 1792, and it would appear that the proposed scheme was not carried out. A house was built in the early-nineteenth century, but historic photographs show that the built house, which has since been demolished, was not based on the designs associated with this scheme.

Literature:
R. Reid, Glasgow Past and Present, Volume 3, 1856, pp. 524-5; A.T. Bolton, The Architecture of Robert and James Adam, Volume II, Index, 1922, p. 21; M. Sanderson, Robert Adam’s Last Visit to Scotland 1791, Architectural History, Volume 25, 1982, p. 42; A. Rowan, Designs for Castles and Country Villas by Robert & James Adam, 1985, p. 86; D. King, The Complete Works of Robert & James Adam and Unbuilt Adam, Volume 2, 2001, pp. 79, 128, 137

Louisa Catt, 2024