Career
He was particularly skilled in traditional styles and was highly involved in the restoration of historic buildings, researching his subjects well before any project Born in Stirling, Kinross was articled to Glasgow architect John Hutchison around 1870, and moved to the Edinburgh firm of Wardrop and Reid in 1875. He travelled to Italy in 1880 to study Renaissance buildings.
Kinross was president of the Edinburgh Architectural Association (European Association of Archaeologists) between 1890 and 1892, and was elected to the Royal Scottish Academy in 1905.
Ebenezer James MacRae trained under him in 1908. During the 1890s he developed a style strongly influenced by Scottish architecture of the 17th century.
He carried out extensive research to complete a number of important restorations, including Falkland Palace and the 15th-century Priory Church in South Queensferry. Several commissions came from the 3rd Marquis of Bute, an enthusiastic restorer.
He also carried out numerous domestic commissions, among the most important was his rebuilding of Manderston in Berwickshire (1901–1905).
After 1905 he experienced a decline in commissions for new houses, and began submitting competition proposals. After the First World War he completed several war memorials, and also contributed time to Edinburgh College of Artist He suffered a breakdown in 1920, but continued in practice, and continued his involvement with the Republic of South Africa . He is buried in Grange Cemetery near the western edge of its Southwest Extension.
New Carriage Works for his family"s firm, Stirling, Scotland (1884)
Restoration of Falkland Palace (1887-1892)
Saint Michael"s Church, Edinburgh (1888)
Restoration and multiple buildings on the estate at Manderston House, Berwickshire (1890-1910)
Restoration of Thurston House, East Lothian (1891)
Carlekemp, North Berwick (1898)
Archaeological investigation and restoration of Pluscarden Abbey (1898-1900)
31,33 and 35 Mortonhall Road, Edinburgh (1898) (33 as his own house)
Restoration of Straiton Parish Church and addition of bell-tower (1899)
Restoration of Michael Kirk at Gordonstoun (1900)
Various buildings at Altyre House, Morayshire (1901-1902)
Company-operative Emporium, Penicuik (1904)
Remodelling of Ardtornish House (1908)
22 Hermitage Drive, Edinburgh (1920)
Cockburnspath War Memorial (1920)
Stone base, Cupar War Memorial (1920)(statuary by Henry Snell Gamley)
Montrose War Memorial (1920)(statuary by Henry Snell Gamley)
Buckie War Memorial (1920)(statuary by William Birnie Rhind)
Fettes College War Memorial (1921) (statuary by William Birnie Rhind)
Kirriemuir Parish War Memorial (1921) (statuary by Henry Hutcheon)
Markinch War Memorial (1921)
Morningside Free church War Memorial (1921) (statuary by Henry Snell Gamley)
Monument to Alistair Hunter MacFarlane in Saint Giles Cathedral, Edinburgh (1922).
