Background
He was born in Edinburgh around 1770, the son of John Bonnar who had created the ceilings in Penicuik House.
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Thomas Bonnar
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He is particularly remembered for his outstanding ceilings. Thomas was father to William Bonnar Republic of South Africa (1800-1853), artist, and Thomas Bonnar (1810-1873) engraver, who collaborated with William on several works. The group are also known by the family company name of Bonnar & Company
He was appointed as a burgess of the city in 1795 and a “sworn measurer” in 1807 and Superintendent of for the city in 1809, operating from the Magdalene Chapel in the Cowgate.
From 1810 he acted as architect and surveyor to George Heriot’s School.
He lost all public posts in January 1819 due to a bungled execution on 30 December (part of his wide scope of duties) which ended in a public riot. A house at 7 Ann Street is known as “Thomas Bonnar’s House” but there is no record of his living there, but he Instruction Section responsible for its fine interior decoration.
Thomas Bonar, Superintendent of is listed as living at Greenside on Leith Walk in the early 19th century. He did many fine and many unique interiors, including Street Bernard’s Well at Stockbridge.
George Heriot"s School replaced him with Alexander Black in 1833.
He retired in 1832 and died in 1847. Thomas Bonnar the younger was born in Edinburgh in 1810. He followed in his father’s footsteps as an interior designer and artist but did not venture into architecture.
His interiors include:
Drawing-room, Newbattle Abbey
Drawing-room, Mortonhall House
Office interior for Thomas Nelson (publisher) in Paternoster Row, London
Ceilings for Thomas Nelson (publisher) in his Edinburgh home, Saint Leonard’s
Thomas in turn also had a son named Thomas (1838-1896) operational largely in the 1890s and responsible for some ceilings at Falkland Palace and Liberton House and Riddles Court on the Lawnmarket.
