Our History
The firm of Davidson & Robertson dates back to 1891 when Sir James Davidson started the practice at Saughton Mains on the then outskirts of Edinburgh. Originally the firm was purely agricultural, involved solely in the valuation of Farms, Estates and Land.
Sir James was born at Deanpark, Balerno in 1852 and during his distinguished career he held many important offices. In 1923 he was the first Scotsman to hold the post of President of the Surveyors Institution (now RICS) and he received his knighthood in 1926. During the 1920’s Sir James was joined by Wilson Mathieson Robertson and the firm became known as “James I Davidson & Robertson.”
In 1934 Sir James passed away and “W.M.” continued working from Saughton Mains, although sometimes professional work had to be put on hold for the landlord’s livestock. In 1943 the firm finally moved from Saughton to make way for Local Authority Housing and set up a city centre office at 30 Walker Street. In 1943 Ronald MacKenzie joined the firm as an apprentice.
Ronald was made a partner in the firm in 1954, and following “W.M.’s” untimely death whilst golfing at Gleneagles in 1956, he took the bold step to continue the business as a young sole practitioner.
In 1964 Michael Reid Thomas joined the firm. Even in the 60’s city traffic posed a problem and it was the appearance of parking meter’s that caused the firm to move to new premises in the former Station Master’s house on Lanark Road, Balerno in 1967. In January 1969 Michael became a partner in the firm and senior partner in 1987 following Ronald MacKenzie’s retirement from the partnership.
In 1992, after 25 years at Lanark Road, the Rural Division of Davidson & Robertson moved to it’s present home at Riccarton Mains. Martin Hall, the present managing Director, joined the firm as an apprentice in 1991 and was made a partner in 2000. In 1999 the Rural Division was further strengthened by the appointment of Charles Reid Thomas who became a partner in 2002.
On the 1 st of January 2005 the Rural Division converted to a limited company to meet the demands of a modern professional practice and is now Davidson & Robertson Ltd (trading as ‘Davidson & Robertson Rural’). There are four Directors, Michael Reid Thomas, Martin Hall, Charles Reid Thomas and Andrew Miller. The company remains focused on the issues facing rural land in Scotland and is more than ready to meet the needs of a 21 st Century in an environment very different to that existing in the 19 th Century when Sir James started practice.
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