William MacDowall

William MacDowall (died 1580) was a Scottish priest and Master of Works to Mary, Queen of Scots, her mother Mary of Guise, and James VI of Scotland. The title 'sir' was used in Scotland by a priest without a master's degree. The name appears variously as McDowgall, McDougall, McDowall etc., in printed records, he signed accounts MAKDOUELL. Career He was first employed by John Scrimgeour of Myres in 1535, managing the stone quarry during the building of Holyroodhouse. During the Rough Wooings he was involved in the fabrication of arms at Edinburgh Castle. Later he worked on the building of fortifications against the English for Mary of Guise, 1554–56, and collecting taxes to fund these defensive works. In Spring 1558 he worked on repairs to the forewall of Edinburgh Castle and the parapet of David's Tower, and Holyroodhouse. From August to October 1558 he was busy directing works on the Island of Inchkeith, including the construction of a munition house, to complete an artillery fortress designed by the Italian military engineer and architect Lorenzo Pomarelli. As master of work for Edinburgh burgh council, MacDowall measured quantities and made contracts with masons, including works at Newhaven. For St. Giles he procured timber for roofing the Consistory in 1555 and wainscot in 1557 for the seating of Our Lady's Aisle. After the death of Mary of Guise he remained in Edinburgh Castle and was charged with neglecting his duties as a warden and Master of St. Pauls Work. He was allowed the use of a little house in St Paul's Work. After the reformation of 1560, MacDowall was excluded from the town works, which recommenced with the conversion of a part of St Giles Kirk into a new Tollbooth.