General view of rear elevation of 1-12 White Horse Close, 29 Canongate, Edinburgh, from NW.

Description General view of rear elevation of 1-12 White Horse Close, 29 Canongate, Edinburgh, from NW.

Date 5/5/2014

Collection Records of the Royal Commission on the Ancient and Historical Monuments of Scotland (RCAHMS), Edinbu

Catalogue Number DP 188690

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content This shows the north (Calton Road) elevation of White Horse Close at the eastern end of Canongate. This picturesque group has its origins in the 17th century, with a datestone of 1623 in a gabled dormer on the north block of buildings. Although it appears to be one of the older closes on Canongate, it is in fact a complete recreation having been restored twice in the last two centuries. James Jerdan (1839-1913) carried out restoration work to create working class housing in 1889, and Sir Frank Mears & Partners undertook a major restoration programme in 1964-5. The close and adjoining tenement display a range of traditional vernacular architectural features including a mix of harled and exposed rubble, crowstepped gables, jettied timber and plaster bow-fronted gables accessed via forestair (to the north elevation within the courtyard). There is a three-storeyed-plus-attic tenement facing onto the Canongate, which has a segmental-arched arcaded ground floor with rounded central arch accessing the close via pend. This rear elevation onto Calton Road shows a series of arched openings which would previously been for carts and/or hourses. They are now all enclosed by timbe double doors. White Horse Close is believed to have been part of the Royal Mews in the 16th century. Indeed it is said to be named in honour of Mary Queen of Scots white palfrey (an expensive, well-bred horse, usually ridden by women) which was stabled here when the Queen stayed Holyrood. In 1745, the Jacobite officers' headquarters was wihtin the Close, and in 1769, John Paterson, the Bishop of Edinburgh, had a tenement here. The close has also been known as Davidson's Close after brassfounder John Davidson, who acquired land here in 1752 from Patrick Tod, a merchant. Mrs Davidson resident in close 1799. During the mid-19th century, it was also known as Laurence Ord's Close. Laurence Ord was a merchant and burgess of Edinburgh and he rebuilt the tenement here as a courtyard with a hayloft and other houses. There was also an inn (White Horse Inn) on the Canongate elevation.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1424648

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap