General view of Morocco Land, 265-267 Canongate, Edinburgh, from SW.

Description General view of Morocco Land, 265-267 Canongate, Edinburgh, from SW.

Date 27/5/2014

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

Catalogue Number DP 190154

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content This shows the front elevation of the tenement known as Morocco Land, 265-7 Canongate, Edinburgh. Dating from the late 17th/early 18th century, this four-storeyed-plus-attic tenement was restored in 1956-7 by Robert Hurd & Partners as part of their wider Canongate improvement scheme. The restoration of this four-bayed block has retained the traditional features of the tenement, including the rusticated rubble stonework, timber-framed multi-paned sash and case windows and a carved effigy just left of the western bay between first and second floors. The carved effigy, wearing a turban and beads, is said to represent the Emperor of Morocco, who was a royal patron of Andrew Gray, who resided in the tenement. In the early 17th century, Gray had been involved in a riot which ended up setting fire to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh's house and following his conviction and sentencing to execution, he escaped and fled the country. He was sold as a slave in Morocco, but he rose in rank, impressing the Emperor of Morocco, before returning to Scotland. On his return, Gray cured the Lord Provost's daughter of plague then married her and they lived in this tenement on the Canongate. Robert Hurd & Partners also restored several blocks on the Canongate during the 1950s and 1960s, including 238-48 Canongate in 1955 (238-44) and 1963-4 (246 and 248) as part of a wider improvement scheme for the Chessel's Court and Canongate area.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1427854

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap