General view of 55-61 Canongate, Edinburgh, from SW.

Description General view of 55-61 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 190193

Category On-line Digital Images

Scope and Content This shows the front elevation of the Scottish Veterans' Residences at 57-61 Canongate, Edinburgh. This four-storeyed tenement (left) and former townhouse (right) also forms part of the residences. The ground floor of the tenement originally contained a shop but has been converted into additional accommodation. To the left is a small part of the garden for the complex, enclosed by a low stone wall surmounted by cast-iron railings. This complex grew up with the building of the adjoining townhouses of Whitefoord House in 1768-70 by architect Robert Mylne (1733-1811) for Sir John Whitefoord of Blairgunan and Ballochmyle, and Callander House c.1770 for Sir John Callander of Craigforth. The Canongate was popular with many wealthier residents, with the likes of Queensberry House, Huntly House, Moray House and Acheson House all built as the town residences for the gentry of Scotland to be near Royalty based at Holyrood Palace. The whole complex is white-harled, and retain their traditional timber-framed, multi-paned, sash and case windows throughout, maintaining the traditional vernacular appearance of the buildings. In 1910, the Scottish Veterans' Residences was founded by Charles Pelham Burn and Chilton Lind Addison Smith to provide supported accommodation for ex-servicemen and women. Whitefoord House was the first residence which opened in 1911. In 1926 the first Lady Haig's Poppy factory was established in one of the rooms in the house.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/1427902

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap