View of rear facade of Craighouse Asylum, Edinburgh. The building is now part of Napier University.

Description View of rear facade of Craighouse Asylum, Edinburgh. The building is now part of Napier University.

Date 1895

Collection Records of Bedford Lemere and Company, photographers, London, England

Catalogue Number BL 13221

Category Photographs and Off-line Digital Images

Copies ED 12028 PO, B 64291, SC 701969

Scope and Content Craighouse Mental Asylum, Craighouse Road, Edinburgh (latterly the Royal Edinburgh Hospital and presently part of Napier University) Craighouse Mental Asylum, a huge chateau designed by the architect, Sydney Mitchell, was built in 1889-94 as new hospital premises for the Royal Edinburgh Asylum in a woodland setting on the north slope of Easter Craiglockhart Hill. Harry Bedford Lemere was commissioned to photograph the asylum in 1895. This picturesque towered and gabled complex of buildings, in rough-faced red sandstone with warm yellow facings, has rich and varied detail. The buildings are dominated by a massive, square eight-storeyed tower (centre) with an arcaded three-bayed top stage, and a corbelled angle-turret. Craighouse was built as the largest, most progressive asylum of its kind to provide a range of therapies and environments to stimulate the recovery of those with mental disorders who could afford individual treatment. The asylum complex, which cost £150,000, was opened in 1894 by the Duke of Buccleuch. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Medium Glass

External Reference Box 23

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