View of main staircase. Digital image of E 21144.

Description View of main staircase. Digital image of E 21144.

Date 1955

Catalogue Number SC 724763

Category On-line Digital Images

Copy of E 21144

Scope and Content Main staircase, National Library of Scotland, No 57 George IV Bridge, Edinburgh The National Library of Scotland was designed by architect Reginald Fairlie (1883-1952) between 1934 and 1936, and built 1937-9 (initial construction period). It was completed 1950-5 with A R Conlon as architect. This Neo-Classical library is nine storeys high, with two storeys on George IV Bridge, and the remaining seven below the bridge on the Cowgate. This shows the main staircase which ascends from the ground-floor entrance hall to a half-landing level, before dividing into two to reach the reading room. The side rails of the staircase are made from wrought iron on a stone base, with a varnished wooden handrail. The ceiling is coffered (divided into recessed panels). The National Library of Scotland evolved from the collection of the Society of Advocates, whose library was inaugurated in 1689. In the 1920s Sir Alexander Grant gifted a fund of £200,000 to construct a new building for the collection, which continues to grow to this day. This building has been selected as one of Scotland's key 20th-century Modern architectural monuments. Source: RCAHMS contribution to SCRAN.

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/collection/724763

File Format (TIF) Tagged Image File Format bitmap