Standing Building Recording

Date 2007 - February 2008

Event ID 1032466

Category Recording

Type Standing Building Recording

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1032466

AOC Arcchaeology was commissioned to undertake a Level 4 Historic Building Survey and an archaeological watching brief at 302-304 Lawnmarket, Edinburgh prior to the re-development of the site as part of a watching brief on the soft strip and removal of the 1960s block and all ground-breaking development works.

The site formally consisted of two seperate buildings of 17th century origins developing into a single property with turnpike staircase and two ground floor shop frontages. The easternmost half of the building had a timber facade facing onto the Lawnmarket with a painted and plastered external panel. Two painted ceilings are also present on the second and fourth floors, although they appear to have been repositioned from eldewhere in the building. At the same time as the historic building recording, a programme of conservation was undertaken on the two ceilings which have been restored and maintained as part of the new building.

The site is a rare surviving example of a timber-framed facade and painted ceilings on the Royal Mile and has a good level of preservation.

No further historic building recording is recommended. However, a Publication Research Design has been requested by the City of Edinburgh Council Archaeology Service (CECAS) in order to fully complete the required work to discharge the planning condition. The Reseaerch Design, once approved by CECAS, will form the basis of two publications on the historic building revording and the conservation of the painted ceilings.

Information from AOC Archaeology Group