Date 10 April 2013 - 21 May 2013
Event ID 1032857
Category Recording
Type Watching Brief
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/1032857
An archaeological Watching Brief was undertaken by AOC Archaeology Group on ground breaking works associated with the development on a new medical centre at St. Mary's Cathedral, Edinburgh (NT 2404 7357).
A few remnants of wall features were uncovered close to Manor Place those are relatively isolated with further excavations across the site not revealing any more of these walls or associated features. Given the extent of the excavations on site and consequent lack of features it is probable to assume that the walls were mere fragments. Careful examination of the 1st and 2nd Edition Ordnance Survey maps does not readily suggest potential walls meaning the remains may pre date the mid 19th century. It is therfore assumed that these walls are most likely part of the landscaped gardens associated with East Coates House built in c. 1615.
In summary barring the aforementioned walls no significant archaeological features, deposits or artefacts were encounted during the Watching Brief.
Information from AOC Archaeology Group
Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer.
© Bluesky International Limited 2025.
![Watching brief, Plan view of wall [1012] from E, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336766.jpg)
DP 336766
Watching brief, Plan view of wall [1012] from E, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
11/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, W facing section of wall [1008], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336767.jpg)
DP 336767
Watching brief, W facing section of wall [1008], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
11/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, E facing section of wall [1008], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336768.jpg)
DP 336768
Watching brief, E facing section of wall [1008], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
11/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Brick wall foundation [1014] from E, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336769.jpg)
DP 336769
Watching brief, Brick wall foundation [1014] from E, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
15/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Brick wall foundation [1014] from S, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336770.jpg)
DP 336770
Watching brief, Brick wall foundation [1014] from S, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
15/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, View showing depth from ground surface of wall [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336771.jpg)
DP 336771
Watching brief, View showing depth from ground surface of wall [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
15/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336772
Watching brief, General view, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
18/3/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336773
Watching brief, Brick foundations at S end of new foundations trench, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
15/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336774
Watching brief, S extent of new foundation trench, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
16/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Foundation of brick wall [1015], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336775.jpg)
DP 336775
Watching brief, Foundation of brick wall [1015], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
16/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Distance of brick wall [1015] from ground surface, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336776.jpg)
DP 336776
Watching brief, Distance of brick wall [1015] from ground surface, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
16/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336777
Watching brief, General view of drainage digging, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
18/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336778
Watching brief, Foundation digging at S end of site, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
18/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336779
Watching brief, Drainage works along N side of site, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Wall foundations [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336780.jpg)
DP 336780
Watching brief, Wall foundations [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Wall foundations [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336781.jpg)
DP 336781
Watching brief, Wall foundations [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336782
Watching brief, General view, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
18/3/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336783.jpg)
DP 336783
Watching brief, Rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, General view of rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336784.jpg)
DP 336784
Watching brief, General view of rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, General view of rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336785.jpg)
DP 336785
Watching brief, General view of rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Culvert feature [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336786.jpg)
DP 336786
Watching brief, Culvert feature [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Culvert feature [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336787.jpg)
DP 336787
Watching brief, Culvert feature [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Soil profile above [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336788.jpg)
DP 336788
Watching brief, Soil profile above [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336789
Watching brief, E facing section showing depth of excavation, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
22/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336790
Watching brief, General view, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
18/3/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336791
Watching brief, Concrete foundation, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
24/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336792
Watching brief, View showing depth of concrete foundation, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
24/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336793
Watching brief, General view of excavation soil profile – foundation pit, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
24/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, View of possible retaining wall [1029], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336794.jpg)
DP 336794
Watching brief, View of possible retaining wall [1029], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
25/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336795
Watching brief, View of area in front of retaining wall, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
25/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Profile of [1029] and [1030], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336796.jpg)
DP 336796
Watching brief, Profile of [1029] and [1030], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
25/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Depth of [1029] and [1030], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336797.jpg)
DP 336797
Watching brief, Depth of [1029] and [1030], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
25/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336798.jpg)
DP 336798
Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
26/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336799.jpg)
DP 336799
Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
26/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Detail of bricks in wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336800.jpg)
DP 336800
Watching brief, Detail of bricks in wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
26/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Detail of bricks in wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336801.jpg)
DP 336801
Watching brief, Detail of bricks in wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
26/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336802.jpg)
DP 336802
Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
26/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, View showing depth of foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336803.jpg)
DP 336803
Watching brief, View showing depth of foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
26/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336804
Watching brief, Possible drain in section, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
30/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336805
Watching brief, Possible drain in section, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
30/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336806
Watching brief, View of trench for gas service, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
2/5/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336807
Watching brief, General view, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
2/5/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.

DP 336808
Watching brief, General view, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
7/5/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, SE facing view of wall [1012], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336809.jpg)
DP 336809
Watching brief, SE facing view of wall [1012], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
11/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, NW facing view of wall [1012], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00336810.jpg)
DP 336810
Watching brief, NW facing view of wall [1012], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Records of AOC Archaeology Group, archaeologists, Loanhead, Midlothian, Scotland
11/4/2013
© Copyright: AOC Archaeology Group. Courtesy of HES.
![Watching brief, Plan view of wall [1012] from E, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336766.jpg)
![Watching brief, W facing section of wall [1008], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336767.jpg)
![Watching brief, E facing section of wall [1008], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336768.jpg)
![Watching brief, Brick wall foundation [1014] from E, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336769.jpg)
![Watching brief, Brick wall foundation [1014] from S, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336770.jpg)
![Watching brief, View showing depth from ground surface of wall [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336771.jpg)



![Watching brief, Foundation of brick wall [1015], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336775.jpg)
![Watching brief, Distance of brick wall [1015] from ground surface, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336776.jpg)



![Watching brief, Wall foundations [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336780.jpg)
![Watching brief, Wall foundations [1014], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336781.jpg)

![Watching brief, Rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336783.jpg)
![Watching brief, General view of rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336784.jpg)
![Watching brief, General view of rubble spread [1017], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336785.jpg)
![Watching brief, Culvert feature [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336786.jpg)
![Watching brief, Culvert feature [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336787.jpg)
![Watching brief, Soil profile above [1016], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336788.jpg)





![Watching brief, View of possible retaining wall [1029], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336794.jpg)

![Watching brief, Profile of [1029] and [1030], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336796.jpg)
![Watching brief, Depth of [1029] and [1030], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336797.jpg)
![Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336798.jpg)
![Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336799.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of bricks in wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336800.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of bricks in wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336801.jpg)
![Watching brief, Foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336802.jpg)
![Watching brief, View showing depth of foundation wall [1031], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336803.jpg)





![Watching brief, SE facing view of wall [1012], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336809.jpg)
![Watching brief, NW facing view of wall [1012], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00336810.jpg)

Data Structure Report: 'St. Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh: Watching Brief', July 2013
Watching brief, Plan view of wall [1012] from E, St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh
Watching brief, W facing section of wall [1008], St Mary's Medical Centre, Edinburgh