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Field Visit
Date 16 November 2006
Event ID 612444
Category Recording
Type Field Visit
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/event/612444
Between 1st and 2nd floor windows are three large coats of arms:
(1) the Arms of Scotland, composed of a shield decorated with a lion rampant supported by two rampant unicorns. Above the shield is a helmet surmounted by a lion sejant holding a sword and sceptre.
(2) the arms of Edinburgh, composed of a shield decorated with a three-towered castle supported by a maiden (left) and a hind (right). Above the shield is an anchor.
(3) the Royal Arms of Scotland, composed of a shield decorated with a lion rampant in the 1st and 4th quarters, three lions passant guardant in the 2nd quarter, and a harp in the 3rd quarter; supported by a rampant unicorn (left) and a lion rampant (right). Above the shield is a helmet surmounted by a lion sejant holding a sword and sceptre.
Above the entrance is a panel carved with a banner (on which is LET THERE BE LIGHT) over a rising sun, with foliage to left and right.
Above the ground floor windows to the left of the entrance are three panels (from left to right):
(1) Androw Myllar's punning device of a windmill with a man on the right with a sack on his shoulder, climbing a ladder up to the windmill. To the left is a tree. In each of the top corners is a shield decorated with three ears of wheat. Below the windmill is a shield decorated with masonic symbols. At the foot of the panel is carved: Androw Mellar.
(2) A tree flanked by a man (left) and a woman (right) holding large flowers over their shoulders. To each side are flowers. On the tree is a large shield carved with entwined WC. At the foot of the panel is carved: WALTERUS CHEPMAN.
(3) A temple with a large crown on top and foliage to each side. A ribbon runs between the temple columns carved: [- -]RMANT CONSILIVM PIETAS POLITEIA [-]ORONAM
Above the ground floor windows to the right of the entrance are three panels (from left to right):
(1) A tree with a large barrel at the base inscribed GR (?). A ribbon runs across the panel, and behind the tree, carved: SVSCIPITE INSITVM VERBVM IAGO
(2) A decorative panel, carved in the centre: M [entwined symbols] C
(3) A boy with a swirl of drapery wakes a sleeping girl by shaking her shoulder and pointing to the rising sun behind a townscape. At the foot of the panel is carved: ARISE FOR IT IS DAY
Above the ground floor windows of the northern section of the building are three further panels (from left to right):
(1) A hand with a compass coming out of the clouds, the points resting on a large book, surrounded by a wreath of fruit. A ribbon runs through the wreath carved: LABORE ET CONSTANTIA
(2) A large tree with a man on the right picking a bunch of grapes. A ribbon on the left is carved: NON SOLUS
(3) An anchor with a dolphin entwined around it, carved on the left: ALDVS and on the right M. R.
To either side of the windows is a shield within an architectural frame. On the left is St Andrew and his cross; on the right is a lion rampant.
Andrew Carnegie 'intimated to the Lord Provost of Edinburgh that "he would like to do his part in adding to the numerous attractions of the superb metropolis of his native land, and that it would give him great pleasure to present the Magistrates and Town Council with £25,000 for a free library." This munificent gift he subsequently increased by another donation of £25,000.' (The Builder 18 September 1886, p.407).
A competition to design the new library followed in 1887, which was won by George Washington Browne.
Stoneworks carried out repairs to the building.
Walter Chepman (1473?-1538?) and Androw Myllar (fl.1503-1508) divided the honour of being the first printers in Scotland. In 1507 they were granted a patent from James IV. They set up their press in what is now the Cowgate in Edinburgh, and on 4 April 1508 issued the first book known to have been printed in Scotland ('The Maying or Disport of Chaucer', better known as 'The Complaint of the Black Knight').
Inscriptions : Below Arms of Scotland (raised letters): NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT
Above Arms of Scotland (raised letters): IN DEFENS
Below Edinburgh arms (raised letters): NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA
Below Royal Arms of Scotland (raised letters): DIEU ET MON DROIT
On garter around shield on Royal Arms (raised letters): HONI SOIT QUI MAL Y PENSE
On panel above door (raised letters): LET THERE BE LIGHT
On left panel to left of entrance (raised letters): Androw Mellar
On centre panel to left of entrance (raised letters): WALTERUS CHEPMAN
On right panel to left of entrance (raised letters): [- -]RMANT CONSILIVM PIETAS POLITEIA [-]ORONAM
On left panel to right of entrance (raised letters): SVSCIPITE INSITVM VERBVM IAGO
On centre panel to right of entrance (raised letters): M [entwined symbols] C
On right panel to right of entrance (raised letters): ARISE FOR IT IS DAY
On left panel on northern section of building (raised letters): LABORE ET CONSTANTIA
On centre panel on northern section of building (raised letters): NON SOLUS
On right panel on northern section of building (raised letters): ALDVS M. R.
On the south side of the building in the gable of the east corner (raised letters): AD ELP 1899 [ELP (the central L is larger than the other letters) = Edinburgh Public Library]
Signatures : None Visible
Design period : 1887-1890
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0125)
