Edinburgh, 26 George Street, Commercial Union Insurance
Office (20th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, 26 George Street, Commercial Union Insurance
Classification Office (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) 55, 53 Hanover Street; New And Old Edinburgh Life Assurance Offices
Canmore ID 113030
Site Number NT27SE 713
NGR NT 25365 74014
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/113030
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 713 25365 74014
NMRS has architects plans by Dunn & Watson, London 1985-1898 for 26 George Street, Edinburgh Life Assurance Company, but these were never executed.
Kinnear & Peddie, 1881-1883
Peddie & Washington Browne 1907
Dick Peddie & Walker Todd 1928
Dick Peddie & McKay 1963
Project (1997)
The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.
Field Visit (13 March 2002)
Coat of arms of the Edinburgh Life Assurance Society: a central cartouche decorated with a chevron (centre), an anchor (dexter top), Aesculapian rod (sinister top) and a pair of scales (below chevron). Above the cartouche is a castle. The supporters are a female figure (dexter) and a deer (sinister). To either side are thistles.
In 1909, when the Royal Institution building on the Mound was to be devoted to the use of the Royal Scottish Academy, new premises were required for the Royal Society of Edinburgh.The building 'which the Edinburgh Life Assurance Company have vacated' was secured, and converted by W. T. Oldrieve of H. M. Board of works. (The Builder 2 January 1909, p.20)
Inspected By : T.S.
Inscriptions : None
Signatures : None Visible
Design period : 1843 (original building) / 1909(conversion)
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0654)
Field Visit (13 March 2002)
A shield decorated with a flaming torch and, above, three anchors. Supported by two winged lions rampant.
Inspected By : T.S.
Inscriptions : At the bottom of the coat of arms (in raised letters):
ANCHORA SALUTIS
Signatures : None
Design period : 1908-1909
Notes : Of what company is the coat of arms??
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0655)
