Edinburgh, 13 George Street, Royal Insurance Company

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.

On the top of the building is a standing, draped female figure, right arm bent at elbow, left arm across her waist. On either side of her, at the bottom corners of the triangular gable, is a putto with a shield.

In the pediment above the entrance is a shield carved with ROYAL INSURANCE COMPANY, supported by a lion (dexter) and a unicorn (sinister). Between the first and second floors, on the balcony are three heraldic panels: Scotland (lion rampant), England (three lions passant guardant) and Ireland (harp).

Inspected By : T.S.

Inscriptions : In pediment on gable: 1898 (in raised numbers)

In pediment above entrance: ROYAL / INSURANCE / COMPANY (in raised letters)

Signatures : None Visible

Design period : 1898

Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0649)