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Edinburgh, Ravelston Dykes Road, Ravelston House, Walled Garden
Fountain (17th Century), Walled Garden (Post Medieval)
Site Name Edinburgh, Ravelston Dykes Road, Ravelston House, Walled Garden
Classification Fountain (17th Century), Walled Garden (Post Medieval)
Canmore ID 120716
Site Number NT27SW 115
NGR NT 21718 73854
NGR Description Centred on NT 21718 73854
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/120716
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 115 21718 73854 (Centred on)
NT27SW 127.00 21780 74025 Ravelston House
NT27SW 127.01 22164 74450 Lodge with Gates and Gate Piers
NT27SW 127.02 21737 74082 Ice-house
NT27SW 127.03 21680 73997 Ice-house
NT27SW 127.04 21793 73790 Entrance Gateway
NT27SW 127.05 21655 73985 Wall with Fireplace
NT27SW 41 21708 73978 Dovecot
NT27SW 129 21663 73971 Old Ravelston House
NT27SW 194 The Mary Erskine School for Girls
NT27SW 477 Edinburgh, 68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73 Queen Street
Centred on walled garden which is shown on OS 2nd Edition map. Numbers 69-79, 81-85, 87 Ravelston Dykes Road now built on this area.
Sundial now removed to Wemyss Castle, Fife (from back of mount of photograph: D93748 PO)
Field Visit (9 November 1920)
On the lawn within the walled garden there is a very beautiful free-standing fountain (Fig. 58 [SC 1225147]), from which fine old yew hedges radiate. On two circular steps there rest an octagonal shaft and base, both moulded after the Gothic manner. The circular basin rests on this and is 3 feet 7 ½ inches in diameter. The lip is moulded, the outer surface being scalloped. Within the basin rises an octagonal shaft enriched with lion masks on alternate facets, and, above, on each face a dolphin with a lead tongue fashioned like a tortoise head, which emits a stream through its mouth. The shaft then tapers, is enriched towards its top with a drapery and terminates in a unicorn supporting a shield, on which there is a crowned thistle slipped. On one facet, just above the lion masks, the fountain is dated 1630, while on the opposite facet are the initials G.F. and LB. linked by a lovers' knot. The total height of the fountain is 11 ¼ feet.
Against the west wall of the garden a fine Renaissance fireplace has been erected. The triangular pediments which surmount it are, of course, those of dormer windows, so placed for preservation. Their finials are a thistle, rose and star. The fireplace opening is 5 feet 5 inches wide and 5 ¾ feet high. The boldly moulded surround is heavily enriched with quatrefoiled and mascled paterre, nail heads, and a key pattern; on the latter occur the initials A.V. in monogram. The cornice has slight projection; the principal member is a very flat cavetto enriched with a scroll; at its centre it bears the initials GF. and LB. in monogram, for George Foulis and Janet Bannatyne as above. The upper member is inscribed: I MAR 1624 - YE ALSO AS LIVELY STONES ARE BUILT UP A SPIRITUAL HOUSE - I PETER 2, 5. The inscription seems to be an addition.
In the opposite wall is a doorway with an elaborate scroll enrichment. The cartouche on the lintel is parted per pale and charged with three laurel leaves, for Foulis, and, on a cross couped between four mullets, a crescent, for Bannatyne of Newtyle. The present capstone is triangular and has on the finial a sun rayed and crowned.
At the front entrance to the present mansion a 17th-century sundial has been erected. It is a plain angle dial surmounted by a scroll-work abutting on a cherub's head at the angle.
RCAHMS 1929, visited 9 November 1920.
Photographic Survey (June 1960)
Photographic survey of the exterior and interior of Ravelston House, dovecot, tower of old Ravelston House and garden features, Edinburgh, by the Scottish National Buildings Record/Ministry of Works in June 1960.
