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Edinburgh, 18 Holyrood Park Road, St Leonard's Hall
Hall Of Residence (Modern), Hospital (First World War)
Site Name Edinburgh, 18 Holyrood Park Road, St Leonard's Hall
Classification Hall Of Residence (Modern), Hospital (First World War)
Alternative Name(s) University Of Edinburgh; Pollock Halls Of Residence; Dalkeith Road; St Leonard's Red Cross Hospital
Canmore ID 129131
Site Number NT27SE 2638
NGR NT 26943 72510
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/129131
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 2638 26943 72510
ARCHITECT : John Lessels, 1869-70.
OWNER : University of Edinburgh.
Staircase ceiling demolished in 1965.
REFERENCE : There is a catalogue slip that states that David Bryce is the architect of Pollock Halls, St Leonard's but this is incorrect or misfiled.
Collection item SC 679793 was previously linked to the duplicate site NT27SE 528.09 (Salsibury Green).Since is is clearly a view of St Leonard's Hall, it has now been linked to this site (AC 2 March 2004).
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 (1 March 2002)
Six panels carved in relief in wooden panelling within porch and on doors to main entrance to St Leonard's Hall. Panels around waist level. Central head with hair and beard turning to leaf shapes extending to scrollwork at both ends of each panel. All heads have open mouths and eyes.
Parallel series of panels above with geometric and floral design.
Mansion built by John Lessels for Thomas Nelson Junior, one of the sons of the printer and publisher Thomas Nelson.
Inspected By : A. Taubman
Inscriptions : None
Signatures : None
Design period : 1869-1870
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0807)
Field Visit (1 March 2002)
At tops of pilasters either side of entrance, is a lion rampant holding a shield in its front paws, back paws resting on top of pilaster. Mouths open, teeth and tongue visible, facing forwards, surface of shield rough (original carving removed or weathered?).
Lion's head carved on central keystone of main doorway. It has an open mouth, teeth and tongue visible. Mane surrounding head turning to leaf shapes at edges on top of head and around jaw.
See EDIN0807
Inspected By : A. Taubman
Inscriptions : On sides of pilasters, north and south (raised intertwined letters): TN
Signatures : None
Design period : 1869-1870
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0808)
Field Visit (1 March 2002)
In centre of balustrade on top of bay window above main entrance is an empty shield surmounted by a raised hand holding [?]. Below the shield is a scroll with inscription. Balustrade top follows pointed line of raised hand with star shape as pinnacle above raised hand.
There are similar coats of arms in the balustrade on the south side of the building.
See EDIN0807
Inspected By : A. Taubman
Inscriptions : On ribbon below shield (raised letters): VIRTUTE . ET . VOTIS [= by virtue and vows]
Top right above crenellated tower below chimney stack a panel with date 1869 and initials TN
Signatures : None
Design period : 1869-1870
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0809)
Project (March 2013 - September 2013)
A project to characterise the quantity and quality of the Scottish resource of known surviving remains of the First World War. Carried out in partnership between Historic Scotland and RCAHMS.
