Edinburgh, Old Tolbooth Wynd, General

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.

The People's Story sign projects from the building on a metal bracket. It is composed of a cut-out of a half-length newspaper seller holding up a newspaper in his left hand, and cupping his mouth with his right hand as he shouts.

The stag's head panel and James VI inscription are between windows on the building's façade.

The coats of arms are in the attic gables; from left to right: (1) lion rampant, (2) Edinburgh (a three-towered castle), (3) stag's head, (4) St Andrew's cross.

Robert H. Morham was the architect in 1875 of the restoration of the 1591 building.

VR = Victoria Regina (Queen Victoria)

IR6 = James VI of Scotland

Inspected By : K M W / D. King

Inscriptions : At bottom of sign (raised letters painted black): THE PEOPLE'S STORY

In triangular pediment above stag's head panel (raised letters): IR6 / IVSTICIA ET / PIETAS VALIDE / SVNT PRINCIPIS ARCES

On ribbon below stag's head: SIC ITUR AD ASTRA

In top corners of stag's head panel: 1 and 1

In bottom corners of stag's head panel: 2 and 8

On ribbon below lion rampant in gable (raised letters): NEMO ME IMPUNE LACESSIT. Below that (raised letters and numbers): V.R.1875

On ribbon below Edinburgh coat of arms in gable (raised letters): NISI DOMINUS FRUSTRA

On ribbon below St Andrew's cross in gable (raised letters): IN DEFENCE. Below that (raised letters and numbers): I.R.1591

On ribbon below stag's head in gable (raised letters): [SI]C ITUR AD ASTRA

Signatures : None Visible

Design period : c1875

Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0542)

Rectangular panel, with four columns of names, flanked by full-length profile relief figures of a soldier with rifle (left) and a sailor with rifle (right) (each above a shield), surmounted by a stag's head and cross in a semi-circular section at the top. The soldier and sailor represent all the Scottish members of the army and navy, and are depicted in the position of members of a funeral guard of honour, each with his head bowed and his rifle resting on the toe of the boot furthest from the viewer. The soldier wears a kilt and glengarry, the sailor wears a knotted kerchief and trousers tucked into puttees.

The top inscription is on a ribbon flanked by a lion rampant at each end. The lower insciption has further names below it.

Louis Reid Deuchars modelled the figures of the soldier and sailor. Each panel was cast separately and inserted into the plaque.

Inspected By : D. King

Inscriptions : On top ribbon (raised letters): SIC . ITUR AD . ASTRA

Above list of names (raised letters): THIS . TABLET . IS . ERECTED . TO . THE . MEMORY . OF . THE . MEN . OF . THE . OLD . BURGH / OF . CANONGATE . WHO . NOBLY . SACRIFICED . THEIR . LIVES . IN . THE . CAUSE / OF . THEIR . COUNTRY . AND . FREEDOM . IN . THE . GREAT . WAR. 1914-1918

Below list of names (raised letters): GREATER . LOVE . HATH . NO . MAN . THAN . THIS . THAT / A . MAN . LAY . DOWN . HIS . LIFE . FOR . HIS . FRIENDS

Signatures : None

Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0543)

Cancelled: duplicate record, see NT27SE 2788.

Information from RCAHMS (LMcC) 23 November 2010