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Edinburgh, 89, 91, 93, 95 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh Industrial Brigade Home
Flat(S) (20th Century), Residential Building (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, 89, 91, 93, 95 Fountainbridge, Edinburgh Industrial Brigade Home
Classification Flat(S) (20th Century), Residential Building (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Fountainbridge; 1 Thornybauk; 1 Ponton Street; Edinburgh Home For Working Lads; Ponton House
Canmore ID 143375
Site Number NT27SW 1726
NGR NT 24771 73010
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/143375
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
Building Notes
In 1898 the architect Frank W Simon designed Ponton House in the Tollcross area of Edinburgh. The building is symmetrical and built of stone with mullioned windows and Scots Baronial corner turrets. A red brick rear wing was added at a later date but this was demolished in 1982. The building was used as a home for boys from all over Scotland who were deprived of a family environment.
In 1949 a reconstruction appeal was launched to improve conditions at Ponton House, which then housed 85 boys and was the largest of its kind in Scotland. The money raised, along with the rent money from the residents themselves, allowed for £13,000 of improvements, which included conversion of dormitories into bedrooms, and installation of shower facilities, a quiet room and a library. Basil Spence was responsible for both the alterations and redecoration.
Archive Details and Summary
The Sir Basil Spence Archive holds one press cutting from c.1951 detailing the improvements that were made to Ponton House. This includes a description of the colour schemes that Spence chose for dining room and main hall.
This text was written as one of the outputs of the Sir Basil Spence Archive Project, supported by the Heritage Lottery Fund, 2005-08.
NT27SW 1726 24771 73010
