Edinburgh, 141 Redford Road, Redford House, Drummond Scrolls

201. Carved Stones, Redford.

The "Old Infirmary" which stands at the E. end of Infirmary Street replaced an earlier one, designed by William Adam and founded in 1738. When this was demolished some of its masonry, including the ornamental work listed below, was preserved and re-used in the construction of an ornate stable building which stands by the entrance-gate of Redford House, Colinton. On the N. side of the stable are two Ionic pilasters, a niche bearing on its sill the inscription GEORGIVS II REX, and a triangular window-pediment. The W. side has a massive and boldly-carved truss at either end, one truss enriched with thistles and a saltire, the other with roses. Within the trusses four panelled pilasters support a balustraded entablature, with four urn shaped finials and frame three windows, all with moulded and lugged architraves. From the illustrations of the Infirmary given by Maitland (1) and Arnot (2) it is clear that these details were components of the central part of the façade. The building depicted in these views consists of a main block with a wing projecting from each end, all three divisions having four storeys. The central part of the main block is "palace-form" and is higher than the remainder, terminating above the main roofs in a square ogival dome surmounted by a fleche and vane. Maitland includes an interesting description of the place (3), which for its time was surprisingly modern in conception. In addition to the various wards and offices there was an operation theatre below the dome with accommodation for several hundred students, and the staircase had a central well "by which it is proposed that a Patient may be carried by a Pulley in a Chair to all the different Galleries, to prevent the racking Pain that might otherwise be occasioned in being carried up or down Stairs". In the wards the patients slept in curtained cubicles and had the use of hot and cold baths.

RCAHMS 1951, visited c.1941

(1) History, p. 450. (2) History, p. 546. (3) Op. cit,pp. 456 ff

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.

Two massive scrolls with leaf and flower carving, built into the south wall of the stable block at Redford House.

At the west end of the stable block are the top halves of two Ionic pilasters and a niche which contained the statue of George II when the niche was on the old Royal Infirmary.

Originally on the Royal Infirmary, built by William Adam in 1738 (demolished 1884). Drummond Scrolls is the name of the stable block of Redford House, built c.1884 by the then owner R. A. Macfie of Dreghorn.

Inscriptions : Below niche between Ionic pilasters (raised letters): GEORGIVS II REX

On stone on ground (incised letters): GEORGE DRUMMOND / To whom / His Country is indebted / for all the Benefits / which it derives from / THE ROYAL INFIRMARY

Signatures : None

Design period : c. 1738 (Royal Infirmary)

Year of unveiling : 1884

Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0380)