Edinburgh, West Tollcross, Tollcross Fire Station And Drill Tower
Fire Station (20th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, West Tollcross, Tollcross Fire Station And Drill Tower
Classification Fire Station (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Lothian And Borders Fire Brigade; Central Fire Station; Ponton Street
Canmore ID 156866
Site Number NT27SW 3041
NGR NT 24812 72940
NGR Description Centered on NT 24812 72940
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/156866
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
A purpose-built fire station in a Postmodern style with abstracted elements of monumental classicism and traditional Scottish architecture by the Department of Architectural Services at Lothian Regional Council. The main front includes a metal panel relief sculpture by David Roxburgh. The building was opened in 1986. It is L-shaped on plan and fronts directly onto the street, with a large training yard and curved drill tower to the side and rear. The main elevations are characterised by alternating volumes of projecting and recessed stonework and glazing. The structure is steel framed with polished ashlar sandstone walls, contrasted by glazed elements that have a strong grid pattern and are typically highlighted in lime green. The building is located on a restricted corner site at the junction between West Tollcross and Ponton Street, in Edinburgh city centre. It remains in use as an operational fire station (2023).
ARCHITECT: Department of Architectural Services, Lothian Regional Council 1986
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 (21 July 1999)
Three-panel relief of sheet metal depicting a central burning building flanked by five firemen and a hose on the left, and two firemen and a hose on the right.
The images are made with cut-out forms.
The fire station was built by the Department of Architecture Services, Lothian Regional Council.
Service representatives, in consultation with the architects, discussed the concept of a sculptured relief. A competition was arranged with the assistance of the head of the Sculpture Department of Edinburgh College of Art. 'Firemen at Work' was the theme, the relief was not to exceed six feet by six feet, and the budget was £2000. Six students from the College entered the competition, which was treated as a design project by the College. The winner was David Roxburgh, a third year art student who was also studying art history at Edinburgh University. (1)
The relief shows firemen at work, as specified in the design brief.
Inscriptions : None
Signatures : None
Design period : 1985-1986
Year of unveiling : 1986
Unveiling details : Building opened 18 April 1986 by Rt Hon. Malcolm Rifkind Q.C., M.P.
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0164)
