Edinburgh, 15 Coburg Street, Coburg House
Studio(S) (20th Century), Warehouse (20th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, 15 Coburg Street, Coburg House
Classification Studio(S) (20th Century), Warehouse (20th Century)
Alternative Name(s) Leith
Canmore ID 247385
Site Number NT27NE 1417
NGR NT 26820 76510
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/247385
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NMRS REFERENCE
A rectangular two-storeyed concrete warehouse building built by the Merchant David Bell on the site of 'Carpenters Land' in 1931. It was converted into studio space for artists in 1999.
Information from RCAHMS MKO 2001
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 (13 May 2002)
Sandstone relief set in a square architectural frame. The stone is carved with the carpenters' arms: a three-decked ship with two flags, one at the stem and one at the stern, and inscriptions above and below. Each flag has a saltire in the top right corner; the remainder of each flag is covered in horizontal stripes.
There are also two inscription stones, one above and one below the panel, with information on the stone and the present building.
The carved stone dates from 1715 when it was set into a house in Sandport Street. It was saved when the house was demolished and reset into a new building (address unknown) in 1840. It must have been removed again and placed on the present warehouse in 1931.
The Latin inscription is misquoted from Horace, Carm: lib. I. 4, where the verse runs: 'Trahuntque siccas machinae carinas'
Inspected By : I C. Grant
Inscriptions : On stone above boat panel (incised letters):
ERECTED A.D. 1931 / BY DAVID BELL. MERCHANT / ON THE SITE OF / CARPENTERS LAND
Directly above carving of ship (incised letters):
God bless the Carpenters / of N. Leith who built this / House 1715
Directly below carving of ship is a Latin inscription (incised letters):
Trahunter Siccas / Machinae Carinae
On a stone below is carved (incised letters):
THE ABOVE STONE REMOVED FROM OLD TENEMENT / IN SAND PORT STREET NOW TAKEN DOWN AND / PLACED HERE 1840. / ROBERT D. MENZIES ESQ. BOXMASTER.
Signatures : None Visible
Design period : 1715
Year of unveiling : 1715/1840/1931
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0565)
Desk Based Assessment (6 December 2011)
A desk based assessment of this building was made by RCAHMS Threatened Building Survey following a consent/planning application for demolition works at the site being submitted to the planning local authority.
A request for RCAHMS to carry out a statutory survey of the site was made via online planning portal/letter.
Planning Application ref – 11/03561/CON
Note (13 October 2011)
A member of the public has informed RCAHMS of a possible alternative inscription on the stone carving which can be locaed here http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2642090.
Information from RCAHMS (HDS) 13 October 2011
