Edinburgh, 6 Couper Street
Building (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, 6 Couper Street
Classification Building (19th Century)
Canmore ID 277563
Site Number NT27SE 5926
NGR NT 26635 76540
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/277563
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pits 5 and 6, Features [010]; [011]; [012]; [018] and [019], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339253.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of Well [034] from S showing its construction and depth, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339331.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 2, Post-excavation shot of [005]; [006] and [007], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339233.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 3, Post-excavation shot of [008], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339238.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Walls [010] and [011], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339240.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Walls [010] and [011], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339242.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Walls [010] and [011] and upstanding wall of industrial unit, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339244.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 6, Walls [016]; [017]; [018] and floor [019], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339252.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 6, Detail of features [016] and [017], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339255.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 7, Detail of contexts [023]-[027] and [020], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339269.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 2, Test Pit 1, Construction cut [003] and fill [004], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339323.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Wall [012] partially damaged, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339250.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Wall [011] and beam [013], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339247.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 8/9, Detail of contexts [029] and [031], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339280.jpg)
![Watching brief, Well [034], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339329.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of Well [034] from S, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339330.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 7, Detail of features [020]- [023], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339259.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 3, Post-excavation shot of [008], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339239.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 8/9, Wall [029], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339273.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 2, Test Pit 1, Construction cut [003] and fill [004], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339325.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 2, Test Pit 1, Midden deposit [001], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339319.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 6, Detail of walls [018] and [019], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339257.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 1, Post-excavation shot showing concrete foundations dug into clay [002], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339271.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, W- facing elevation of walls [012] and [014], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339295.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of Well [034], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/l/DP00339332.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pits 5 and 6, Features [010]; [011]; [012]; [018] and [019], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339253.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of Well [034] from S showing its construction and depth, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339331.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 2, Post-excavation shot of [005]; [006] and [007], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339233.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 3, Post-excavation shot of [008], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339238.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Walls [010] and [011], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339240.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Walls [010] and [011], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339242.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Walls [010] and [011] and upstanding wall of industrial unit, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339244.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 6, Walls [016]; [017]; [018] and floor [019], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339252.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 6, Detail of features [016] and [017], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339255.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 7, Detail of contexts [023]-[027] and [020], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339269.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 2, Test Pit 1, Construction cut [003] and fill [004], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339323.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Wall [012] partially damaged, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339250.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, Wall [011] and beam [013], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339247.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 8/9, Detail of contexts [029] and [031], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339280.jpg)
![Watching brief, Well [034], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339329.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of Well [034] from S, 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339330.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 7, Detail of features [020]- [023], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339259.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 3, Post-excavation shot of [008], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339239.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 8/9, Wall [029], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339273.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 2, Test Pit 1, Construction cut [003] and fill [004], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339325.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 2, Test Pit 1, Midden deposit [001], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339319.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 6, Detail of walls [018] and [019], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339257.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 1, Post-excavation shot showing concrete foundations dug into clay [002], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339271.jpg)
![Watching brief stage 1, Test Pit 5, W- facing elevation of walls [012] and [014], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339295.jpg)
![Watching brief, Detail of Well [034], 6 Couper Street, Leith, Edinburgh](http://i.rcahms.gov.uk/canmore/s/DP00339332.jpg)
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
Watching Brief (10 June 2015 - 27 August 2015)
An archaeological watching brief was undertaken on behalf of Chamberlain Bell on the site of 6 Couper Street, Leith prior to the development of the site for new housing. The archaeological works were a requirement of the City of Edinburgh Council (CEC), who are advised by the CEC Archaeology Service, as a condition on the planning consent for the development. The work was required largely because of the site’s located to the south-west edge of the former Cromwellian Citadel. In total, a watching brief was conducted on all ground-breaking works, consisting
initially of 9 test pits excavated within the rubble make up layer for the 20th century building which was previously located on the site.
The partial remains of foundations for the previous 19th century buildings were identified on the site, consisting of sandstone walls with occasional brick partition walls. However, much of this had survived to the outer parts of the development area with the bulk of the site consisting of made grown and rubble associated with the demolition of the later building. A well was also located on site during the later watching brief.
Information from Hana Kdolska (AOC Archaeology Group) 31 August 2015
OASIS ID: aocarcha1-222197
