Following the launch of trove.scot in February 2025 we are now planning the retiral of some of our webservices. Canmore will be switched off on 24th June 2025. Information about the closure can be found on the HES website: Retiral of HES web services | Historic Environment Scotland
Edinburgh, 541 Castlehill, Semple House
Tenement (17th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, 541 Castlehill, Semple House
Classification Tenement (17th Century)
Canmore ID 52342
Site Number NT27SE 315
NGR NT 25448 73531
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52342
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 315 25448 73531
Built 1638. Three-storey rubble with semi-octangonal turnpike stair. Sculptured lintel. Recently reconstructed and restored as far as remaining; later tenement removed. Now absorbed into New College. Name derives from Hugh, Lord Sempill who bought the property in 1743.
RCAHMS 1951.
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 August 2002)
Two lintels inscribed with the above insciptions
The part of the building on which are the lintels is a fragment of a 17th century mansion (demolished c.1965 for a kitchen extension to New College).
Inspected By : D. King
Inscriptions : On the stair-door lintel (raised letters): PRAISED BE THE LORD MY / GOD, MY STRENGTH, & MY REDEEMER / ANNO DOM 1638
On second lintel (raised letters): SEDES MANET OPTIMA COELO . 1638
Signatures : None
Design period : 1638
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN1052)
