Edinburgh, Wrychtishousis
Architectural Fragment(S) (17th Century), Armorial Panel (17th Century), House (16th Century), Sundial (18th Century), Tower (Medieval)(Possible)
Site Name Edinburgh, Wrychtishousis
Classification Architectural Fragment(S) (17th Century), Armorial Panel (17th Century), House (16th Century), Sundial (18th Century), Tower (Medieval)(Possible)
Alternative Name(s) Wright's Houses; Wrychtis Housis; Mansionhouse; Balganie House; Burghmuir Castle
Canmore ID 52610
Site Number NT27SW 140
NGR NT 2474 7249
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52610
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 140 2474 7249
Wrychtishousis, a picturesque mansion, property of the Napier family, was demolished in 1800 and Jamed Gillespie's Hospital erected on the site. First known as Burgh Muir Castle or Barganie House, it consisted of a peel-tower to which later additions were made, perhaps on the site of an earlier house.
D Wilson 1873; J Grant 1882; J Geddie 1911; C J Smith 1978.
The House was demolished in 1800 and Gillespies Hospital built on the site..
Information from Architecture Catalogue slip:
'Fireplace, sun-dial and carved stones from Wright's Houses now at Woodhouselee, Midlothian. See under Woodhouselee. Also at St Margaret's Hope, North Queensferry (GH, 1992) See SDD lists.'
It is unclear what the following entry on a catalogue slip refers to:
NMRS Miscellaneous:
Society of Antiquaries of Scotland - Sir Daniel Wilson's "Old Edinburgh", Volume II (1750 - 1800) - 3 Engravings
However, it may be presumed that it refers to three books, with engravings, relating to Daniel Wilson's 'Memorials of Edinburgh in the Olden Time', as listed in the Bibliography.
See also: NT27SW 968 Edinburgh, Wright's Houses (Village), General
NT27SW 2735.00 2475 7248 Gillespie's Hospital/Gillespie's Schools/Royal Blind Asylum and School
NT27SW 2735.01 2483 7255 Entrance Lodge
NT27SW 2735.02 2474 7246 Stores
NT27SW 2735.03 2473 7249 Workshop
NT27SW 2735.04 2480 7247 Workshop
Publication Account (1951)
203. Carved Stones, Royal Blind Asylum, Gillespie Crescent.
The buildings of James Gillespie’s Hospital, now occupied by the Royal Blind Asylum, stand approximately upon the site of the former mansion of the Napiers of Wrightshouses, which was removed in 1800 to make way for them. The house was a large one, E-shaped on plan and probably built in the later 16th century. MacGibbon and Ross describe it (en.1) as a building two storeys high in the centre, with a high gabled wing at each end which formed the E. and W. fronts’ each of the re-entrant angles there was a stair tower. A 16th-century fireplace, a monumental sundial and some carved details from this old house are preserved at Woodhouselee (en.2), while the four pieces listed below have been built into the E. boundary-wall of the Asylum grounds.
(1) A triangular door-pediment of 17th-century date, rising from Ionic capitals and containing branched foliage enriched with thistle-heads, crescents and stars; the foliage is surrounded by the initials W N M B, for William Napier and his wife, Margaret Bannatyne, and the motto DOMINVS EST ILLVMINATIO MEA ("The Lord is my light") runs between the capitals beneath an undulating scroll.
(2) A segmental pediment from another door, containing in the tympanum a shield with mantling attached· to. the two upper corners. The shield is parted per pale and charged: Dexter, on a bend, a crescent between two mullets, for Napier; sinister, on a bend, three annulets or buckles, a unicorn’s head erased in sinister chief. The sinister charges may represent a weatherworn version of the Stirling coat. Below the shield are two sets of initials, A N and I S, as well as a scroll with the motto CONSTANTIAET LABORE ("By perseverance and hard work") 1399. The pediment itself only dates from the 17th century, but various outstanding dates in the family's history appear to have been recorded in the fabric of the mansion in this way (en.3).
(3) A 17th-century armorial panel bearing a shield, supported by two angels, and surmounted by a helm, mantling and wreath, with a hand grasping a crescent for crest. The shield is charged as above for Napier. Below it is a cartouche with an almost illegible_ motto, apparently reading VERTV VAVLT MIEVX QUE L' ARGENT ("Virtue is worth more than money").
(4) An early 18th-century tabular sundial lacking the gnomon.
RCAHMS 1951, visited c.1941
(en.1) Cast. & Dom. Arch., iv, pp. 432 ff. (en.2) Inventory of Midlothian and West Lothian, No. 100. (en.3) Wilson, Memorials, ii, p. 131.
