Edinburgh, 75 Belford Road, Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art
Art Gallery (20th Century), School (19th Century)
Site Name Edinburgh, 75 Belford Road, Scottish National Gallery Of Modern Art
Classification Art Gallery (20th Century), School (19th Century)
Alternative Name(s) John Watson's Hospital; John Watson's School
Canmore ID 74074
Site Number NT27SW 175
NGR NT 23447 73744
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/74074
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SW 175.00 23447 73744
NT27SW 175.01 23583 73790 South Lodge
ARCHITECT: William Burn, 1825-28.
PLANS FOR JOHN WATSON'S INSTITUTE MENTIONED IN MINUTE BOOK 1822-40
Information supplied by Miss I C Wallis (who is writing a history of the school)
19th July 1822 - A Committee appointed and authorised to find a suiable Architect
1822/23 - William Burn employed on recommendation of the Deputy Keeper of the Signet (Colin Mackenzie) and instructed to prepare plans not to exceed (pounds)11000 at most (pounds)12000.
17th November 1823 - Burns produced plan of proposed building but directed to make certain alterations.
26th January 1824 - D.K.S. reported that Mr Burn had made new plans, which were sent to the Lord Register (Keeper of the Signet, Mr Wm. Dundas).
5th February 1824 - Above plans along with plans by Mr Ayers of London submitted to the Meeting. Both sets of plans were remitted to an indepenent Architect Mr Rickman of Birmingham (then in Edinburgh).
12th February 1824 - Mr Burn's plans preferred, subject to alteration if necessary.
21st June 1824 - Mr Burn told to moify his plans to restrict cost to ?13000
Between July 6th and 30th - Mr Burn produced his modified plans
17th December 1824 - Mr Burn's plans considered as well as plans produced by the Treasurer, Van Hathorn. Remitted to the Buildiing Committee (but no alteration intended to the Elevation of the Building).
18th January 1825 - Building Committee. Mr Burn asked to make out a new ground plan.
1st April 1825 - Building Committee. Mr Burn produced a new ground plan with aim to lessen expenses by reducing size of rooms and galleries.
In all it would appear that Wm. Burn produced four sets of plans, Mr Ayers one set, and Van Hathorn the Treasurer one set.
I have also heard mention of, or seen somewhere, a set of plans known as the London plans, which conceivably might be Mr Ayers' plans. (They are see NMRS Copies)
6th February 1827 - Mr Burn produced plans for laying out the ground round the Hospital.
9th April 1828 - Mr Burn - plan and estimate for Porter' Lodge to be built
School closed in 1976
1984 became the National Gallery of Modern Art.
(Undated) information in NMRS.
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 (8 October 2002)
A serpentine stepped mound, covered in grass; containing two large crescent-shaped pools and a small tooth-shaped pool with granite chips at the bottom. A path leads down to the pools from the top of the driveway at the gallery entrance. The landform is based on the concept of chaos theory, and is designed to be walked around and sat upon.
Commissioned by the National Galleries of Scotland, partly to block out the sight of traffic on Belford Road.
Inspected By : Joan M. Kennedy
Inscriptions : At entrance: FESTINA LENTE
Signatures : None
Design period : 1998-2002
Year of unveiling : 2002
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0437)
Field Visit (22 November 2006)
Two-sectioned reclining figure, composed of a head and torso in one piece, and trunk and legs in the other piece.
Inspected By : Joan M. Kennedy
Inscriptions : On plaque on plinth: HENRY MOORE / RECLINING FIGURE (TWO-PIECE) No.2 1960 / PURCHASED 1960
Signatures : None
Design period : 1960
Year of unveiling : 1960
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0434)
Field Visit (22 November 2006)
Large bulbous hollow container which has been twisted in the middle to give a pouring effect.
Inspected By : Joan M. Kennedy
Inscriptions : On plaque near sculpture:
TONY CRAGG born 1949 / Kolbenneblok / 1989 / Bronze / Purchased 2000
Signatures : None
Design period : 1989
Year of unveiling : 2000
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0435)
Field Visit (22 November 2006)
Six 'stones' in total, three tall ones with sections chiselled out of them, placed in a triangular relationship; three smaller ones with circles engraved on them (one of them also has roughened surfaces), set in a curving line bisecting the triangle. The stones are grouped to resemble ancient standing stones or figures in a landscape.
Inspected By : Joan M. Kennedy
Inscriptions : On plaque near stones: BARBARA HEPWORTH / 1903 - 1975 / Conversation with / Magic Stones / 1973 / Bronze / Scottish National Gallery / of Modern Art / Accepted by H. M. Government / in lieu of estate duty; / presented 1978.
Signatures : None
Design period : 1973
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0444)
Field Visit (22 November 2006)
Two white coffin-like forms standing side by side. One end is square and the other curved. Placed on square paved area in grass.
Inspected By : Joan M. Kennedy
Inscriptions : On plaque near sculpture: RACHEL WHITEREAD born 1963 / Untitled (Pair) / 1999 / Bronze with cellulose paint / Purchased with assistance from the National / Art Collections Fund 2001
Signatures : None
Design period : 1999
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN0445)
