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Edinburgh Castle, Main Guard

Wall (Period Unassigned)

Site Name Edinburgh Castle, Main Guard

Classification Wall (Period Unassigned)

Canmore ID 130023

Site Number NT27SE 1.45

NGR NT 251 735

NGR Description NT 2512 7351 to NT 2515 7353

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/130023

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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Digital Images

Excavation photograph : area F - general view of Main Guard area after removal of topsoil.
Excavation photograph : area F - general view of Main Guard area after removal of topsoil.Excavation photograph : area F - half sectioned pit/slot, cut through demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - complete area after removal of 24 and 25, top demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots of area.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of brick rubble backed by loose metalling 25 in west end of area.Excavation photograph : area F - complete area after removal of 24 and 25, top demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - slot running E-W cutting 44 in guard chamber.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph : area F - annexe wall footing exposed.Excavation photograph : area D and E - trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots from base of Lang Stair.Excavation photograph : area F - bottle in demo rubble in SE corner of entrance chamber.Excavation photograph : area F - W facing half section, through sub layers in E end of entrance chamber.Excavation photograph showing area D at Edinburgh Castle with possible robbing cut through bedrock.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - preserved timber in wall 26, E part of entrance chamber.Excavation photograph : area F - main guard room, N facing section through floor base 44 and make up 59 down onto bedrock, from NW.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots from base of Lang Stair, from S.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots from base of Lang Stair.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - N-S linear feature cutting back wall 26 and demo rubble 27.Excavation photograph : area F - half section, W facing through pit 75, with rubble fill 34.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of smithing FE deposit with burnt rock face at back.Excavation photograph showing area F at Edinburgh Castle.Excavation photograph : area F - general view of broad foundation - S side cut by trench for ceramic pipe - bedrock incorporated into footing.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - section at W end of area, showing demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - loose unmortared stone rubble in angle between walls 26 and 31.Excavation photograph : area F - slot running E-W cutting 44 in guard chamber.Excavation photograph : area F - poorly preserved N part of 31 wall cut by pipe trench 45.Excavation photograph : area F - N-S linear feature cutting back wall 26 and demo rubble 27.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of poorly preserved N part of wall 31, cut by pipe trench, demo layer 50 removed.Excavation photograph : area F - mortar spread sealing black layers 54 and 55 in E annexe area.Excavation photograph : area F - half section, W facing through pit 75, with rubble fill 34.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of smithing FE deposit with burnt rock face at back.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - complete area after removal of 24 and 25, top demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - general view from above of guard chamber and sub floor.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots from base of Lang Stair, from S.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots from base of Lang Stair.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - section at W end of area, showing demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - bottle in demo rubble in SE corner of entrance chamber.Excavation photograph : area F - main guard room, N facing section through floor base 44 and make up 59 down onto bedrock.Excavation photograph : area F - W facing half section, through sub layers in E end of entrance chamber.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots of area.Excavation photograph : area F - general view of Main Guard area after removal of topsoil.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of brick rubble sealing likely wall line at E end of area.Excavation photograph : area F - section at W end of area, showing demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - half sectioned pit/slot, cut through demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - poorly preserved N part of 31 wall cut by pipe trench 45.Excavation photograph : area F - preserved timber in wall 26, E part of entrance chamber.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of poorly preserved N part of wall 31, cut by pipe trench, demo layer 50 removed.Excavation photograph : area F - general view of broad foundation - S side cut by trench for ceramic pipe - bedrock incorporated into footing.Excavation photograph : area F - general view of broad foundation - S side cut by trench for ceramic pipe - bedrock incorporated into footing.Excavation photograph : area F - annexe wall footing exposed.Edinburgh, general view, showing Edinburgh Castle and Princes Street.  Oblique aerial photograph taken facing north.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of brick rubble backed by loose metalling 25 in west end of area.Excavation photograph : area F - N-S linear feature cutting back wall 26 and demo rubble 27.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph : area F - section at W end of area, showing demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - loose unmortared stone rubble in angle between walls 26 and 31.Excavation photograph : area F - main guard room, N facing section through floor base 44 and make up 59 down onto bedrock.Excavation photograph : area F - completely excavated with 59 rubble to E.Excavation photograph showing area F at Edinburgh Castle - final shots of area.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - complete area after removal of 24 and 25, top demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - general view from above of guard chamber and sub floor.Excavation photograph : area F - completely excavated with 59 rubble to E.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph : area D and E - trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre excavation.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - half sectioned pit/slot, cut through demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - N-S linear feature cutting back wall 26 and demo rubble 27.Excavation photograph : area F - mortar spread sealing black layers 54 and 55 in E annexe area.Excavation photograph : area F - main guard room, N facing section through floor base 44 and make up 59 down onto bedrock, from NW.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph : area F - completed excavation of main guard from dog's cemetery.Excavation photograph showing area D at Edinburgh Castle with possible robbing cut through bedrock, from SE.Excavation photograph : area F - annexe wall footing exposed.Excavation photograph : area D and E - completed trial holes/boxes to N of grass, pre main excavation.Excavation photograph : area F - detail of brick rubble sealing likely wall line at E end of area.Excavation photograph : area F - half sectioned pit/slot, cut through demo rubble.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots from base of Lang Stair.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots of area.Excavation photograph : area F - final shots of area.

Administrative Areas

  • Council Edinburgh, City Of
  • Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District City Of Edinburgh
  • Former County Midlothian

Archaeology Notes

NT27SE 1.45 2512 7351 to 2515 7353

Areas D, E and F. The main gueardhouse. The site of this structure, marked on the earliest OS maps was well known; it had been demolished soon after it ceased to be the Main Guard in 1854.

Before the guardhouse was built, the rock face had been cut back, in places as much as 3.5m. The stone wall footings were fairly well preserved, and the complete outline of the 28m long structure is now consolidated and displayed. Details revealed include 2 stove bases and scracement ledges for plank floors.

P Yeoman 1988a

Excavations took place early in 1988 on the site of the Main Guard located opposite the Argyll Battery against the foot of the cliff face on the N side of St Margaret's Chapel. The excavated remains consisted almost entirely of foundation walls and demolition debris, but were sufficient to confirm the layout indicated by contemporary plans. Three phases of activity were defined.

S T Driscoll and P Yeoman 1997

Activities

Excavation (1987)

Excavations at Edinburgh Castle by Peter Yeoman, Historic Scotland in 1987

References

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