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Edinburgh, Gilmerton, The Drum

Country House (18th Century)

Site Name Edinburgh, Gilmerton, The Drum

Classification Country House (18th Century)

Alternative Name(s) Drum House; Drum House Estate; Drum House Policies; Somerville House

Canmore ID 53463

Site Number NT36NW 35

NGR NT 30071 68943

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/53463

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Bluesky International Limited 2024. Public Sector Viewing Terms

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Digital Images

Administrative Areas

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

Archaeology Notes

NT36NW 35.00 30071 68943

(NT 3006 6893) Drum (NAT)

OS 6" map (1968)

In 1584, Lord Somerville built a mansion house at Drum, the builder being John Milne, the King's Master Mason. It was twice burnt and rebuilt before 1644.

The present house of Drum was built shortly after the first quarter of the 18th c, the designer being William Adam. Its outlying W wing incorporates part of the older house, masked and re-faced to harmonise with the now mansion, and traceable only on the basement floor. There is a late 17th c baluster-type sundial, 3'8" high, in front of the S steps.

An armorial panel, brought from Cowthally Castle, Lanarkshire, in 1694 is inserted in the garden wall W of the house, above the entrance.

RCAHMS 1929, visited 1921; T Whyte 1792

Description correct.

Visited by OS (BS) 31 October 1975

Architecture Notes

NT36NW 35.00 30071 68943

NT36NW 35.01 30116 68790 Stables

NT36NW 35.02 30121 68708 Drum Farm, Cottage

NT36NW 35.03 30097 68756 Mercat Cross

NT36NW 35.04 cancelled site (wrong mapsheet, see NT26NE 265 below)

NT36NW 35.05 30608 69252 East Lodges, NW Lodge

NT36NW 35.06 30634 68220 East Lodges, SE Lodge

NT36NW 35.07 30034 68875 Sundial

NT36NW 35.08 30114 68714 Drum Farm, Dovecot

NT36NW 35.09 30103 68724 Drum Farm, Cottage

NT36NW 35.10 30098 68732 Drum Farm, Cottage

NT36NW 35.11 30091 68743 Drum Farm, Range

NT36NW 35.12 30128 68770 Drum Farm, Gamekeeper's Cottage

NT36NW 35.13 30127 68750 Drum Farm, Screen wall

NT36NW 35.14 30136 68738 Drum Farm, Animal Pens

NT26NE 88 29727 69145 North Gate-piers

NT26NE 265 29841 68836 Walled Garden

NT26NE 271 29921 68891 Gardeners' Cottages

nT26NE 272 29715 68422 West Lodge

NT36NW 48 3017 6883 Mercat Cross

NT36NW 121 30084 69053 Ice-houses

NT36NW 184 30291 69374 Drumbank

ARCHITECT: William Adam 1726-1734

John Mylne 1584-1585

NMRS REFERENCE

Print Room

Edinburgh, The Drum

2 details of plasterwork (1 duplicated in separate bound folder)

W Schomberg Scott Photograph Collection

Acc No 1997/39

REFERENCE

SCOTTISH RECORD OFFICE

Drawings are ready for Lord Somerville. Letter from William Adam, architect to Sir John Clerk.

Mr Calderwood to begin work there.

1726 and 1727 GD 18/4729/2 and 4

[Cross ref DG 18/4728/10]

William Adam, architect, mentions in a letter to Sir John Clerk that he had hoped Lord Somerville would 'delay his dining room a little, seeing the rest of the house would not be soon ready ... but my Lady pressed asking finished'.

172[5?] GD 18/4728/10

[The Drum] [Cross ref. GD 18/4729/2 and 4]

REFERENCE

SMT Magazine, September 1950 - article and photographs

From NMRS Architecture Catalogue Slip:

'EEC Jan 34d 1820 Note of sale of Drum repeated later'

Activities

Photographic Survey (1955)

Photographic survey by the Scottish National Buildings Record in 1955.

References

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