Larger versions of these images are located at the foot of the page. Basic Site Details Name: | St George's Free Church | City or county: | Edinburgh | Country: | Scotland | Parish: | | Status: | A listed | Grid ref: | | Notes: | By the end of 1881 work on the new tower was well advanced. A contemporary recorded:
The Tower of Free St. George's is nearly complete, and its outline easily seen through the scaffolding. It is of good altitude, 180 feet more or less, and will be a notable landmark in the city, in excellent contrast to its neighbours, the dome of old St. George's, the Perpendicular tower of St. John's, and the massive spire of St. Mary's Cathedral. The church itself is Classic Italian, of ponderous details, massive pillars, pediments and cornices. The new addition has nothing in accord with it, and may be described as a very plain tower, with open belfry stage and lantern above it in the emasculated and eclectic Classic of Queen Anne. The little sculpture employed is flat and of the monumental order, heads alternating with honeysuckle, etc. The pilasters at the angles of the tower are finished off at base of the belfry stage as buttresses, with weatherings having a section of double curvature. Over these the base mouldings project slightly, and these in their turn are carried back with large cavetto sweep to the piers of the belfry stage, which stand considerably back from the lines which form the tower, giving a quaint bell-cast outline to this portion of the edifice. The belfry-stage is Greek, i.e., it has on each face three lintelled openings, the angle piers being carried up above the upper details, to a moderate height, when they have pyramidal tops. The lantern stage is still lighter in design, and is octagonal or circular, with eight circular-headed openings, and conical roof boarded for lead or slate. The outlines for distant effect are all happily proportioned, and the only questionable arrangement is the treatment of the pilasters, which seems to intensify the change from the heavy to the lighter style, the belfry looking more discontinuous in its aspect than if the pilaster projection had been diminished, the apparent bulk of the tower reduced, and the ordinary treatment employed. The merit of the design lies in its simplicity. [Building News 30 December 1881 p887-899]
| Alternative NamesThe following alternative names are associated with this building/design: | | Name | Current name? | Notes |  | Free St George's Church | | Alternative original name |  | St George's UF Church | | |  | St George's West Church | Yes | |
Building Type ClassificationThe building is classified under the following categories: | | Classification | Original classification? | Notes |  | Church | | |
Street AddressesThe following street addresses are associated with this building: | | Address | Main entrance? | Notes |  | Castle Terrace | | Address originally intended |  | Shandwick Place | Yes | Address as built |  | Stafford Street | Yes | On corner with Shandwick Place |
EventsThe following date-based events are associated with this building: | | From | To | Event type | Notes |  | 1866 | 1869 | Construction | Main part Main part of church erected |  | After 1875 | Before 1911 | | Alterations |  | 1881 | 1882 | | Tower |  | c. 1920 | | | Memorials to Alexander Whyte and Dr White |  | 1928 | | | Alterations |  | Before 1934 | | | Internal renovation |  | Late 1970s | | Alterations and additions | |
PeopleDesign and ConstructionClientsThe following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design: | | Name | Notes |  | Deacons of Free St George's Church | |
ReferencesBibliographic ReferencesThe following books contain references to this building: | | Author(s) | Date | Title | Part | Publisher | Notes |  | Drummond, Andrew Landale | 1934 | The Church Architecture of Protestantism | | Edinburgh: T & T Clark | p325 |  | Groome, Francis H | | Ordnance Gazetteer of Scotland (1882-85) | | Edinburgh, London & Glasgow: Thomas C Jack, Grange Publishing Works | vol II, p519 |  | RIBA | 1981 | Directory of Practices 1981 | | | |  | RSA | 1868 | | | | 162 (Castle Terrace design), 118 Shandwick Place and Stafford Street as executed) |
Periodical ReferencesThe following periodicals contain references to this building: | | Periodical Name | Date | Edition | Publisher | Notes |  | Builder | 24 February 1868 | XXVI | | |  | Builder | 27 May 1876 | XXXIV | | Obituary of David Bryce |  | Builder | 23 April 1881 | XL | | |  | Builder | 7 January 1882 | XLII | | |  | Building News | 30 December 1881 | | | p887-899 Notes from Edinburgh
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Archive ReferencesThe following archives hold material relating to this building: | | Source | Archive name | Source catalogue no. | Notes |  | Edinburgh University Library | Anderson Collection (Plans and drawings) | | Perspective of tower (undated) |  | Free St George's Church | Deacons' Court Minute Books | | vol 2 (1855-72) and vol 3 (1872-96) |  | Historic Environment Scotland | Listed Buildings Register | 27367 | |  | National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMS | Dick Peddie and McKay Collection | | Ten sheets of scale drawings. Also DPM 1920/162 |  | RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert Museum | RIBA Nomination Papers | | Thomas Rollo Walker Mossman: L v10 no586 (microfilm reel 32) |
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