Basic Site Details

Name: Tolbooth St John's Church
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: A Listed
Grid ref:
Notes: Information from NMRS who quote the following: 'Document relating to transaction between the Town Council and the Improvement Commissioners'. For the 1829 scheme the proposed John Knox Church at this site. See John Rock: 'Thomas Hamilton 1784-1858', pp38-39

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 3Hall of Assembly for the Church of Scotland  
Item 2 of 3The HubYes 
Item 3 of 3Victoria HallYes 

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Church  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 1Tolbooth St John's Church, CastlehillYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 81 October 1829 Foundation stoneProposed John Knox Church
Item 2 of 81831  Projected design submitted
Item 3 of 818391844 original building
Item 4 of 85 December 1839 Plans prepared, construction not yet begun 
Item 5 of 8September 1842 Foundation stone 
Item 6 of 818571858 Alteration of throne bench as pulpit
Item 7 of 81866 Addition 
Item 8 of 81893  Addition

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 9Thomas Brown I  1831 Design only - not built
Item 2 of 9Augustus Welby Northmore Pugin C18391844 
Item 3 of 9James Gillespie Graham C18391844'acting Grand Architect' (Northampton Mercury)
Item 4 of 9H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency) B18571858Alterations of throne bench as pulpit - with Matheson as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
Item 5 of 9Robert Matheson B18571858Alterations of throne bench as pulpit - Matheson as architect for Scotland in H M Office of Works
Item 6 of 9David Rhind D1866 Additions
Item 7 of 9Hardy & Wight A1893 Addition of stair-hall
Item 8 of 9Henry Hardy A1893 Addition of stair-hall
Item 9 of 9John Rutherford Wight A1893 Addition of stair-hall

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 3APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 2 of 3Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 3 of 3Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp169-70

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 4Builder27 May 1876XXXIV Obituary of David Bryce
Item 2 of 4Caledonian Mercury5 December 1839   
Item 3 of 4Edinburgh Evening Courant1 October 1829  Foundation stone of John Knox church laid on 29 September 1829.
Item 4 of 4Northampton Mercury10 September 1842   

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild 4 February 1840 and 28 September 1866
Item 2 of 3Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register27542 
Item 3 of 3National Records of Scotland (formerly SRO, later NAS)Ministry of Works filesMW/2/50; MW/5/187NG 1/62