Basic Site Details

Name: Watt's Hospital
Town, district or village: Leith
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: Demolished
Grid ref:
Notes: LEITH, N.B.—For erecting a Poorhouse for the parish of North Leith. Plan, etc, and schedules of measurement, of Mr P Hamilton, architect, 18 St. Andrew Square, Edinburgh. Contractors to estimate for the whole work. Tenders addressed to the Chairman of the Building Committee, and marked " Tender for North Leith Poorhouse," to be lodged with the inspector, Mr J W Gardiner, at his office, 17 Dock-street, Leith, to May 31. [Building News 18 May 1860 p409]

New Workhouse, North Leith.—The North Leith Parochial Board having obtained a piece of ground measuring about three acres, in North Junction Street whereon to build a poorhouse and offices for the Board and their servants, the buildings were commenced in July 1860. according to plans prepared by the late Mr. Peter Hamilton, architect, Edinburgh, and they have now been satisfactorily completed. The poorhouse, situated in the centre of the ground, with the front to the south, is plain, substantial, and commodious. The principal portion of it is two storeys high, 140 feet long and 45 feet broad: and the height from the floor to the ceiling on the ground-floor is 12 feet, and in the upper flat 13 feet. The whole arrangements for ventilation have been completed by Mr. William Cunning, ironmonger, Queen Street, Edinburgh, after a plan of which he is the inventor. The grounds, enclosed with high stone walls, are laid out in a tasteful and useful manner. The late Mr James Hume, builder, Leith, was the contractor for the mason work; Mr. Andrew Cunningham, wright, Leith, for the joiner work ; Mr Peter Innes, plasterer, Edinburgh, for the plaster work; Mr. Fortune, slater, Leith, for the slater work; and Mr Law, plumber, Edinburgh, for the plumber work. Some consider the house a model poorhouse, and already several deputations from distant parochial boards have come to inspect it. The cost of the house and furnishings amounts to about £7,000. [Building News 4 July 1862 p14]

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1North Leith Poorhouse  

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 2Hospital  
Item 2 of 2Poor house  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2Duke StreetYes 
Item 2 of 2North Junction Street  

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 218601862Build/constructionDesigned by Peter Hamilton and completed after his death in 1861
Item 2 of 21862 Opened 

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 1Peter Hamilton  18601861In progress at the time of Hamilton's death and completed in 1862

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 3Fisher, Ian Thomas Hamilton dissertationMSS in NMRS  
Item 3 of 3Leith and its antiquities Leith and its antiquities  p11

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Building News18 May 1860  p409 - contracts
Item 2 of 2Building News4 July 1862  p14