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Buildings

Basic Site Details

St Giles Cathedral
Edinburgh
A listed
Scotland
CHECK Builder refs.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:

Alt classic

NameCurrent NameNotes
St Giles High Kirk
St Giles Kirk

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
CathedralNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
High StreetYes

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:

event classic

Event TypeFromToNotes
Repair1648Repair of crown spire
Proposed1777For alterations by Craig
Alterations and additions1780Craig awarded contract for alterations including refitting of High Church (i.e. choir) with Gothic pulpit, galleries etc
Alterations and additions17961797
Plans drawn up1818Proposals to remove the shops along the south side of the Cathedral. Complete \'reparation\' of the Cathedral proposed.
Plans drawn up1821
Reconstruction18291833Reconstruction of exterior
1842Refitting of the nave as St Giles West Parish Church
1867Original sketch scheme for restoration
1868First proposals for restoration including improvements to the choir 'as proposed by the Lord Provost'
18711874Restoration of choir
Opened1874/03/23Reopened after restoration
1874/04/25Restoration of choir completed
1878Restoration of south transept
1881Restoration of nave and north transept. James Craig\'s work removed.

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.

design classic

PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
John Mylne juniorAMason1648Repair of crown spire
James CraigZArchitect17771781Various proposed alterations in 1777 - not executed. However Craig given contract in 1780 for various works including refitting of High Church (i.e. choir) with Gothic pulpit, galleries etc.).
Robert BurnYArchitect17961797Alterations - mason work
Archibald ElliotKArchitect1818Proposals to remove the shops along the south side of the Cathedral. Complete \'reparation\' of the Cathedral proposed.
John ChalmersOArchitect1821Drew up plans and elevations.
William BurnXArchitect18291833Reconstruction of exterior
Thomas Brown I1842Refitting of the nave as St Giles West Parish Church
Robert Morham1867Original sketch scheme for restoration
H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency)B1868First proposals for restoration including improvements to the choir 'as proposed by the Lord Provost' (with Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
Robert MathesonB1868First proposals for restoration including improvements to the choir 'as proposed by the Lord Provost' (Matheson as architect for Scotland in the Office of Works)
William Hay18711874Restoration of choir (included designs of statuettes on reredos)
George HendersonC1878Restoration of south transept
Hay & HendersonC1878Restoration of south transept
William HayC1878Restoration of south transept
George HendersonD1881Restoration of nave and north transept. .

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:

client classic

NameNotes
Chambers, Lord Provost WilliamClient for original 1867 restoration scheme

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

Child Structures

This structure or site has the following component or child structures (click on an item to view details):

Child classic

NotesName
St Giles Cathedral, Monument to Rev Robert Nisbet
Memorial is signed.St Giles Cathedral, Royal Scots Boer Memorial
St Giles Cathedral, Lord Justice General Inglis Memorial
St Giles Cathedral, Monument to George Lorimer
St Giles Cathedral, Archibald Marquess of Argyle Monument
This may refer to the monument to Thomas Chambers - tablet with portrait by Pilkington Jackson.St Giles Cathedral, Monument to Chalmers
Stone panel with portrait, in south aisle.St Giles Cathedral, Monument to John Stuart Blackie
St Giles Cathedral, Ogilvie Memorial
With C d'O Pilkington Jackson, sculptor. B of S attributes the executed memorial to F C Mears, but drawings by Lorimer exist in the Lorimer Collection; several architects may have been asked to submit designs.St Giles Cathedral, 5th Battalion Royal Scots First World War Memorial
St Giles Cathedral, War Memorial to 6th Royal Scots
St Giles Cathedral, Finlay Memorial
St Giles Cathedral, Shrine of Youth
Final cost: £25,735 2 9 - which exceeded the sum of £22,000 provided for the building and the £2,000 for the endowment.<br><br>1920s stonework by A Colville & Co.<br><br>East window by Douglas Strachan.<br><br>Seven windows by Louis Davis, with tracery lights by Karl Parsons.St Giles Cathedral, Chapel of the Order of the Thistle
In south aisle of nave. Later removed to north side of crossing. Now in RMSSt Giles Cathedral, screen and reredos
With Pilkington Jackson, sculptor. Memorial for 4th and 16th Royal ScotsSt Giles Cathedral, Royal Scots Ist World War Memorial

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

bio ref classic

AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840London: YUP. 4th edition
Cruft, K and Fraser, A (ed)1995James Craig 1744-1795p110-112. Gives full details of documents relating to Craig work.
Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland)Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdpp106-116
Glendinning, M, MacInnes, R and MacKechnie, A1996A History of Scottish Architecturep595
History of the King's Worksv6 p254
Lees, J Cameron1889St Giles\' Edinburghp402
Mylne, R SThe Master Masons to the Crown of Scotlandp144
Nuttgens, Patrick1959Reginald Fairlie 1883-1952: A Scottish ArchitectEdinburgh: Oliver & Boydp47
RSA1880976
RSA1868160 (for 1868 proposed work)
RSA1883995
RSA194056 (organ case)
Simpson & Brown2012Simpson & Brown Architects:Thirty-five years in practice 1977-2012

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:

period ref classic

Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Builder1873/03/29XXXIp250
Builder1874/04/25XXXIIp350
Builder1874/05/30XXXIIp455 CHECK
Builder1879/02/22XXXVIIp211
Builder1880LXXXIXp34 CHECK
Builder1890LVIII or LIXCheck date
Builder1893/08/05LXV
Building News1889*Check date
British Architect1891*Check date
Peterhead Sentinel1888/06/1-8*
Scots Magazine1818/09/01

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

arc ref classic

SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination PapersJoseph Marr Johnston: L v18 no1372; John Fraser Matthew: L no3904 (box 18) & F no2945 (box 14); Alexander Esme Gordon: F no 5129 (Combined Box 58)
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings CollectionOrgan case for new organ by Henry Willis, designed by Esme Gordon. Now destroyed. Wooden model survives in NMRS Acc No 1999/107
National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Register House PlansNo numbers given in HS List. Plans of 1871 by William Hay
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSHay and Henderson CollectionHH10/1 (north screen); HH1/39-40
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSLorimer and Matthew CollectionLOR E/114/1, LOR E/116, LOR E/353, LOR E/362
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register27381
Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Town Council Minutes1780/02/23For later scheme by Craig.
National Library of ScotlandManuscript CollectionMS 502, 1-8Earlier scheme for Craig work on St Giles (1777)
Public Record OfficeOffice of Works RecordsMPD 193
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSNMRS Architects Index
National Archives of Scotland (formerly SRO)Register House PlansRHP 6512/8-12