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Buildings

Basic Site Details

Rentons, 10-15 Princes Street
Edinburgh
C listed
Scotland
The facade of the building design by Thomas Hamilton is still visible in West Register Street.

Alternative Names

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

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NameCurrent NameNotes
WoolworthsYesPresent building: previous buildings demolished

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:

Class classic

ClassificationOriginal ClassificationNotes
COMMERCIALNot Known

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:

Str Add classic

AddressCurrent AddressNotes
10-15 Princes StreetYes

Events

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

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Event TypeFromToNotes
Plans submitted to Dean of Guild1824/03/25Plans for building at 2 Princes Street (later renumbered) and West Register Street. Facade still in West Register Street.
Proposed1853Proposal for erection of a large new building on West Register Street to expand existing building
Proposed1858New frontage for Crown Hotel.
Build/construction1858aAddition of attic storey
188
Proposed1884Plans for refurbishment of shop at 12-14 and remodelling of the frontage.
1899Proposed alterations
1909Alterations
1925Complete rebuilding for Woolworths
Opened1926/03
Reconstruction20142015With additional floor

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.

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PersonPartnership GroupRoleFromToNotes
Thomas HamiltonGArchitect1824Scheme for building at 2 Princes Street (later renumbered) and West Register Street.
George SmithDArchitect1853Proposal for erection of a large new building on West Register Street to expand existing building
Charles George Hood KinnearEArchitect1858New frontage for Crown Hotel. Also later in the same year scheme for addition of attic storey to building.
John Dick PeddieEArchitect1858New frontage for Crown Hotel. Also later in the same year scheme for addition of attic storey to building.
Peddie & KinnearEArchitectural practice1858New frontage for Crown Hotel. Also later in the same year scheme for addition of attic storey to building.
Arthur George Sydney MitchellFArchitect1884Plans for refurbishment of shop at 12-14 and remodelling of the frontage.
Thomas Purves MarwickB188cPlans
Dunn & FindlayA1899Proposed alterations
James Bow DunnA1899Proposed alterations
James Leslie FindlayA1899Proposed alterations
James Bow DunnC1909Further alterations
William PriddleLArchitect1925Complete rebuilding for Woolworths - as chief architect
F W Woolworth & Co Ltd, in-house architects (Woolworth Constuction DepartmentLArchitectural Department (New Towns etc)1926
Gillean ('Sam') Petrie SmallKArchitect19821983Subdivision of building
Alastair Anderson Taylor (or Alistair Anderson Taylor)KArchitect19831984Subdivision of building

Clients

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

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NameNotes
LCCL (Ladbrookes)Client for 1983-4 work
Constable, Archibald, printer and publisherClient for Thomas Hamilton building
Rentonsfrom 1853
Woolworths1925 and later work

Related Buildings, Structures and Designs

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:

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AuthorYearTitlePartPublisherNotes
Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland)Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp310
Morrison, Kathryn AWoolworths: 100 years on the High StreetLondon: English Heritage (or Historic England)p46

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:

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SourceNameCat NumberItem NameNotes
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDrawings CollectionEDD/399/9-14 and photographic copies, D/33250/P
National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDunn and Findlay Collection4 sheets of drawings
Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild
Professor David M Walker personal archiveProfessor David M Walker, notes and collection of archive materialInformation on involvement of Scott Morton & Co
Courtesy of Sam SmallInformation sent to Yvonne HillyardSent June 2010
Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register43313
Andrew P K WrightInformation via websiteSent April 2010 (from Dean of Guild)