Listed Building

The only legal part of the listing under the Planning (Listing Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997 is the address/name of site. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing – see 'About Listed Buildings' below for more information. The further details below the 'Address/Name of Site' are provided for information purposes only.

Address/Name of Site

HIGH STREET, MEMORIAL TO WALTER FRANCIS, 5TH DUKE OF BUCCLEUCH AND 7TH DUKE OF QUEENSBERRYLB27844

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
A
Group Category Details
100000019 - See Notes
Date Added
14/12/1970
Supplementary Information Updated
26/09/2008
Local Authority
Edinburgh
Planning Authority
Edinburgh
Burgh
Edinburgh
NGR
NT 25675 73581
Coordinates
325675, 673581

Description

Sir Joseph Boehm, 1887-8. Exceptional pedestrian bronze statue of the 5th Duke of Buccleuch and 7th Duke of Queensberry supported by outstanding, richly ornamented 2-stage ashlar hexagonal plinth by Sir Robert Rowand Anderson. Bronze panels with intricate cresting to every face depicting allegorical figures and scenes from the Duke's life by Clark Stanton, Birnie Rhind, Stuart Burnett and D W and W G Stevenson. Bronze shield bearing deer at buttressed corner angles.

Statement of Special Interest

This large, pedestrian bronze statue of Walter Francis is a particularly outstanding example of its type. Its plinth, consisting of a range of allegorical figures and depicting various scenes in bronze bas-relief panels, is elaborate in design and finely detailed in execution. It occupies a prominent and critical position towards the centre of West Parliament Square, outside the entrance to St Giles Kirk (see separate listing).

A number of well-respected local sculptors were commissioned to provide elements of the completed work. The ornamental cresting at the lower stages is by DW and WG Stevenson. One scene, by the well-renowned sculptor, Thomas Stuart Burnett, depicts episodes from the life of the Duke while other scenes, by W Birnie Rhind, depict his various virtues. The statue itself was created by the renowned Hungarian sculptor, Joseph Boehm (1834-1890). The figure was too large for the pedestal designed by Sir Robert Rowan Anderson, so a top stage of cresting was never attached. Boehm was 'Sculptor in Ordinary' to Queen Victoria and perhaps best known for sculpting her profile for coinage, as well as the statue of the Duke of Wellington at Hyde Park Corner.

Part of Edinburgh's World Heritage Site, the Royal Mile runs from Edinburgh Castle at the top to Holyrood Palace at the bottom. The High Street is of outstanding national and international historical and architectural significance.

Part of A-Group with Parliament Hall, Advocates' Library, Signet Library, 2-11 Parliament Square, 1 Parliament Square, St Giles High Kirk, Lothian Chambers, Charles II Statue, City Chambers, Alexander and Bucephalus Statue, Queensberry Memorial and the Market Cross.

List description updated and changed from Category B to Category A at resurvey (2007/08).

References

Bibliography

John Gifford et al, Buildings of Scotland - Edinburgh, (1991) p203. The Builder, Oct 15th, 1885. Dictionary of Scottish Architects, www.scottisharchitects.org.uk (accessed 10.12.2007)

About Listed Buildings

Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating sites and places at the national level. These designations are Scheduled monuments, Listed buildings, Inventory of gardens and designed landscapes and Inventory of historic battlefields.

We make recommendations to the Scottish Government about historic marine protected areas, and the Scottish Ministers decide whether to designate.

Listing is the process that identifies, designates and provides statutory protection for buildings of special architectural or historic interest as set out in the Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) (Scotland) Act 1997.

We list buildings which are found to be of special architectural or historic interest using the selection guidance published in Designation Policy and Selection Guidance (2019)

Listed building records provide an indication of the special architectural or historic interest of the listed building which has been identified by its statutory address. The description and additional information provided are supplementary and have no legal weight.

These records are not definitive historical accounts or a complete description of the building(s). If part of a building is not described it does not mean it is not listed. The format of the listed building record has changed over time. Earlier records may be brief and some information will not have been recorded.

The legal part of the listing is the address/name of site which is known as the statutory address. Other than the name or address of a listed building, further details are provided for information purposes only. Historic Environment Scotland does not accept any liability for any loss or damage suffered as a consequence of inaccuracies in the information provided. Addresses and building names may have changed since the date of listing. Even if a number or name is missing from a listing address it will still be listed. Listing covers both the exterior and the interior and any object or structure fixed to the building. Listing also applies to buildings or structures not physically attached but which are part of the curtilage (or land) of the listed building as long as they were erected before 1 July 1948.

While Historic Environment Scotland is responsible for designating listed buildings, the planning authority is responsible for determining what is covered by the listing, including what is listed through curtilage. However, for listed buildings designated or for listings amended from 1 October 2015, legal exclusions to the listing may apply.

If part of a building is not listed, it will say that it is excluded in the statutory address and in the statement of special interest in the listed building record. The statement will use the word 'excluding' and quote the relevant section of the 1997 Act. Some earlier listed building records may use the word 'excluding', but if the Act is not quoted, the record has not been revised to reflect subsequent legislation.

Listed building consent is required for changes to a listed building which affect its character as a building of special architectural or historic interest. The relevant planning authority is the point of contact for applications for listed building consent.

Find out more about listing and our other designations at www.historicenvironment.scot/advice-and-support. You can contact us on 0131 668 8914 or at designations@hes.scot.

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