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

HOLYROODHOUSE, GATEHOUSE AND FORMER GUARD ROOMSLB28025

Status: Designated

Documents

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Summary

Category
B
Group Category Details
100000019 - See Notes
Date Added
14/12/1970
Local Authority
Edinburgh
Planning Authority
Edinburgh
Burgh
Edinburgh
NGR
NT 26827 73898
Coordinates
326827, 673898

Description

Robert Matheson, 1861. Monumental, double-height, symmetrical, corbelled and crowstepped Scots Renaissance gatehouse with depressed gothic arch pend and flanking projecting battlemented round towers to E with finialled conical roofs. Central finialled pedimented dormer breaks eaves. Single storey wings to right and left. That to right incorporating 17th century former garden entrance with moulded architrave, decorative carved frieze and broken pediment surmounted by thistle. Squared and snecked sandstone, rubble to W. Base course. Panels to towers with carved Coats of Arms. Pair of crowstepped gable dormerheads to W.

Wings with tripartite windows with stone mullions and some cross-slit openings. Parapet to W.

Gatehouse with 12-pane timber sash and case windows, single storey wings with single-pane timber sash and case windows all with horns. Grey slates. Skews and moulded skewputts. Coped gable stacks.

INTERIOR: (seen 2007). Comprehensively modernised.

Statement of Special Interest

The ground beneath the Palace of Holyroodhouse and nearby structures (including Croft-an-Righ House, the buildings on the N side of Abbey Strand and the buildings around Mews Court) is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979 for its archaeological importance. The upstanding remains of Holyrood Abbey and Queen Mary's Bath are also scheduled monuments. Significant upstanding and below-ground archaeological remains may survive as part of and in addition to the structures and features described above.

This monumental and impressive gateway forms most of the East side of the Abbey Courtyard and leads from the Palace forecourt to the Abbey Courtyard. The two round towers echo the NW and SW towers of the Palace itself. They also form part of the wider stable complex of buildings associated with the Holyroodhouse.

It was constructed by Robert Matheson (circa 1807-1877), the Clerk of Works for Scotland, who carried out a programme of gradual improvements to the Palace, the Park and the Abbey Precincts at the request of Queen Victoria. She was spending an increasing amount of time at Holyrood and was concerned that there was a lack of privacy to the Palace and the grounds. The improvements she instigated included new Lodges for the entrances to the Park, rebuilding parts of the Abbey Courtyard and establishing the fountain in the Palace forecourt. A former gatehouse lay to the North of this building and had been demolished in 1753, although a section remains in the Abbey Court House (see separate listing).

The former garden doorway is likely to date from mid 17th century and was probably made for one of the Royal visits to the Palace in either 1617 or 1633.

In 1128, David I built an Augustinian Abbey at Holyrood. This flourished and when the Royal Court was in Edinburgh many Royal Guests chose to stay in the guesthouse of the abbey rather than the Castle, as the former was considered more comfortable. In 1501, James IV built a Palace on the site of the Abbey guesthouse and a gatehouse was constructed. This gatehouse was demolished in 1753 and the surrounding area, is thought to have become quite dilapidated. In 1822-3, the King's architect, Robert Reid began a new building programme in the area, but it was not until the more comprehensive rebuilding programme by Robert Matheson in the 1850s and 60s that this gatehouse was built.

Part of A-group comprising: Palace of Holyroodhouse; 28 and 30 Croft-An-Righ (Croft-An-Righ House); Abbey Strand Eastern Building; Abbey Strand Western Building; Queen Mary's Bath House; North Garden Sundial; Palace Forecourt Fountain; Abbey Court House; Gatehouse and Former Guard Rooms; Palace Coach House; Stables; Queen's Gallery (see separate listings).

References from previous list description: Builder Nov 24 1860.

List description revised as part of Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey 2007-08. List description updated 2013.

References

Bibliography

2nd Ordnance Survey Map, (1876-7). John Gifford, Colin McWilliam and David Walker, The Buildings of Scotland, Edinburgh, 1984. p142. Charles Malcolm, Holyrood, 1937 pf93. Dictionary of Scottish Architects www.codexgeo.co.uk (accessed 06-09-07) Information from RCAHMS Canmore www.rcahms.gov.uk (accessed 29-08-07).

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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Printed: 28/03/2024 11:45