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Summary

Description

Possibly William Jamieson, 1785; restored in 1864 and incorporated into part of a house to NW, in 1864, by Hugh Paton. 3-stage octagonal castellated gothick tower. Sandstone rubble with red brick dressings incorporating architectural details from other buildings dating from late medieval to late 17th century. Corbelled and crenellated parapet. Pointed-arched openings to each stage and to each face, mostly blinded. Late Gothic triple shafts with elided bases and capitals to arrises of 2nd floor (possibly jambs for chimneypieces).

S ELEVATION: stair tower with Late Gothic foliage capitals, spiralling nook shafts; lintel with the motto "lectare" (rejoice) and shield supported by putti.

N ELEVATION: aedicule incorporating fragments of Romanesque voussoir with chevron, shield with a merchant's mark, medieval fireplace jambs with fleuron between shafts and early 17th century pediment with

2 putti.

Statement of Special Interest

According to Baird, the Tower was built as a summerhouse for the lawyer, John Cunningham. By 1864 it was much neglected and was then bought by Mr Paton who restored it and built the adjacent house. It is now also incorporated in an amusement arcade, to the NE.

Mr Cunningham, according to OLD AND NEW EDINBURGH (p146) was one of the first feuars of land in Portobello from Mr Jamieson. The ground was situated to the west "whereon he erected, in the first years of the present century (i.e. 19th century), the eccentric and incongruous edifice named the Tower, the window-lintels and cornices of which were formed of the carving stones found in the houses that were pulled down to make way for the South Bridge, from the cathedral of St Andrews. For many years it remained an unfinished and open ruin."

References

Bibliography

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