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Summary

Description

Andrew Kerr, dated 1870. 2-storey and attic, 4-bay Masonic Lodge with Scots Renaissance detailing, situated on sloping site with commercial premises to ground. Bull-faced ashlar with polished dressings and ground floor level. Moulded string course above and cill course at attic level.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: Principal entrance to left with roll-moulded architrave. Above, masonic crest and inscribed panel flanked by corbelled blocks incorporated into string course and surmounted by pedestalled globes. Leaded and coloured glass windows with diamond-pattern at 1st floor. Corbelled-out rectangular oriel with thistle finials in crowstepped wall-head gable with wall-head stack above left. Pair of pedimented dormer heads with Masonic symbols and star and moon finials breaking eaves to left. Pair of 2-leaf panelled timber doors to ground.

6-pane glazing pattern to timber sash and case windows at attic level. Fixed multi-pane glazing to ground floor with curvilinear timber detailing to upper panes. Graded, grey Scottish slate. Broad end stack. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

Statement of Special Interest

Nos 63-67 Blackfriars Street is an interesting example of late Victorian Masonic Lodge design making effective use of Scots Rennaissance revival details. Surviving largely intact externally, of particular note are the oriel window, the patterned glazing at 1st floor and the elaborately moulded entrance, adding considerable streetscape interest to the lower end of Blackfriars Street. Above the doorway is the inscription 'In The Lord Is All Our Trust' with the panel below reading 'Lodge Journemen Masons No 8. Rebuilt 1870. Thomas Field R.W.M. And Govenor Of The Trades'. A further inscribed plaque to the far right of the building reads 'Erected upon the site of Calledar House or Cardinal Beaton's Palace 1871'. The Lodge of Journeymen Masons was founded in 1578. The previous lodge was demolished in 1867 as part of the Edinburgh Improvement Act. The architect, Andrew Kerr, was employed with H M Office of Works and a prominent Freemason. He also designed the 1880 vestry extension and organ chamber at Roslin chapel in Midlothian.

Throughout the 19th Century the Old Towns' prosperity declined as large sections of the nobility and middle classes moved out of the area in favour of the grandeur and improved facilities of Edinburgh's New Town.. The Improvement Act of 1867 made efforts to address this, responding early on with large-scale slum clearance and redevelopment of entire street frontages. Formerly known as Blackfriars Wynd, the E side was demolished in 1867 under the Improvement Act, the roadway widened and subsequently renamed. The Wynd was one of the key thoroughfares in the Old Town and contained a number of grand mansions including the aforemention Cardinal Beaton's Palace.

Part of a B-Group comprising 1-67 (Odd Nos) Blackfriars Street (see separate listings). List description revised as part of Edinburgh Holyrood Ward Resurvey (2007/08).

References

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