Documents

There are no additional online documents for this record.

Summary

Description

E J MacRae, earlier 20th century. Decorative wrought-iron lamp standard, set on pedestrian island, comprising triangular-plan plinth with engaged Doric columns, supporting shaft with consoles, anthemion detailing and panels with castle motif at base; hexagonal shaft capped by tapered decorative finial with modern glass globe.

Statement of Special Interest

The lamp standard is an excellent example of the work of Edinburgh's Superintendent of Public Works, E J MacRae (1881-1951) who designed a number of items of street furniture, all of which were characterised by simple classical design schemes in line with the predominant architectural style of the city. Although modern, the glass globe lamps follow the original design.

This lamp is one of only three examples in the city, the others are at Chambers Street and South Trinity Road (see separate listings).

The Great Stuart Street lamp standard is situated within the Edinburgh New Town A Group, a significant surviving part of one of the most important and best preserved examples of urban planning in Britain. The Moray Estate was designed for the 10th Earl of Moray (1771-1848). He inherited the 13 acre site from his father, after it was acquired from the Heriot Trust in 1782, and decided to feu the property for development in 1822. The complicated plan, with the crescent, oval and polygon of Randolph Crescent, Ainslie Place, and Moray Place respectively, all linked by Great Stuart Street, conjoins the New Town with the Second New Town. Building was completed in 1830-31.

Another example of the street furniture designed by MacRae was the Tailored Police Box (1931-33). E J MacRae was Edinburgh's City Architect from 1925-46. He was also involved in the renovation and clearance of large areas of slum tenements in the Old Town of Edinburgh, including the rebuilding of Chessels Court (see separate listing) in partnership with Robert Hurd.

(List description revised and category changed from A to B in 2010 following review of lamp standards of this type in Edinburgh).

References

Bibliography

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.