The Morningside Stones Project
Morningside Masons and Medieval Stones: Researching a lost ‘local tradition’
A project funded from a Jean Guild Grant by the Old Edinburgh Club.
Trinity Collegiate Church, awaiting demolition in 1848 to make way for Waverley Station.
Image by Ross and Thomson Photographers circa 1847; source Royal Collection Trust.
The Background
Writing in Historic South Edinburgh (2000, p145), Charles Smith made reference to ‘a number of interesting and apparently very old ecclesiastical stones of varied motifs. Local tradition has it that these stones were set here by the owner of the nearby sculptor’s yard.’ Could they have been from the 15th century Trinity Collegiate Church, demolished in 1848 for the construction of Waverley Station?
Objectives
- To learn more about nineteenth century Morningside stonemasons.
- To explore connections between them and the presence of the stones in a local Morningside wall.
- To protect the stones in their current location, and encourage local interest in their history and their wider heritage significance.
- To contribute to the OEC’s purpose of exploring the history and development of Edinburgh.
Meeting our Objectives
- From the initial focus of the project, based predominantly on Post Office Directories and Morningside Census records, a dataset of over 50 sculptors, stonemasons, builders and wrights have been identified between 1850 and to 1925.
- Ongoing research is being undertaken from a wider range of sources including Scotland’s People, Dean of Guild Records, Historic Environment Scotland Archives, Capital Collections, the National Library of Scotland, the Central Library Edinburgh Room, and the University of Edinburgh Library.
- Opportunities to learn more about the project include plans for a showcase evening, an exhibition, small group visits to view the stones, stonemasonry workshops and the development of an interactive website.
- Information on the project is also available on the News & Views page of The Old Edinburgh Club – exploring the city through history – The Old Edinburgh Club.
- Further outputs are the development of an interactive website and an on-site interpretation panel.
Viewing the Stones
If you would like to visit the stones and learn more about them or are interested in joining the search for the sculptor email us using the following address:
The Old Edinburgh Club is registered as Scottish Charity SC006177.
The Morningside Heritage Association is registered as Scottish Charity SC044409.