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Edinburgh, 137 Canongate, Dunbar's Close

Garden (20th Century)

Site Name Edinburgh, 137 Canongate, Dunbar's Close

Classification Garden (20th Century)

Canmore ID 125232

Site Number NT27SE 2018

NGR NT 26488 73815

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/125232

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
Canmore Disclaimer. © Copyright and database right 2024.

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Administrative Areas

  • Council Edinburgh, City Of
  • Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
  • Former Region Lothian
  • Former District City Of Edinburgh
  • Former County Midlothian

Architecture Notes (31 August 2023)

Dunbar's Close Garden.

A late twentieth century public garden entered to the north from the High Street (Royal Mile) through an arched entry beneath a tenement.

The current garden at Dunbar’s Close (thought to be named after lawyer and writer David Dunbar) was designed between June 1976 and its opening in April 1978 by Seamus Filor (landscape architect and academic) for clients, the Mushroom Trust.

The nineteenth century tenements, which had previously occupied a large part of the site, were demolished in the late 1960’s and the Mushroom Trust purchased the vacant plot with a view to creating a small park or garden for the benefit of local residents, workers and visitors.

Two options, both designed by Filor, were presented to a community vote. The first more of a park with play area for children and the second, and selected choice, was of a garden representative of a seventeenth century garden such as might once have been on the site. The design was loosely based on historic views, such as the famous ‘Edinodunensis Tabulam’ (1647) by Gordon of Rothiemay.

The choice of design of Dunbar’s Close is an interesting part of a resurgence in the creation and recreation of historic formal gardens in Scotland such as at Pitmedden, Edzell Castle and Culross Abbey House, Dunfermline

The layout of the gently sloping garden is a series of defined spaces of plants and paths with knot gardens, hedges and an open area of lawn and tree wilderness at the northern edge. The choice of plants was to reflect those grown in the seventeenth century, where possible. An initial plan for a rectangular pool in the first knot garden was dropped due to potential maintenance requirements

The largest area is the entrance enclosure or first knot garden with a large tulip tree ((Liriodendron tulipifera) as its centrepiece surrounded by box edged beds filled with annual bedding plants and paved areas with cobble sets. Moving into the garden to the east are six compartments set within a large yew hedge (Taxus baccata) planted with flowers and shrubs. A wooden trellis separates the path from the knot gardens to the west and is planted with perennials and espaliered fruit trees.

The second and third knot gardens, separated by an arched hedge, have box edged beds with shaped topiary shrubs, holly (Ilex) in the second knot garden and bedding plants.

The western wall shared with the Canongate Kirkyard was repaired and is used for climbers, both floral and fruiting. The east facing Long Border, not fully in the ownership of The Mushroom Trust, has perennials and annuals. Two laburnum were also planted at the southern end of the Long Walk which faces east towards Panmure House; an Earl of Panmure is said to have been the first to import laburnum to Scotland.

The planting of the garden has varied slightly during the years as some varieties proved more successful than others, but the intention for plants suitable for the spirit of a seventeenth century landscape remains.

The garden is still managed by a long-standing partnership between the City of Edinburgh Parks and Greenspace Department and the Mushroom Trust, with advice and support from a horticultural consultant.

Information from HES (August 2023)

Architecture Notes

Depicted on the coloured 1st edition of the O.S. 1:1056 scale map (Edinburgh and its Environs, 1854, sheet 30).

REFERENCE:

National Library of Scotland. Vol II No. 8 of "Water Colour Sketches" by Thomas Brown, Advocate. Adv. MSS 34.8.1-3.

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