Edinburgh, Canongate, Scottish Parliament
Alternative Names Abbey Brewery; Lothian Hut; Holyrood
Site Type PARLIAMENT HOUSE (21ST CENTURY)
Canmore ID 159496
Site Number NT27SE 4322
NGR NT 26702 73840
Council EDINBURGH, CITY OF
Parish EDINBURGH (EDINBURGH, CITY OF)
Former Region LOTHIAN
Former District CITY OF EDINBURGH
Former County MIDLOTHIAN
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
NGR Desc NT centred 26702 73840
Canmore Mapping
View this site on a map
Treasured Places - HLF funded
In 1998 Holyrood was chosen as the location for the new Scottish Parliament building after consideration of a number of sites in Edinburgh. The parliament complex, comprising offices, administration centre, debating chamber and committee rooms, was designed by the Catalan architect Enric Miralles and incorporates the 17th century Queensberry House within the building complex.
Information from RCAHMS (SC) 1 August 2007
Glendinning, M 2004
An image of this site has been nominated as one of Scotland's favourite archive images. For more information about the project visit http://www.treasuredplaces.org.uk
Notes and Activities
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Archaeological Notes
NT27SE 4322 centred 2670 7383
Formerly the site of Medieval Gardens and Abbey Brewery (see NT27SE 588) and incorporating Queensberry House (see NT27SE 32.00)
| 1997 to 1998 | DESIGN |
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| 1997 | PROJECT |
Notes The Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (http://www.pmsa.org.uk/) set up a National Recording Project in 1997 with the aim of making a survey of public monuments and sculpture in Britain ranging from medieval monuments to the most contemporary works. Information from the Edinburgh project was added to the RCAHMS database in October 2010 and again in 2012. As a temporary measure, PMSA data on any site with multiple sculptures, such as the Scott Monument, can be found under Collection Items, then Digital Files; click on the PDF icon.
The PMSA (Public Monuments and Sculpture Association) Edinburgh Sculpture Project has been supported by Eastern Photocolour, Edinburgh College of Art, the Edinburgh World Heritage Trust, Historic Scotland, the Hope Scott Trust, The Old Edinburgh Club, the Pilgrim Trust, the RCAHMS, and the Scottish Archive Network.
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| 1998 to 2001 | EXCAVATION |
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| 17 January 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 2 March 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 12 March 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 17 April 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 12 June 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 2 July 1998 | PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY |
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| 22 July 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 15 October 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 23 November 1998 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1998 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 10 January 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 12 January 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 21 January 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 8 February 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 28 April 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 28 April 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 29 June 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 23 July 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 3 August 1999 | PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY |
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| 12 August 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 12 October 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 8 November 1999 | PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY |
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| 1 December 1999 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 1999 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 21 February 2000 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2000 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 3 April 2000 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2000 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 22 May 2000 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2000 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 21 July 2000 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2000 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 17 August 2000 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2000 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 3 November 2000 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2000 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 21 November 2000 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2000 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 2 May 2001 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2001 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 27 July 2001 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2001 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 20 August 2001 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2001 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 26 November 2001 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2001 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 5 February 2002 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2002 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 27 March 2002 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2002 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 13 June 2002 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2002 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 31 October 2002 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2002 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 11 December 2002 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2002 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 9 February 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 18 February 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 12 March 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2002 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 14 May 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 9 June 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 14 July 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 12 August 2003 | PHOTOGRAPHIC SURVEY |
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| 18 August 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 3 September 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 13 November 2003 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2003 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 9 February 2004 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2004 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 12 May 2004 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2004 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 7 June 2004 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2004 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 21 July 2004 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2004 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 20 August 2004 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2004 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 5 April 2005 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2005 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 1 August 2005 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2005 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 4 April 2006 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2006 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 3 August 2006 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2006 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 14 August 2006 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2006 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 20 February 2007 | AERIAL PHOTOGRAPHY |
Project 2007 RCAHMS Aerial Survey
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| 1 May 2009 to 1 March 2010 | WATCHING BRIEF |
Notes NT 2671 7388 A total of 11 test pits were monitored, 1 May 2009–1 March 2010, prior to and during the erection of security barriers and bollards around the Scottish Parliament. The test pits reached a depth of c1m and encountered modern made ground and services. A post-medieval loam/garden soil was recorded at Reid’s Close.
Archive: RCAHMS
Funder: Scottish Parliament
Ross Murray – Headland Archaeology Ltd
Information also reported in Oasis (headland1-78659) 16 April 2013
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| 26 January 2010 | FIELD VISIT |
Project Public Monuments and Sculpture Association: Edinburgh
Notes The elegant sterling silver sculpture brings together the three honours of Scotland, the crown, sword and sceptre, into a simplified flowing whole. The central square-sectioned sceptre is topped by a smooth rock crystal, echoing the rock crystal in the real sceptre, with an oak-leaf engraved sphere below it (this relates to the orb in the crown). From near the bottom of the vertical axis, two moebius strips curve out, representing the crown, and derived from its arches, the broken-off point of the sword intersects the front moebius loop, pointing upwards at the angle of a St Andrew's Cross, thus creating a version of the Saltire.
The moebius strip represents for the artist 'an unending, continuous journey, one of returning and renewal.' (1) According to Graham Stewart, the oak leaves on the orb refer to the oldest part of the Scottish crown: the oak leaves taken by the goldsmith John Mosman from the previous crown to add to the present crown, made in 1540 for James V. Inside the oak leaves on the orb are wavy lines, which echo those cast in concrete on the ceilings in the Scottish Parliament Building, and suggest contour maps: a reference to the land, and a tribute to the architect of the Scottish Parliament Building, Enric Miralles.
Graham Stewart liked the idea of the old and new combined.
In 2004 Graham Stewart and a number of other Scottish silversmiths, were invited by the Incorporation of Goldsmiths of the City of Edinburgh, to submit a design for a silver sculpture for the new Scottish Parliament Building, to be presented by Her Majesty The Queen at the opening ceremony. The sculpture was to be abstract, and to incorporate the symbolism of the Honours of Scotland. Stewart's design was selected.
The Honours of Scotland are the crown, sword and sceptre, and are Scotland's crown jewels. They are the oldest royal regalia in the U.K. and are kept in the Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle.
Inscriptions : On silver plaque on top of pedestal (incised letters): Sculpture by / GRAHAM STEWART / [5 hallmarks]
On silver plaque on front of pedestal (incised letters): Commissioned by / THE INCORPORATION OF / GOLDSMITHS / OF THE CITY OF / EDINBURGH / and Presented by / HER MAJESTY THE QUEEN / on the day of the / OPENING OF HOLYROOD / SATURDAY 9 OCTOBER / 2004 / [5 hallmarks]
Signatures : Silversmith's maker's mark (GLS within a shield) is the highest of the five hallmark symbols arranged vertically on the lowest part of the sceptre.
Design period : 2004
Year of unveiling : 2004
Unveiling details : Presented to The Scottish Parliament by H.M. The Queen on 9 October 2004, to mark the opening of The Scottish Parliament Building
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN1061)
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| 26 January 2010 | FIELD VISIT |
Project Public Monuments and Sculpture Association: Edinburgh
Notes A collection of 100 sentences, each in individual handwriting, is re-created in white glazed porcelain and presented on three floor-to-ceiling wall boards.
Originally, the brief was to recognise in an imaginary way the contribution of women who had campaigned for equal suffrage, and helped to further democracy. This was broadened to include all women who had made a significant contribution to life, culture or democracy in Scotland. The artist undertook a journey across Scotland to meet 100 women, each woman being asked to refer her to another woman. Each wrote a sentence about a woman she felt had made an important contribution.
Inscriptions : [The whole work could be regarded as an inscription (100 sentences)].
Signatures : None (but the artist wrote one of the sentences).
Design period : 2005-2006
Year of unveiling : 2006
Unveiling details : 14 December 2006
Information from Public Monuments and Sculpture Association (PMSA Work Ref : EDIN1553)
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| Books and References |
Bain, S (2005) Holyrood: the inside story, Edinburgh
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.BAI
Binney, M (2000) 'Is this a chamber going to pot?', The Times 26 September 2000
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.PAR.P
Black, D (2000) Putting a Parliament in its place, Typescript
Held at RCAHMS D.8.41.PAR.P


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