Edinburgh, Warriston Courtyard
No Class (Event)
Site Name Edinburgh, Warriston Courtyard
Classification No Class (Event)
Canmore ID 160805
Site Number NT27SE 4336
NGR NT 2572 7364
Datum OSGB36 - NGR
Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/160805
- Council Edinburgh, City Of
- Parish Edinburgh (Edinburgh, City Of)
- Former Region Lothian
- Former District City Of Edinburgh
- Former County Midlothian
NT27SE 4336 2572 7364
NT 2572 7364 A watching brief was carried out during upgrading and landscaping activities at Warriston Courtyard, located on the N side of the High Street between the two historic Closes of Roxburgh's Close (to the W) and Warriston's Close (to the E), at the heart of Edinburgh's medieval Old Town.
Ground disturbance to the E of Roxburgh's Close was limited to a series of narrow service and wall foundation trenches, excavated to a maximum depth of 1m below ground surface. A series of mortar-bonded walls were discovered, representing the remains of probable post-medieval cellars for tenements running along the eastern side of the Close, with the cellars filled with 19th-century midden and demolition deposits. The remains of an undated clay-bonded kiln/oven were also discovered to the E of the Closes, pre-dating the mortar-bonded cellar walls. A further trench was located on the NW corner of the site, to provide the foundations for stepped access from Warriston Close. This revealed 1m of 19th/20th-century demolition and levelling deposits, which continued below the limits of excavation (ground surface of Warriston Close).
Sponsor: Ian Riddell Architects.
J A Lawson 1999