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Edinburgh, 140 Canongate, Acheson House

House (17th Century)

Site Name Edinburgh, 140 Canongate, Acheson House

Classification House (17th Century)

Alternative Name(s) 146 Canongate; 142 Canongate; 144 Canongate; Bakehouse Close; Aitcheson's House; Hammermen's Close

Canmore ID 52525

Site Number NT27SE 60

NGR NT 26466 73761

Datum OSGB36 - NGR

Permalink http://canmore.org.uk/site/52525

Ordnance Survey licence number AC0000807262. All rights reserved.
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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

Archaeology Notes

NT27SE 60 26466 73759.

(NT 2647 7376) Acheson House: In 1633, Sir Archibald Acheson of Clonekearney, Co. Armagh, and Secretary of State, built this house, one of the remaining interesting survivals in the City. A doorway bears the date 1679.

RCAHMS 1951.

As described above; in good condition. Door lintel on garden wall bears the date 1679 - an inscription states "Doorway taken from Elphinston House (Carberry Tower) in 1927 and placed here in 1938". (Carberry Tower - NT36NE 4)

Visited by OS (J D) 26 December 1953.

Still known as Acheson House.

Visited by OS 8 February 1954; Information from R F Landon, City Architect's Office, Edinburgh.

No change from previous information.

Visited by OS (S F S) 26 December 1953.

Architecture Notes

NMRS Print Room

140 Canongate

3 prints of entrance doorway (2 of them together)

Inglis Photograph Collection

Acc No 1994/90

REFERENCE:

Restoration architect Robert Hurd, c1947

See also Country Life 7th January 1939

SMT Magazine March 1938

REFERENCE:

Sources: Dean of Guild. Bundle 1812. January-June. 20.2.1812.

Pet. Richard Young, Brewer.

Hammermen's Close, 146 Canongate.

To build a Brwery & Malting.

Plan and east and west elevation. Unsigned.

Activities

Publication Account (1951)

103. Acheson House, 146 Canongate.

In 1633 Sir Archibald Acheson of Clonekearney, co. Armagh, Baronet of Nova Scotia, Lord of Session and Secretary of State, began to build himself the handsome and commodious town-house in the Canongate that has since become one of the most interesting survivals in the city. After his death, which took place a year later, the work was finished in haste. Recently the house fell on evil days, but the late Marquess of Bute, realising its importance, purchased the property in 1935 and took immediate steps to have the fabric thoroughly reconditioned and restored: This article describes the arrangement of the house as it was completed in the 17th century. In the nature of things the house could not be otherwise than irregular on plan, as it had not only to accommodate itself to adjoining buildings but was also to a considerable extent controlled by those that formerly stood upon the site, the remains of these not having been wholly eradicated.

As it stands to-day, its principal elements are a main block, three storeys and a garret in height, which runs N. and S., presenting its N. gable to Slater's Court in front* and its S. gable to garden ground behind, and a wing of equal height which extends W. from near its S.W. corner. These divisions stand on the E. and S. sides of a small paved forecourt, bounded on the N. by an adjoining tenement and on the W. by a screen-wall containing the entrance gateway, which is in Bakehouse Close.** The N.E. corner of the forecourt is occupied by a small rectangular wing containing the staircase, while a third wing, only two storeys in height and apparently a somewhat later addition, extends over the S. end of what had been an alleyon the E. side of the house, leading from the Canongate to the garden ground behind. Thus although Acheson House is now in a congested area, when first set out it stood open to the air on all sides, as it had on the S. the garden with an access from the E., on the W. Bakehouse Close, and on the N. Slater's Court-this last small enclosure being shut off from the Canongate by other buildings.

While urban building-stances tend to come down from generation to generation with but little change in their extent a few show signs of alteration, and such alteration has occurred here. An examination of the plan shows that the site is divided into two halves by a wall running N. and S., which continues the line of the E. side of an older property situated nearer the Canongate. The wall evidently marks an old boundary. Further, excavation has recently disclosed the original cobbling of Bakehouse Close*** within the gable of the principal wing of Acheson House, and there abutting against the foundation of an older gable. The whole S.E. corner of the wing was, in fact, reared on the remains of a previously existing house, and, as this proves to have been very poorly built, the small economy effected in 1633 has necessitated much rebuilding and additional expense in the recent restoration. The lower part of the N. wall of the main block may likewise be a survival of some earlier building.

The gateway in Bakehouse Close has a boldly moulded doorpiece, with a central facetted pendant projecting from the soffit of the lintel, which has rounded corners. The forecourt to which it gives entry extends to the N. of Acheson's property and is probably longer to-day than formerly. Towards this forecourt the elevations of the main block and both wings are simple and dignified, relieved by a single moulded string-course, which defines the lowest storey, and enriched by triangular dormerheads rising upwards from the eaves. The masonry, as on the other sides, is rubble with freestone dressings, the openings with one exception having back-set and chamfered margins and the majority being stop-chamfered at the sills. The gables are crow-stepped. The principal entrance, which is set in the S. wall of the stair wing, has a good moulded door-piece with a broken triangular pediment. In the tympanum appears the date 1633 flanking a monogram of the initials of Archibald Acheson, combined with those of his second wife Margaret Hamilton, a daughter of Sir John Hamilton, whom he had married in 1619. On a label above runs his motto VIGILANTIBVS, surmounted by a finial, or moulded bracket, to support his crest a cock standing on a trumpet. A chamfered doorway opposite the main entrance gives direct admission to the principal wing.

The side of the main block between these two entrances contains two windows in every floor, and at the top are dormers surmounted by triangular pediments having finials respectively in the shapes of a thistle and a rose. The tympanum of the N. dormer exhibits the initials of S(ir) A(rchibald) A(cheson) while its companion originally bore those of his wife D(ame) M(argaret) H(amilton).± The adjacent side of the principal wing has a large central window in each floor, the uppermost one adormer, but on each of the two upper floors it had also a small window near the E. corner. The stair wing has two small windows facing S. and three facing W.; the head of its gable is modern. The N. elevation of the main block occupies the fullwidth of Slater's Court, for a screen-wall extends over the alley on the E. side, now a cul-de-sac. Over the N. end of this alley projects a small two-storeyed extension, a circumstance which accounts for the two small windows seen in the screen wall, at first and second floor levels respectively. Below these windows, surmounted by a fanlight, is the doorway through which the alley was entered. On the W. of it is an original window, now built up, beyond which a wider doorway, framed with rough timbers, has been broken out; still further W. there is another built-up window, which may be a remnantof the house that preceded Acheson's. A wooden gallery or balcony of a single storey appears to have run across the facade at the level of the first floor, and some such construction, which cannot have been an original provision, would afford an explanation for the doorway that has been broken out at that level near the W. end of the N. wall and for the fact that one of the two windows farther E. has been enlarged into yet another doorway. On the second floor are two windows with a smaller one above, all three intended to light the garret which occupies the upper part of the crow-stepped gable. On the W. side of the alley, near its entrance, is a doorway giving entry to the main block, and beyond this a projection covering the back of a large fireplace. The "floor" of the alley is cobbled, and contains a drain which runs beneath the small wing built over the S. end.

The S. elevation of the main block now extends over the S. or inner end of the alley in a small two-storeyed wing. Although the masonry appears to be of one piece, the lower quoins of the S.E. corner of the main block are still traceable and the wing must therefore be regarded as an addition.§ This wing has a single window on each floor, while the main block has two§§ except in the garret, where there is only a single light. The crow-stepped gable of the main block originally stood clear of the adjoining wall of the principal wing, but the intervening space has been built up. Owing to the poor quality of its early underbuilding, of which mention has already been made, the entire S.E. corner of the principal wing has had to be demolished and rebuilt in the recent restoration. On the lowest storey a door and window faced E., three windows W., and each floor above had five windows. The crowstepped gable facing Bakehouse Close had, however, on each floor but a single window placed near its N. end. The central relieving-arch seen at the base was probably provided to carry the heavy chimneys. A heavily-moulded doorway taken from another building, which bears the date 1679 in a sunk panel on its lintel, now gives access from the Close to the garden which lies to the S.

The interior of the building is less interesting than its exterior, since its original arrangement has been altered and its finishings have disappeared. The principal entrance opened at the foot of a turnpike stair; this rose only to the first floor, but as the result of a later alteration it was extended in wood to reach the floor above, whereas in a normal arrangement the ascent from the first floor upwards would have been made by a second stair situated within the N.E. corner of the principal wing, where a late wooden stair once stood. Unless it was divided by timber partitions the lowest floor of the main block had, in the first instance, only a single chamber, which served the dual purpose of kitchen and store. Lit from three sides, the chamber has a large fireplace in the E. wall, which is otherwise blank but for the alley-access at the N. end and the opening that leads to the small wing at the S. end. The fact that the foundation of the old E. wall continues across this opening, in making which the ends of the nearer rybats of the fireplace have had to be cut through, provides still further evidence that the wing is an addition. In its N. wall is a deep cupboard. Internal communication with the principal wing was maintained by a doorway in the W. wall at the S.W. corner of the chamber. The wing, like the main block, seems to have had only one chamber on each floor; these chambers each had a fireplace in the W. gable and were lit from all sides, an arrangement only possible where the wing is attached to one corner of the main block as is the case here. The description just given of the arrangement of the ground floor holds good generally for those above, but the first and second floors of the main block opened into the little chambers formed over the N. end of the alley. The first floor was the principal storey; here the fireplace in the chamber of the main block has an elegantly-moulded cornice, while the corresponding fireplace in the wing still shows traces of painted decoration.

RCAHMS 1951, visited 1937

*Slater’s Court has now (1937) been shut off from the Canongate by a modern screen-wall, in which a 17th-century doorway from Anchor Close has been inserted for access. On the lintel is the motto O LORD IN THE IS ALL MY TRAIST.

**Acheson absorbed part of this Close into his property.

***In the restoration a trap-door was formed in the floor of the kitchen to allow this cobbling to be seen.

± The missing stone on which her initials were cut was found in the narrow alley on the E side of the property. It was lying in fragments beside the fleur-de-lys-shaped finial from a dormer on the principal wing.

§ A 17th century doorway from Anchor Close, bearing on its lintel the motto THE LORD IS ONLY MY SVPORT, was rebuilt into the S wall of the wing in 1937.

§§ The westernmost one on the lowest storey has been enlarged to form a doorway.

Publication Account (1951)

103. Acheson House, 146 Canongate.

In 1633 Sir Archibald Acheson of Clonekearney, co. Armagh, Baronet of Nova Scotia, Lord of Session and Secretary of State, began to build himself the handsome and commodious town-house in the Canongate that has since become one of the most interesting survivals in the city. After his death, which took place a year later, the work was finished in haste. Recently the house fell on evil days, but the late Marquess of Bute, realising its importance, purchased the property in 1935 and took immediate steps to have the fabric thoroughly reconditioned and restored: This article describes the arrangement of the house as it was completed in the 17th century. In the nature of things the house could not be otherwise than irregular on plan, as it had not only to accommodate itself to adjoining buildings but was also to a considerable extent controlled by those that formerly stood upon the site, the remains of these not having been wholly eradicated.

As it stands to-day, its principal elements are a main block, three storeys and a garret in height, which runs N. and S., presenting its N. gable to Slater's Court in front* and its S. gable to garden ground behind, and a wing of equal height which extends W. from near its S.W. corner. These divisions stand on the E. and S. sides of a small paved forecourt, bounded on the N. by an adjoining tenement and on the W. by a screen-wall containing the entrance gateway, which is in Bakehouse Close.** The N.E. corner of the forecourt is occupied by a small rectangular wing containing the staircase, while a third wing, only two storeys in height and apparently a somewhat later addition, extends over the S. end of what had been an alleyon the E. side of the house, leading from the Canongate to the garden ground behind. Thus although Acheson House is now in a congested area, when first set out it stood open to the air on all sides, as it had on the S. the garden with an access from the E., on the W. Bakehouse Close, and on the N. Slater's Court-this last small enclosure being shut off from the Canongate by other buildings.

While urban building-stances tend to come down from generation to generation with but little change in their extent a few show signs of alteration, and such alteration has occurred here. An examination of the plan shows that the site is divided into two halves by a wall running N. and S., which continues the line of the E. side of an older property situated nearer the Canongate. The wall evidently marks an old boundary. Further, excavation has recently disclosed the original cobbling of Bakehouse Close*** within the gable of the principal wing of Acheson House, and there abutting against the foundation of an older gable. The whole S.E. corner of the wing was, in fact, reared on the remains of a previously existing house, and, as this proves to have been very poorly built, the small economy effected in 1633 has necessitated much rebuilding and additional expense in the recent restoration. The lower part of the N. wall of the main block may likewise be a survival of some earlier building.

The gateway in Bakehouse Close has a boldly moulded doorpiece, with a central facetted pendant projecting from the soffit of the lintel, which has rounded corners. The forecourt to which it gives entry extends to the N. of Acheson's property and is probably longer to-day than formerly. Towards this forecourt the elevations of the main block and both wings are simple and dignified, relieved by a single moulded string-course, which defines the lowest storey, and enriched by triangular dormerheads rising upwards from the eaves. The masonry, as on the other sides, is rubble with freestone dressings, the openings with one exception having back-set and chamfered margins and the majority being stop-chamfered at the sills. The gables are crow-stepped. The principal entrance, which is set in the S. wall of the stair wing, has a good moulded door-piece with a broken triangular pediment. In the tympanum appears the date 1633 flanking a monogram of the initials of Archibald Acheson, combined with those of his second wife Margaret Hamilton, a daughter of Sir John Hamilton, whom he had married in 1619. On a label above runs his motto VIGILANTIBVS, surmounted by a finial, or moulded bracket, to support his crest a cock standing on a trumpet. A chamfered doorway opposite the main entrance gives direct admission to the principal wing.

The side of the main block between these two entrances contains two windows in every floor, and at the top are dormers surmounted by triangular pediments having finials respectively in the shapes of a thistle and a rose. The tympanum of the N. dormer exhibits the initials of S(ir) A(rchibald) A(cheson) while its companion originally bore those of his wife D(ame) M(argaret) H(amilton).± The adjacent side of the principal wing has a large central window in each floor, the uppermost one adormer, but on each of the two upper floors it had also a small window near the E. corner. The stair wing has two small windows facing S. and three facing W.; the head of its gable is modern. The N. elevation of the main block occupies the fullwidth of Slater's Court, for a screen-wall extends over the alley on the E. side, now a cul-de-sac. Over the N. end of this alley projects a small two-storeyed extension, a circumstance which accounts for the two small windows seen in the screen wall, at first and second floor levels respectively. Below these windows, surmounted by a fanlight, is the doorway through which the alley was entered. On the W. of it is an original window, now built up, beyond which a wider doorway, framed with rough timbers, has been broken out; still further W. there is another built-up window, which may be a remnantof the house that preceded Acheson's. A wooden gallery or balcony of a single storey appears to have run across the facade at the level of the first floor, and some such construction, which cannot have been an original provision, would afford an explanation for the doorway that has been broken out at that level near the W. end of the N. wall and for the fact that one of the two windows farther E. has been enlarged into yet another doorway. On the second floor are two windows with a smaller one above, all three intended to light the garret which occupies the upper part of the crow-stepped gable. On the W. side of the alley, near its entrance, is a doorway giving entry to the main block, and beyond this a projection covering the back of a large fireplace. The "floor" of the alley is cobbled, and contains a drain which runs beneath the small wing built over the S. end.

The S. elevation of the main block now extends over the S. or inner end of the alley in a small two-storeyed wing. Although the masonry appears to be of one piece, the lower quoins of the S.E. corner of the main block are still traceable and the wing must therefore be regarded as an addition.§ This wing has a single window on each floor, while the main block has two§§ except in the garret, where there is only a single light. The crow-stepped gable of the main block originally stood clear of the adjoining wall of the principal wing, but the intervening space has been built up. Owing to the poor quality of its early underbuilding, of which mention has already been made, the entire S.E. corner of the principal wing has had to be demolished and rebuilt in the recent restoration. On the lowest storey a door and window faced E., three windows W., and each floor above had five windows. The crowstepped gable facing Bakehouse Close had, however, on each floor but a single window placed near its N. end. The central relieving-arch seen at the base was probably provided to carry the heavy chimneys. A heavily-moulded doorway taken from another building, which bears the date 1679 in a sunk panel on its lintel, now gives access from the Close to the garden which lies to the S.

The interior of the building is less interesting than its exterior, since its original arrangement has been altered and its finishings have disappeared. The principal entrance opened at the foot of a turnpike stair; this rose only to the first floor, but as the result of a later alteration it was extended in wood to reach the floor above, whereas in a normal arrangement the ascent from the first floor upwards would have been made by a second stair situated within the N.E. corner of the principal wing, where a late wooden stair once stood. Unless it was divided by timber partitions the lowest floor of the main block had, in the first instance, only a single chamber, which served the dual purpose of kitchen and store. Lit from three sides, the chamber has a large fireplace in the E. wall, which is otherwise blank but for the alley-access at the N. end and the opening that leads to the small wing at the S. end. The fact that the foundation of the old E. wall continues across this opening, in making which the ends of the nearer rybats of the fireplace have had to be cut through, provides still further evidence that the wing is an addition. In its N. wall is a deep cupboard. Internal communication with the principal wing was maintained by a doorway in the W. wall at the S.W. corner of the chamber. The wing, like the main block, seems to have had only one chamber on each floor; these chambers each had a fireplace in the W. gable and were lit from all sides, an arrangement only possible where the wing is attached to one corner of the main block as is the case here. The description just given of the arrangement of the ground floor holds good generally for those above, but the first and second floors of the main block opened into the little chambers formed over the N. end of the alley. The first floor was the principal storey; here the fireplace in the chamber of the main block has an elegantly-moulded cornice, while the corresponding fireplace in the wing still shows traces of painted decoration.

RCAHMS 1951, visited 1937

*Slater’s Court has now (1937) been shut off from the Canongate by a modern screen-wall, in which a 17th-century doorway from Anchor Close has been inserted for access. On the lintel is the motto O LORD IN THE IS ALL MY TRAIST.

**Acheson absorbed part of this Close into his property.

***In the restoration a trap-door was formed in the floor of the kitchen to allow this cobbling to be seen.

± The missing stone on which her initials were cut was found in the narrow alley on the E side of the property. It was lying in fragments beside the fleur-de-lys-shaped finial from a dormer on the principal wing.

§ A 17th century doorway from Anchor Close, bearing on its lintel the motto THE LORD IS ONLY MY SVPORT, was rebuilt into the S wall of the wing in 1937.

§§ The westernmost one on the lowest storey has been enlarged to form a doorway.

Watching Brief (6 October 2010)

NT 2646 7376 A small 1m2 test pit was excavated in the centre of the ground floor kitchen of Acheson House on 6 October 2010 in advance of proposed refurbishment. The excavation results confirmed that the present floor, dating to the 1930s refurbishment of this historic building, was constructed on a base of c0.45m of mixed rubble. This deposit, containing a brick-lined service track, directly overly a dark grey-brown layer presumed to be the post-medieval ground surface pre-dating the construction of Acheson House in 1633.

Archive: CECAS

Funder: City of Edinburgh Council

John A Lawson – City of Edinburgh Council Archaeology Service

Watching Brief (30 August 2011 - 31 August 2011)

The excavation of a service trench to the rear of Acheson House, 140 Canongate, Edinburgh. The site is part of the Museum of Edinburgh and is currently being refurbished. The site lies within the medieval core of Edinburgh, within the bounds of the World Heritage Site. Workmen had already collected numerous finds from the soil overlying an existing pipe. Further excavation revealed two thirds of the trench comprised backfill from two separate pipe trenches. Natural bedrock was overlain in the west half of the trench by a layer of light brown clayey silt. A feature filled with stone rubble was cut through this deposit but was not excavated. The feature was overlain by a thin band of midden deposit. At the east end of the trench were the remains of a wall cut into the natural slope, with midden deposits abutting it. These deposits are thought to pre-date the construction of Acheson House in 1633. A thick layer of post-medieval midden debris overlay these features. The remains of a brick path were found in the centre of the trench, truncated by the two pipes. Map evidence suggests demolition of structures to the rear of the house took place in the first half of the 19th century; a brick path in the new open yard or garden may have been added at this time.

Headland Archaeology 2011 (E. Jones) OASIS ID: headland1-108926

Excavation (30 October 2011 - 25 November 2011)

Headland Archaeology undertook the hand excavation of two discreet areas at Acheson House, 140 Canongate, Edinburgh. These comprised a service trench to the rear of the house and an area of ground reduction within the building. The excavation of the service trench showed that two-thirds of the trench comprised backfill from two separate pipe trenches. Natural bedrock was overlain in the west half of the trench by a layer of light brown clayey silt. A feature filled with stone rubble was cut through this deposit but was not excavated. The feature was overlain by a thin band of midden deposit. At the east end of the trench were the remains of a wall cut into the natural slope, with midden deposits abutting it. These deposits are thought to pre-date the construction of Acheson House in 1633. The remains of a brick path were found in the centre of the trench, truncated by the two pipes. Map evidence suggests demolition of structures to the rear of the house took place in the first half of the 19th century; a brick path in the new open yard or garden may have been added at this time. The area within the house was excavated to a maximum depth of 0.6 m below the floor surface. A large area of garden soil that pre-dated the house was recorded. A cut and clay fill through this layer may represent the line of an earlier wall. The remaining areas had been disturbed by more modern features relating to the 19th and 20th century.

Elizabeth Jones and Don Wilson, Headland Archaeology Ltd. December 2011. OASIS-id: Headland1-114679

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