The White Horse Close

World Heritage Special Project – Dominik Brinkmann, Adnan Dollah, Rebekka Magis, Sangeetha Tilak Scottish Centre for Conservation Studies/University of Bamberg - WS 13/14 25. Nov. 2013 - 29. Nov. 2013

The White Horse Close

Part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site, listed as a historic monument in category B.

White Horse Close

The White Horse Close was a coach terminus for journeys to London.

The former stables are on the backside, accessible from Calton-Street.

The Close is nowadays used for residential purpose.

Old Town – Development 1540 -1740 - 1970

The White Horse Close present

• What age are the building parts?

• What did the close look like before the 20th century rebuilding?

• What was the historic development of the site?

• How does it fit into the WH criteria?

• What is the core cultural value?

The White Horse Close present

The White Horse Close 1647

The White Horse Close 1745

The White Horse Close 18th century (1765)

The White Horse Close 19th century (1804 + 1817)

The White Horse Close 19th century (1843)

The White Horse Close 1845

The White Horse Close 19th century (1876)

1883 proposed alterations and the White Horse Close in 1887

The White Horse Close 1890

The White Horse Close 1893

The White Horse Close

The White Horse Close (approx. 1907 and present)

The White Horse Close

The White Horse Close after 1960

The White Horse Close (present)

The White Horse Close

Listing Text “Nos 1-12 White Horse Close is an interesting example of a mid 20th century reconstruction of a 17th century Edinburgh close. The Canongate has a rich network of closes which add significantly to the architectural character of the city. The extensive restoration and reconstruction work carried out by Frank Mears and Partners in the 1960s mimics and accentuates the former character of the close and its 17th century dwellings with an irregular arrangement of crowstepped gables, jettied bays, dormer windows, external forestairs and pantiled roofs, forming a picturesque and unified whole“

The White Horse Close

Cultural Values

1. Important spot on the historic route from Edinburgh to London (17th century) and part of the Canongate and the fortification of the town

The White Horse Close

Cultural Values

1. Important spot on the historic route from Edinburgh to London (17th century) and part of the Canongate and the fortification of the town 2.

Represents the Scottish Revival in the 19th century as a rediscovery and revival of the Old Town (Town Improvement Act to address unsanitary conditions, philanthropic management that linked ideas from London, concern of the Edinburgh elite about the social and sanitary conditions of the poor and working classes)

The White Horse Close

Cultural Values

1. Important spot on the historic route from Edinburgh to London (17th century) and part of the Canongate and the fortification of the town 2.

Represents the Scottish Revival in the 19th century as a rediscovery and revival of the Old Town (Town Improvement Act to address unsanitary conditions, philanthropic management that linked ideas from London, concern of the Edinburgh elite about the social and sanitary conditions of the poor and working classes)

3. Significant example for the 1960s neo-vernacular style as a close on the Royal Mile

Criteria: II to exhibit an important interchange of human values, over a span of time or within a cultural area of the world, on developments in architecture or technology, monumental arts, town-planning or landscape design

- It exhibits an important interchange of human values within the town of Edinburgh, in architecture and Scottish town-planning. The townplanning of the 17th and the 18th century in this part of the Old Town refers to the route to London, the progressive connection of the two termini of the Old Town and the connection to Holyrood Palace.

IV

to be an outstanding example of a type of building, architectural or technological ensemble or landscape which illustrates (a) significant stage(s) in human history

- It is an outstanding example for the dealing with historical substance in the post-war and post-modern period. It stands in contrast to the mostly modern attempts of the same time throughout the country and the world.

The dealing with the White Horse Close in the 19th century represents the Scottish revival.

The White Horse Close

Closing remarks • A detailed analysis of the “White Horse Close“ appears to be very required. The plaster and massive rebuilding-activities in the 1960s obscure the structure and historic fabric of the building, this needs to be examined by a detailed analysis.

• The project was limited by the lack of time for further research, the accessibility to the interior of the building and the covering of most of the surfaces by harling.