Description

Robert Matheson, dated 1857. Single storey and attic, irregular plan, gabled former lodge with decorative curvilinear bargeboarding and diamond flues (currently visitors centre, 2007). Droved, snecked ashlar. Base course. Tripartite and bipartite windows with timber mullions. Entrance elevation to N with off-centre, projecting, gabled entrance porch with Tudor-arched door surround and boarded timber entrance door to E face. Timber finials to gables. Date plaque to S inscribed VR 1857.

Predominantly 2-pane timber casement windows. Graded grey slates. Central ridge stack with corniced diamond flues.

INTERIOR: (partially seen 2007). Comprehensively modernised.

Statement of Interest

The diamond flues and decorative bargeboarding of this lodge add significantly to the character of Holyrood Park. Positioned at the Holyrood Palace entrance, it is the earliest of the purpose-built lodges to the Park and they all share a similar distinctive gabled, picturesque style. Prince Albert instigated the landscaping of the Park from 1855-8 and four Lodges positioned around the Queen's Drive clearly demarcate the distinct parkland area of Holyrood Park from the surrounding city. The other lodges are Meadowbank, Duddingston and St Leonard's Lodges (see separate listings). The Lodges were designed by Robert Matheson, the Clerk of Works for Scotland, who carried out a programme of gradual improvements to the Palace, the Park and the Abbey Precincts at the request of Queen Victoria. These improvements included designing the Lodges for the entrances to the Park and the fountain in the forecourt of the Palace.

The grounds known as Holyrood Park had been associated with the Scottish royal household since the 12th century, and were extended to roughly their present boundaries in 1541-2 by James V. The rights of the Earl of Haddington as hereditary keeper of the Park were bought out in 1843, after Queen Victoria's first visit to the Palace in 1842, bringing it again under Royal control. In 1855-8, at the instigation of Prince Albert, plans were drawn up for the landscaping of the Park. Bogs were drained, Dunsapie and St Margaret's Lochs were formed, the Queen's Drive (originally Victoria Road) was constructed, and lodges built by Robert Matheson, who also executed work at Holyrood Palace during the same period. Albert also intended to build a rustic thatched restaurant at Dunsapie Loch, but this plan was abandoned in the face of stout public opposition. With the exception of the occupied buildings, including the lodges, the Park is scheduled under the Ancient Monuments and Archaeological Areas Act 1979.

It should be recognised that significant below-ground archaeological remains may survive here as part of and in addition to the structures and features described above.

List description revised as part of the Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey 2007-08.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17791843

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

Recommended Books

• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  [(Bedfordshire, Huntingdon and Peterborough)] [By (author) Nikolaus Pevsner] published on (January, 1968)
• 
  Sussex: West (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Planning (Listed Buildings and Conservation Areas) Act 1990: Updated version
• 
  Gloucestershire 2: The Vale and The Forest of Dean: Vale and Forest of Dean Pt. 2 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Kent: North East and East (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)