Description

Whitefoord House by Robert Mylne, 1769-1770. Callander House circa 1770. Irregular-plan ajoined complex set back from the Canongate, comprising Whiteford House at centre, Callander House to left with later single storey hall (1927), and to right, the later Kenneth Hill House (1981). Pair of 2-storey lodges flanking arched gateway to NW and 3, 4-storey tenements fronting Canongate. Predominantly harled rubble with painted dressings.

FURTHER DESCRIPTION: WHITEFOORD HOUSE: symmetrical, Classical 3-storey with basement, 5-bay, rectangular-plan house with Roman Doric pedimented porch to front. Raised (cement) quoins. 2-leaf timber panelled door, architraved surround with consoled and dentiled cornice. 4-bay to rear with remnants of corniced, consoled surround. Fine cast-iron and wrought-iron internal stair. CALLANDER HOUSE: 3-storey with basement and attic, originally rectangular-plan. Raised quoins. Regular fenestration; gabled dormer to centre. Consoled doorpiece to rear. 20th century 2-storey projection to outer left and single storey addition linking rectangular-plan hall with 2-leaf, part-glazed timber door to S elevation, decorative segmental-arched surround and stylised gablehead.

NO 142 AND 144 CALTON ROAD: 2 rectangular-plan lodges with later additions, joined by segmental arch. Whitewashed harl; painted dressings. 12-pane timber sash and case windows. Pyramidal roof with coped and harled wallhead stack to No 144.

NO 57-61 (ODD NOS) CANONGATE: Block comprising early 19th century, 4-storey tenement to left and 18th century house with attic to right. Whitewashed harl, painted dressings, painted render to ground. SE (Principal) ELEVATION: former shop front at ground right; regular fenestration at all floors above. Square-headed pend 'Forsyth's Close' to ground floor centre. Coped skews. First floor room understood to contain dado, key-pattern frieze and semi-domed Rococo plaster-work cupboard.

Predominantly 12-pane glazing in timber sash and case windows with horns; various rooflights. Grey slate roofs. Predominantly coped and harled ridge and apex stacks; circular clay cans. Cast-iron rainwater goods.

BOUNDARY WALLS, GATEPIERS AND GATES: Rubble walls partially enclosing site to Canongate with iron railings. Whitewashed, rectangular gatepiers flanking entrance to No 53 'Younger Gate' and coped ashlar gatepiers flanking entrance to No 63 'McEwan Gate', both. Coped, harled walls to Calton Road; pedestrian opening to left. iron gates. Iron gates. Landscaped gardens with curving bi-furcated steps, sundial and drinking fountain.

Statement of Interest

Whitefoord House and Callander House are good surviving examples of later 18th century townhouses that have been latterly adapted for alternate use. The Roman Doric porch at Whitefoord is of particular note. Edinburgh has a rich heritage of early townhouses adding much to the architectural character of the city. Although virtually contemporary and now internally linked, Whitefoord and Callander Houses were originally separate properties. The former built on the site of the Earl of Winton's mansion, was built by renowned Scottish architect and master-mason to the Crown, Robert Mylne and commissioned by Sir John Whitefoord of Blairgunan and Ballochmyle. Callander House was built for Sir John Callander of Craigforth. At that time, the Canongate was regarded as one of Edinburgh's prime residential locations for the town houses of the nobility and gentry, with Moray House and Queensberry House (directly opposite Whiteford) reflecting the status of their wealthy owners. Set back from the Canongate, Whitefoord reflects these social aspirations. It was subsequently home to the noted judge Sir William MacLeod Bannatyne (1743 - 1833) who died in the house at the age of 90. Around 1850 Whitefoord House was gutted and converted for use as a type-foundry. In 1910, Whitefoord and Callander were linked and adapted as a residential home for ex-Army, Navy and Air Force personnel run by the Scottish Veterans Housing Association. The first 'Lady Haig Poppy Factory' was established at Whitefoord House in 1926, by the wife of Field Marshal Douglas Haig (1861 - 1928), with residents making poppies to raise money to support fellow ex-servicemen.

List description revised as part of Edinburgh Holyrood Ward resurvey, 2007/08.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17795610

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

• 
  Devon (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)
• 
  Pevsner's Architectural Glossary (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Introductions)
• 
  London 6: Westminster (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England): Westminster v. 6
• 
  Old House Handbook: A Practical Guide to Care and Repair
• 
  Farrow & Ball How to Decorate: Transform your home with paint & paper
• 
  Gloucestershire 1: The Cotswolds: Cotswolds Pt. 1 (Pevsner Architectural Guides: Buildings of England)