THE HIGH STREET AND NETHER BO W. -25 5
turnpike stair has formerly afforded access to the floor above, and the general construction
of the apartment renders it exceedingly probable that it may have been used as a private
chapel before the Reformation. It is now subdivided by flimsy modern partitions, and
furnishes a residence for several families. The only clue afforded by the title-deeds
to former proprietors of any note, is, that here resided a worthy burgess of last century,
competitor with the author of the Gentle Shepherd, in his earlier occupation, and
the grandfather of one of the most eminent of the modern citizens of Edinburgh,
Lord Francis Jeffrey, with whom this old close was a favourite haunt in his boyhood.
Over the doorway of the adjoining staircase, which projects into the close,
the name of pOpIte @Opt is cut in large old English characters, with a defaced coat
of arms between, and on the lowest crow-step a shield is sculptured with armorial
bearings, and the initials I. H. The dilapidated building retains considerable traces
of former magnificence, as well as undoubted evidence of an early date. The large
windows have been each divided with a mullion and transom, and are finished with
unusually rich mouldings at the sides. The hall on the first floor, which has been an
apartment of considerable size, is now subdivided into separate dwellings by slight
wooden partitions. There can be little doubt, we think, from the style of lettering
in the inscription and the general character of the building, that this is the mansion
of John de Hope, the founder of the Hopetoun family, who came from France in 1537,
in the retinue of the Princess Magdalene, Queen of James V., and who afterwards
became a substantial burgher in the Luckenbooths, visiting the continent from time
to time, and importing French velvets, silks, gold and silver laces, and the like valuable
foreign merchandise.’ It seems to be unquestionable that no other John Hope existed in
Scotland till the reign of Charles I. ; a date long posterior to that of the building. This
was his descendant, Sir John Hope of Craighall, the eldest son of the celebrated Lord
Advocate, who was Lord President of the Court of Session during the Protectorate, and to
whom Charles 11. owed the shrewd, though unpalatable advice, ‘‘ to treat with Cromwell
In the next alley, which is termed Sandilands’ Close, a large and remarkably
substantial stone tenement, forms the chief feature on the east side, and presents an
appearance of great antiquity. The ground floor of this building is vaulted with stone,
and entered by doorways with pointed arches, and over the lower of these is a neat small
pointed window or loop-hole, splayed and otherwise constructed as in early Gothic
buildings. We present a view of one of the most interesting pieces of ancient sculpture
in Edinburgh, which forms part of the internal decorations of this old edifice. It seems
to be intended to represent the offering of the Wise Men, and is well executed in bold
relief, although, like most other internal decorations in the Old Town, plentifully
besmeared with whitewash. It appears to form the end of a very large antique fireplace,
the remainder of which is concealed under panneling and partitions of perhaps a century
old, while another, of the contracted dimensions usual in later times, has been constructed
in the further corner. It is exceedingly probable that much more of this interesting
sculpture remains to be disclosed on the removal of these novel additions of recent date.
-for the one halff of his cloake before he lost the quhole.”
* Coltneea Collectionn, Mait. Club, pp. 16,17.
occupied the two booths east of the Old Church style.
From which it appeara that John de Hope and his non Edward
256 MEMORIALS OF EDINBURGH.
Such of the title-deeds of this property as we have obtained access to are unfortunately
quite modern, and contain no reference to early proprietors; but one of the present
owners described a sculptured stone, containing a coat of arms surmounted by a mitre,
that was removed from over the inner doorway
A very fine specimen of the ancient
within the last few years at the head of
some years since, and which appears to have
been the Kennedy arms. If it be permissible
to build on such slender data, in the absence
of all other evidence, we have here, in all
probability, the town mansion of the good ,
Bishop Kennedy, the munificent patron of
learning, and the able and upright counsellor of
James 11. and 111.' The whole appearance of the
building is perfectly consistent with this supposition.
The form and decorations of the doorways,
particularly those already described, all prove
an early date ; while the large size and elegant
mouldings of the windows, and the massive
appearance of the wbole building, indicate such
magnscence as would well consort with the
dignity of the primacy at that early period.
timber-fronted lands of the Old Town stood till
Trunk's Close, behind the Fountain Well, on the
site of a plain stone tenement that has since replaced it. The back portion of the old
building, however, still remains entire, including several rooms with fine stuccoed ceilings,
and one large hall beautifully finished with richly carved pillasters and oak panneling,
which is described in the title-deeds as " presently "--i.e., in 1739--" a meeting-house
possest by Mr William Cocburn, minister of the gospel." It had previously formed the
residence of Sir John Scot of Ancrum, the first of that title, who was created a baronet by
Charles 11. in 1671. From him it was acquired by Sir Gilbert Elliot of Stobs, in 1703,
and here resided that baronet, and his more illustrious son, General Elliot, the gallant
defender of Gibraltar, better known by his title of Lord Heathfield. On the pediment
over the window of a fine old stone land on the west side of Trunk's Close, is the inscription
in bold characters :-HODIE MIHI * CRAS - TIBI - It is worthy of notice that
the same inscription is appropriately carved in similar characters over the splendid toinb
of Thomas Bannatine, in the Greyfriars' Churchyard. Several other ancient tenements in
this close are worthy of inspection for their antique irregularity of construction.
But the chief Lion among the venerable fabrics of the Old Town of Edinburgh has
long been the singularly picturesque structure which terminates the High Street towards
the east, and forms the mansion provided shortly after the Reformation, at the expense of
the town, for its f i s t parish minister, the great Reformer, John Knox. Chambers remarks
A confused tradition of its having been an Episcopal residence is still preserved among the inhabitants, founded, it
may be presumed, on the sculptured mitre. The old dame who first admitted US to inspect it, stated that it was Bishop
8undiEands' house; a name, it is perhaps unnecessary to remark, not to be found in Keith's li8t.
VroNEmE-Ancient Sculpture, Sandilands' close.
