Bank of Scotland, St Andrew Square Branch

Category

Library Item

Item no

14352

Title

Bank of Scotland, St Andrew Square branch from the Melville Monument, Edinburgh

Description

The ornate facade of the Bank of Scotland building in St Andrew Square, Edinburgh. Looking down from the Melville Monument, we can see statues standing on top of the columns which span the upper floors of the building. Five flagpoles are attached to the building below the pillars.

Artist / maker

MacLean, Kevin

Date

2008

Type

Digital image

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

The Bank of Scotland building at 38 St Andrew Square was designed by David Bryce and built in the early 1850's. The imposing frontage features six Corinthian columns, and above these six statues by Alexander Handyside Ritchie representing Navigation, Commerce, Manufacture, Science, Art and Agriculture.

The Melville Monument, St Andrew Square, was erected between 1820 and 1823 to the memory of Henry Dundas, the 1st Viscount Melville, who died in 1811. The monument comprises an imposing Roman column almost 42 metres in height, crowned by a statue of Dundas. The column itself was designed by William Burn, who received advice on its foundations from Robert Stevenson following concerns expressed by local residents as to its stability. The statue is by the sculptor Robert Forrest from a model by the English sculptor Francis Legatt Chantrey. It was only commissioned when construction of the monument was well underway, and was not added until 1827-28.

Exhibitions with this item

Other views of this item

Related images

Related subjects

Architecture > Architectural features > Columns

Architecture > Monuments > Statues

Business > Service industry > Banks

Communication > Written > Flags

Places > Edinburgh areas > New Town

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Read how our collections have inspired people taking part in events, visits and community groups. Use the slider or navigation arrows to see more responses.