View Towards Calton Hill from New St Andrew's House

Category

Library Item

Item no

41721

Title

View looking towards Calton Hill from the 5th floor of New St Andrew's House, prior to demolition

Artist / maker

Ansell, Andrew J L

Date

2016

Type

Digital image

Location

Edinburgh and Scottish Collection

New St Andrew's House was built as part of the St James Centre development, on the site of the eighteenth century St James Square which was demolished in 1965. The new building was completed in 1970 and occupied for the first time in 1974 by the former Scottish Office. It was closed during 1995-96 and remained empty, partly due to the asbestos which had been used in its construction. As a concrete building in the Brutalist style, with cliff face elevations and unattractive fenestration, it faced substantial public opposition when it was first built, and continued to be a somewhat controversial development.

It was demolished along with the neighbouring St James Centre and Thistle Hotel. John Lewis being the only part of the St James Centre to continue trading throughout the demolition and construction of the new development, designed by Allan Murray Architects. The retail centre, which opened on 24 June 2021, has more than 80 shops, a food hall and a variety of restaurants. A cinema is also due to open, as well as the 12 storey W hotel with its controversial 'ribbon' design, an aparthotel and 152 apartments which are expected to be completed in 2022.
The Dunard Centre concert hall, designed by Sir David Chipperfield, will link the St James Quarter with St Andrew Square when it is completed in 2025.

Calton Hill is situated at the east end of Princes Street in Edinburgh. It rises to a height of 108 metres and is one of the city's hills created by volcanic activity. Several monuments stand on the hill. Most prominent amongst these are the Nelson Monument, built in the shape of a telescope, and the unfinished National Monument, modelled on the Parthenon in Athens.

In 1853 the 'Time-Ball' was installed on top of the Nelson Monument on Calton Hill. It drops every day at exactly 1pm, originally to give a time signal to ships in the Firth of Forth. From 1861 onwards this signal was accompanied with the firing of the One O'Clock Gun from Edinburgh Castle.

Dugald Stewart's Monument is located on Calton Hill in Edinburgh. It was erected in 1831 in memory of the Scottish philosopher who died in 1828. As with the National Monument, William H. Playfair drew inspiration for this memorial from Athens, modelling his design on the Choragic Monument of Lysicrates.

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Related subjects

Homes > Residential buildings > Houses

Landscape > Land > Hills

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Calton Hill

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Dugald Stewart Monument

Places > Edinburgh Landmarks > Nelson Monument

Places > Scotland > Edinburgh

Sport and leisure > Public accommodation facilities > Hotels

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View towards Calton Hill from New St Andrew's House