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Thomas Ross and St Giles Cathedral

Thomas Ross and St Giles Cathedral
Thomas Ross and St Giles Cathedral
St Giles Cathedral, was founded 900 years ago, around 1124, either by King Alexander I, who died that year, or by his brother King David I, who succeeded him.

This exhibition brings together photographs and drawings of St Giles Cathedral by the renowned architect Dr Thomas Ross who had a long-standing connection to St Giles.

In 1862, Thomas Ross moved to Edinburgh to be assistant to architect, David MacGibbon, becoming a partner in the firm of MacGibbon and Ross in 1872. The pair shared a love for the ancient castles and churches of Scotland and spent much of their leisure time on field trips, sketching these buildings. This pastime led to the delivery of a paper to the Edinburgh Architectural Association by MacGibbon. It was well-received and in turn led to the idea for 'The Castellated and Domestic Architecture of Scotland' which developed into a five volume set and a comprehensive survey of Scottish architecture prior to the Restoration.

Some field trips were combined with travelling for work but most were undertaken at the weekend by train or bicycle, often setting out on a Friday evening. Sometimes they travelled together, sometimes individually, to visit one of the buildings on their list and would spend their day drawing and measuring the building.

MacGibbon and Ross next turned their attention to 'The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Scotland', a three set volume which was published in 1896-97. These volumes provide a description of all churches, cathedrals and abbeys from early Christian times to the 17th century.

It is in volume two of The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Scotland that a large section is given over to St Giles Collegiate Church in Edinburgh, including drawings, plans, sections and details of stone carvings and a detailed history of how the building has been renovated and remodelled over the years.

The date of the photographs in the exhibition is estimated but may coincide with research carried out in the course of the compilation of The Ecclesiastical Architecture of Scotland volumes. The section on St Giles in the book certainly includes detailed descriptions and illustrations of the stone carvings on column capitals, views of archways, vaulted ceilings and pillars with flags hanging as found in these photographs.

Also, in 1889, MacGibbon and Ross carried out work on St Giles Cathedral related to the Memorial chapel to Dr Chambers and a tracery in window of St John's Chapel. In 1891, the practice worked on the Ladies' vestry in the choir. However, when funds were allocated for the building of a new Order of the Thistle Chapel at St Giles, although Thomas Ross had had a consultation role in the process to find a new home for the Order of the Thistle, it was Robert Lorimer appointed as architect. You can see a sketch by Thomas Ross of a ‘Proposed Chapel of Knights of the Thistle, St Giles Cathedral’ within this exhibition.

Thomas Ross died on 4 December 1930 in Edinburgh at the age of 91. He was until his death an elder at St Giles. One of his last pieces of literary work was to write a series of historical papers on St Giles. He also maintained on behalf of the kirk-session, a record of all references to St Giles found in books, newspapers and magazines.

You can read more about Thomas Ross, one of Edinburgh Libraries’ significant donors on our Tales of One City blog.

Browse an exhibition of watercolour paintings by Thomas Ross of churches and buildings in Scotland and England.

Find out more about the origins of St Giles and its 900 years of history.

Sources:
Dictionary of Scottish Architects
'Dr Thomas Ross, A distinguished archaeologist, Death in Edinburgh' from The Scotsman newspaper, 5 December 1930 via the British Newspaper Archive.
St Giles Cathedral
Oxford Dictionary of National Biography – entry for Sir Robert Stodart Lorimer