Basic Site Details

Name: Edinburgh Life Assurance Company
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status: A Listed
Grid ref:
Notes: See separate entry for no 26 George Street, which succeeded this building as the Edinburgh Life Assurance Company's headquarters when this building was converted for use as the headquarters of the Royal Society of Edinburgh.

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Royal Society of EdinburghYesFrom 1909

Building Type Classification

The building is classified under the following categories:
 ClassificationOriginal classification?Notes
Item 1 of 1Office  

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 122-24, George StreetYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 418431847  
Item 2 of 41909  Adapted internally
Item 3 of 4Before 1968 Alterations and additionsInterior reorganisation and improvement scheme.
Item 4 of 419821984Restoration 

People

Design and Construction

The following individuals or organisations have carried out design/construction work. Where architects or practices worked together, matching letters appear beside their names in the Partnership Group column.
 NameRolePartnership GroupFromToNotes
Item 1 of 11David Bryce A18431847 
Item 2 of 11William Burn A18431847 
Item 3 of 11H M Office of Works (later Ministry of Works, Department of the Environment and Property Services Agency) A1909 Adapted internally to become the Royal Society Building - with Oldrieve as architect in Scotland in H M Office of Works
Item 4 of 11William Thomas Oldrieve (sometimes William Thomas Oldgrieve) A1909 Adapted internally to become the Royal Society Building - Oldrieve as architect in Scotland in H M Office of Works
Item 5 of 11Alistair Maclachlan Smith DBefore 1968 Interior reorganisation and improvement scheme.
Item 6 of 11Francis ('Frank') Sibbald White DBefore 1968 Interior reorganisation and improvement scheme.
Item 7 of 11Henry Wylie & Partners DBefore 1968 Interior reorganisation and improvement scheme.
Item 8 of 11Henry Wylie (or Harry Wylie) DBefore 1968 Interior reorganisation and improvement scheme.
Item 9 of 11Henry ('Harry') McFarlane Bunch C19821983Restoration. Partner in charge
Item 10 of 11Jeff Smith C19821984Restoration. Job architect.
Item 11 of 11Robert Hurd & Partners (or R A Hurd & Partners) C19821983Restoration

Clients

The following individuals or organisations have commissioned work on this building/design:
 NameNotes
Item 1 of 2Edinburgh Life Assurance Co 
Item 2 of 2Royal SocietyClient for restoration work

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 5Allen, Nic (ed.) Scottish Architects in Conservation  p55
Item 2 of 5APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 3 of 5Fiddes, Valerie and Rowan, Alistair1976David Bryce 1803-1876 Exhibition Catalogue, University of Edinburghpp93-4
Item 4 of 5Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp301
Item 5 of 5Scottish Civic Trust1983Historic Buildings at Work: a guide to the historic buildings of Scotland used by Central Government Scottish Civic Trust/Property Services Agency, Department of the Environmentp100

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 2Builder27 May 1876XXXIV Obituary of David Bryce
Item 2 of 2Builder2 January 190996 p20 - internal alterations for Edinburgh Royal Society

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 4Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Dean of Guild two sheets dated 18 April 1843
Item 2 of 4Edinburgh Public LibraryEdinburgh Subscription Library minute books  
Item 3 of 4Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register28864 
Item 4 of 4RIBA Archive, Victoria & Albert MuseumRIBA Nomination Papers F no6138 (Copmbined Box 139)