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Basic Site Details

Name: Tron Church
City or county: Edinburgh
Country: Scotland
Parish:  
Status:  
Grid ref:
Notes: Built initially as one of two churches required to house the congregations displaced by Charles I's decision toi erect St Giles Church into a cathedral.

'a striking example of the influence of Dutch mannerism as illustrated in Henrick de Kayser's 'Architecture Moderna' ' (1631). (Colvin)

Alternative Names

The following alternative names are associated with this building/design:
 NameCurrent name?Notes
Item 1 of 1Tron KirkYes 

Building Type Classification

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

Street Addresses

The following street addresses are associated with this building:
 AddressMain entrance?Notes
Item 1 of 2Tron Church, High StreetYes 
Item 2 of 2Hunter SquareYes 

Events

The following date-based events are associated with this building:
 FromToEvent typeNotes
Item 1 of 716371647Build/construction 
Item 2 of 717851787Alterations and additionsAlterations for road widening in connection with the South Bridge and Hunter Square. Shortening of church by one bay to east and west and reduction of the south aisle to a slight pedimented projection with detail carefully matching original.
Item 3 of 71828 ReconstructionSteeple rebuilt after fire in 1824.
Item 4 of 718881889 Internal re-fitting - now demolished
Item 5 of 72 October 1953 * Alteration/conversionTown Council to purchase church from Church of Scotland for £12,500, and adapt it for civic purposes at estimated cost of £9,250 - adaptations to include introduction of new floor at gallery level and sub-division of ground floor into smaller hall with retiring rooms, etc
Item 6 of 713 May 1960 Proposedredevelopment by Highland Engineering Ltd per Builder p938
Item 7 of 719741976Restoration 

* earliest date known from documented sources.

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 16David McArthyArchitectB  Repairs and redecoration - date unknown
Item 2 of 16John WatsonArchitectB  Repairs and redecoration - date unknown
Item 3 of 16McArthy & WatsonArchitectural practiceB  Repairs and redecoration - date unknown
Item 4 of 16John ScottWrightH16361647 
Item 5 of 16John Mylne juniorArchitectG16371647 
Item 6 of 16John BaxterArchitectE17851787Alterations for road widening in connection with the South Bridge and Hunter Square. Shortening of church by one bay to east and west and reduction of the south aisle to a slight pedimented projectionwith detail carefully matching original.
Item 7 of 16R & R DicksonArchitectural practiceF1828 Rebuilt steeple after fire in 1824.
Item 8 of 16Richard DicksonArchitectF1828 Rebuilt steeple after fire in 1824.
Item 9 of 16Robert DicksonArchitectF1828 Rebuilt steeple after fire in 1824.
Item 10 of 16(Sir) Robert Rowand AndersonArchitectA18881889Internal re-fitting - now demolished
Item 11 of 16Wardrop & AndersonArchitectural practiceA18881889Internal re-fitting - now demolished
Item 12 of 16Andrew RentonArchitectC19741976Restoration
Item 13 of 16Andrew Stewart BrownArchitect, SurveyorC19741976Project architect
Item 14 of 16Andrew Stewart BrownArchitect, SurveyorD19771981Continuation of restoration work and scheme for re-use of interior (not adopted). Partner in charge?
Item 15 of 16James Walter Thorburn Simpson D19771981Continuation of restoration work and scheme for re-use of interior (not adopted).
Item 16 of 16Simpson & BrownArchitectural practiceD19771981Continuation of restoration work and scheme for re-use of interior (not adopted).

References

Bibliographic References

The following books contain references to this building:
 Author(s)DateTitlePartPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7APSD The Dictionary of Architectureed Wyatt PapworthThe Architectural Publication Society (8v 1852-1892) 
Item 2 of 7Colvin, Howard2008A Biographical Dictionary of British Architects 1600-1840 London: YUP. 4th edition 
Item 3 of 7Gifford, John, McWilliam, Colin and Walker, David M1984Edinburgh (The Buildings of Scotland) Harmondsworth: Penguin Books Ltdp174
Item 4 of 7Hay, George1957The Architecture of Scottish Post-Reformation Churches 1560-1843 Oxford: Clarendon Pressfigure 15
Item 5 of 7RCAHMS Inventory of Edinburgh  p35
Item 6 of 7Wood, M (ed.) Extracts from the Records of the City of Edinburgh 1626-41  pp307-11 for the estimate
Item 7 of 7Wood, M (ed.) Extracts from the Records of the City of Edinburgh, 1642-55  p40

Periodical References

The following periodicals contain references to this building:
 Periodical NameDateEditionPublisherNotes
Item 1 of 7British Architect3 August 1888  Wardrop and Anderson work
Item 2 of 7British Architect11 January 1889  Wardrop and Anderson work
Item 3 of 7Builder2 October 1953  p525
Item 4 of 7Builder13 May 1960  'Historic Site Acquired' p938
Item 5 of 7Edinburgh Evening Courant9 October 1928   
Item 6 of 7RIAS Quarterly1924no 9Royal Incorporation of Architects in Scotland (RIAS)Watson's obituary
Item 7 of 7The Book of the Old Edinburgh Club1956xxix pp99-103

Archive References

The following archives hold material relating to this building:
 SourceArchive nameSource catalogue no.Notes
Item 1 of 3Edinburgh City ArchivesEdinburgh Town Council Minutes 3 June 1788
Item 2 of 3Historic Environment ScotlandListed Buildings Register27552 
Item 3 of 3National Monuments Record of Scotland/NMRS, RCAHMSDick Peddie and McKay Collection DPM/1880/72/1 (Wardrop & Anderson work)

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