{{Short description|Apartment buildings in Edinburgh, Scotland}} {{Use dmy dates|date=October 2017}} {{Use British English|date=October 2017}} {{Infobox Historic building |name = Ramsay Garden |image = Edinburgh old town dsc06355.jpg |caption = Ramsay Garden seen from Princes Street |location = [[Royal Mile|Castlehill]] |location_town = Edinburgh |location_country = Scotland |architect = [[Stewart Henbest Capper]], [[Sydney Mitchell]] |client = [[Patrick Geddes]] |construction_start_date = 1733, 1890 |completion_date = 1893 |architectural_style = [[Scottish baronial style|Scots Baronial]] }}
'''Ramsay Garden''' is a block of sixteen private apartment buildings in the [[Royal Mile|Castlehill]] area of Edinburgh, Scotland. They stand out for their red [[ashlar]] and white [[harl]]ed exteriors, and for their prominent position, most visible from [[Princes Street]].
Developed into its current form between 1890 and 1893 by the [[biologist]], [[botanist]] and [[urban planning|urban planner]] [[Patrick Geddes]], Ramsay Garden started out as '''Ramsay Lodge''', an octagonal house built by the poet and wig-maker [[Allan Ramsay (poet)|Allan Ramsay the Elder]] in 1733.<ref>Kitchen 1975: 124, Lessware and Gibson 2006</ref> The house was also known variously as '''Ramsay Hut''' and '''Goosepie House''' (due to the roof shape). It was complemented by the addition of Ramsay Street, a short row of simple Georgian Houses in 1760.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://maps.nls.uk/view/74400071|title = View map: A plan of the city and suburbs of Edinburgh. - Town Plans / Views, 1580-1919}}</ref> The latter (in revamped form) stand on the north side of the access to the inner courtyard.
==History== Geddes' work on Ramsay Garden began in the context of an [[urban renewal]] project that he had embarked on in Edinburgh's [[Old Town, Edinburgh|Old Town]]. The area had fallen into disrepair, and Geddes hoped both to improve the living conditions of the working class, and to increase the number of wealthier residents. He was also involved in improving buildings for use as student accommodation. To these purposes Geddes rehabilitated a significant number of tenement buildings in slums along the Royal Mile,<ref name="Meller 1990: 76">Meller 1990: 76</ref> including Abbey Cottages, Whitehorse Close and Riddle's Court.<ref>Kitchen 1975: 119</ref>
The Ramsay Garden development also served these aims. It was partly financed by the prospective buyers of the apartments, and partly by 2000 pounds that Geddes's wife, Anna Morton, had inherited from her father. Geddes engaged the architect [[Stewart Henbest Capper]] to remodel Ramsay Lodge, and to build six large new blocks onto it at right angles to each other.<ref name="Kitchen 1975: 124">Kitchen 1975: 124</ref> By this time Geddes had acquired a position at a university in London, but he continued to supervise the design of Ramsay Garden on his frequent trips to Edinburgh. The final year of building work was overseen by [[Sydney Mitchell]], who had taken over as architect, due to Capper's poor health.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.scottisharchitects.org.uk/building_full.php?id=202231 |title=11–12 Ramsay Garden, University Hall |accessdate=2010-04-27 |last= |first= |year=2008 |work=Dictionary of Scottish Architects |publisher=}}</ref> and was also permitted to add some additional detailing. The result of these partnerships was a combination of traditional Scottish domestic architecture and a rather fanciful proliferation of balconies, towers and eaves.<ref name="Kitchen 1975: 124"/> Geddes referred to Ramsay Garden in later years as the "seven-towered castle I built for my beloved".<ref name="Mairet 1957: 74">Mairet 1957: 74</ref> Guide books like to attribute the bulk of the design to the better-known [[Sydney Mitchell]] but the bulk of both the concept and design is that of [[Stewart Henbest Capper|Capper]].
As a result of his own experiences in universities, and inspired by the better student facilities he had seen in Europe,<ref name="Kitchen 1975: 124"/> Geddes was also concerned with the provision of quality accommodation for students. By the time Ramsay Garden was being built he had already established other student Halls of Residence in partnership with the Town and Gown Association.<ref>Meller 1990: 76–7</ref> By the end of the 19th century he had managed to provide enough housing for more than 200 university students and staff.<ref>Kitchen 1975: 131</ref> The Halls of Residence were intended to be self-governing, with responsibility for drawing up house rules left to the students themselves.<ref name="Meller 1990: 76"/> The Ramsay Lodge section of the Ramsay Garden development was used for this purpose.<ref>Kitchen 1975: 115–9</ref> Murals painted by John Duncan on the walls of the dining and common rooms depicted images from Celtic myth and history.<ref>Boardman 1978: 149</ref> Lectures and seminars were sometimes held on the premises.<ref>Kitchen 1975: 146</ref>
Other parts of Ramsay Garden were available to the public. The Geddes family lived in number 14, a twelve-room apartment on the fourth storey. By all accounts it was an impressive residence. The drawing-room was two rooms connected by an archway, with the whole measuring 20 by 40 feet. The sweeping views, which reached as far as the old Kingdom of Fife,<ref>Boardman 1978: 121</ref> could be admired through the [[bay window|bay]] and turret window spaces at each end. This room was regularly used for large gatherings.<ref name="Mairet 1957: 74"/> [[Fresco]]es by [[Charles Mackie (artist)|Charles Mackie]] graced the master bedroom.<ref>Boardman 1978: 123</ref> The lease of the apartment was eventually sold to the Town and Gown Association due to Geddes's financial difficulties.<ref>Kitchen 1975: 254</ref> Although he later wished to repurchase it, his desire for the apartment to remain in the family was not fulfilled.<ref>Kitchen 1975: 277</ref>
Ramsay Lodge was the last of the University Halls to be sold off by the Town and Gown Association. When it was purchased in 1945 by the [[Commercial Bank of Scotland]], it was a condition of sale that the murals be retained. The Bank went on to use the Lodge as a residential hostel and training centre.<ref>Boardman 1978: 431–2</ref>
==Notable residents== *[[Allan Ramsay (poet)]] *[[Patrick Geddes]] *[[George Clark Stanton]] [[Royal Scottish Academy|RSA]]<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://sculpture.gla.ac.uk/view/person.php?id=msib6_1208875645|title = George Clark Stanton ARSA, RSA - Mapping the Practice and Profession of Sculpture in Britain and Ireland 1851-1951|website=Sculture.gla.ac.uk}}</ref>
==Present use== Ramsay Garden is considered a very desirable address. Despite its position adjacent to the Castle Esplanade and overlooking Princes Street Gardens it is normally very peaceful, particularly in the inner courtyard and upper garden. Some of the apartments are let out as holiday accommodation.<ref>Lessware and Gibson 2006</ref> It is a minor feature in some guides to Edinburgh.
== Notes == {{reflist|30em}}
== References == *Boardman, P. (1978) ''The Worlds of Patrick Geddes: Biologist, Town Planner, Re-educator, Peace-warrior''. Routledge and Kegan Paul: London. *Kitchen, P. (1975) ''A Most Unsettling Person: An Introduction to the Ideas and Life of Patrick Geddes''. Victor Gollancz: London. *Lessware, J. and Gibson, J. (28 June 2006) ‘A great flat if you like Tattoos’ [electronic version] The Scotsman: Living. [http://living.scotsman.com/edinburghmilitarytattoo/A-great-flat-if-you.2787781.jp Lifestyle | The Scotsman]. *Mairet, P. (1957) ''Pioneer of Sociology: The Life and Letters of Patrick Geddes''. Lund Humphries: London. *Meller, H. (1990) ''Patrick Geddes: Social evolutionist and city planner''. Routledge: London. {{Buildings and Structures in Edinburgh}} {{Residential buildings in Edinburgh}} {{Streets and Squares in Edinburgh|state=collapsed}} {{coord|55|56|57|N|3|11|48|W|type:landmark|display=title}}
[[Category:Buildings and structures in Edinburgh]] [[Category:Royal Mile]] [[Category:Category A listed buildings in Edinburgh]] [[Category:Old Town, Edinburgh]] [[Category:Streets in Edinburgh]]