GOGAR BURN HOUSE
Gogar Burn House ©
Photograph from collection of Mrs. M. Day
Scots Renaissance House. James Jerdan, 1893 with additions in 1896 and modern additions on conversion to hospital use.
2 storey off a raised basement, 7 bay Scots Renaissance House.
1810 John Thompson, Merchant, feued the property from Ramsay of Barnton.
The estate compiled of land purchased from: -
Middle Division- John Thomson, Earl of Morton and Sir Robert Liston.
West Division- Alexander Osborne.
East Division- Wm. Logan White, then Sir Robert Liston.
This was recorded on 12th November 1860.
During the construction some Roman remains were found whilst digging the foundations and in a gravel pit opened in a park to the south of the house.
Gogar Burn Finds ©
Reproduced by kind
permission of
George Waterston &
Sons Ltd.
A Roman dagger or sword (made of bronze, 22 inches long and pierced by four rivet holes).
Parts of the scabbard for the above (4½ long). Dated between 950-750 BC.
A fibula or clasp (used for fixing belts). It is the only specimen of its kind known in this country and it is probably not of native workmanship, as it resembles specimens found in Anglo Saxon graves in England, it measures about 2¼ inches in diameter. Dated between 850 - 975 AD.
A gold ring described as very thin and hollow. (Approximately 1 inch in diameter. This is also very rare, only one other of its kind having been found in Scotland). Possibly a hair ornament and dated between 950-750 BC.
Mrs. Thompson displayed these items in her private museum at her Forth Street, home in Edinburgh.
In the Ordnance Gazetteer of 1885 it is recorded that these items were deposited in the private museum of Mrs Thomson, Forth Street, Edinburgh, the relict of the first proprietor of Gogarburn. In a later publication of 1890 these items are recorded as now being deposited in the Society of Antiquaries in Edinburgh.
The property was sold to James Robertson of Balgarvie, whose daughter was born there in 1816.
John Thomson, cashier, Royal Bank of Scotland bought the house in 1830.
John Thomson was agent for the Bank of Scotland in Aberdeen earning £1041 plus a free house until being appointed agent of the Royal Bank of Scotland on 20th February 1817. The bank's only branch at this time was in Glasgow. His forceful qualities and initiatives impressed the directors almost as soon as he was appointed and it is not without significance that he was chosen to represent the bank at the Parliamentary Committee of inquiry set up in 1826 because of the outcry that arose in Scotland to the suggestion that the one pound note be abolished. In January 1828 he was appointed joint cashier with a William Mitchell. The fact that Thomson was to have a salary of £1,200 a year while Mr Mitchell’s salary was £840 created a delicate situation however Mitchell retired shortly afterwards on an allowance. On 22nd of January 1845 Thomson was removed from his office as cashier but refused to resign and the directors ‘after full deliberation’ unanimously agreed that the best interest of the bank would be served if a change were made in the office of cashier. Three of the Directors were appointed to communicate this decision to Mr Thomson ‘with power to give assurance of a retiring allowance’. Apparently a vigorous strong-minded man there is little doubt that it was his autocratic nature which eventually alienated him from the directors of the Royal Bank. Described as an ardent evangelical very much against the patronage in the Church of Scotland and joined those who objected to it, when they broke away in 1843 to form the Free Church of Scotland.
Following John Thomson leaving the Royal Bank he became manager of the Edinburgh and Glasgow Bank and his retiring allowance from the Royal Bank was terminated. The Edinburgh and Glasgow Bank which was a major joint-stock company, with a capital of one million pounds and strongly represented in Edinburgh and Glasgow. It had been in trouble in the crisis of 1847 and had appealed to the Bank of England for help; and it would appear that it never really recovered from this. John Thomson’s appointment was to try and pull the bank's fortunes around and he worked with Lord Provost Johnston of Glasgow in 1850 to produce a scheme to merge three banks – the Clydesdale, the City of Glasgow and the Edinburgh and Glasgow. This venture would have produced the largest bank in Scotland and have been based in Glasgow, however the plans fell through.
1841 Census
John Thomson (58) Banker,
Mrs Mary Thomson (60),
Thomas (30) W.S.,
Marjory (25),
Isabella (20).
1860 owner tenant Claude MacFie (Sugar refiner).
1861 Census
Claude MacFie (38), landed proprietor,
Margaret (39),
Janet Service (42) Merchants Wife, visitor
Jane (9) her daughter.
1861 Claude MacFie of Gogarburn provided financial assistance to the Free Church of Corstorphine (St Ninian’s) to pay the Rev. James Morrison to act as assistant to Dr. Burns. Mr MacFie also financed the heating system and a manse library for the clergy. In 1886 he also gifted an organ.
McFie Tombstone ©
Photograph from collection of Mrs. M. Day
The family grave is in Gogar Churchyard: -
Margaret Allan wife of Claude MacFie of Gogarburn who departed this life 16th February 1891 aged 71 years. Also the said Claude MacFie who died 24th May 1908 in his 82nd year. Claude William MacFie only son 2nd Lieutenant 3rd South Staffordshire Regiment killed at Givenchy 15th June 1915 aged 22 years, while leading his men. Mentioned in dispatches and recommended for gallantry and distinguished service in the field.
Dates on building
(a) south wing 1891,
(b) north wing 1893.
Purchased by The City of Edinburgh District Board of Control for a purpose-built hospital for the mentally handicapped and to accommodated 24 women. The stables were converted to hold 24 men.
Stewart Kaye began the new Hospital in 1929 when the Duke of York laid the foundation stone of the new administration block.
Gogar Burn House Gate ©
Photograph from the collection of Mrs. M. Day
A school was opened in 1931 and further buildings by E. J. MacRae, added in 1933.
The building was weather proof in 1999 when the picture was taken, however the Hospital complex was virtually empty and many of the other buildings were vandalised.
The gateway to the house shows the state of neglect that has crept into the property over the past years.
Now in the hands of the Royal Bank of Scotland. It remains to be seen how the house will be preserved or incorporated into the development of the site.