Edinburgh Geographical Institute

Another in my occasional series of remaining or relocated masonry, this is the frontage of the Edinburgh Geographical Institute.

Until 1909 it was the frontage of a very grand Morningside mansion, Falcon Hall. which was built (or improved) in 1818 by Alexandar Falconar. Following his death the ownership passed to his son-in-law who died in 1889, whence the hall became a high class boarding school for boys (which had outgrown its premises in the James Gowans house, Rockville).

The last owner was John George Bartholomew of the well-known cartographic company and it was he that on demolition of the Hall removed its Palladian facade to the company's premises, later to become the Geographical Institute; in its original situation the lower frontage was wider, incorporating statues of Nelson and Wellington.

The stone falcons from the gateposts of the Hall were removed to the Corstorphine house of Cameron McMillan, now occupied by Edinburgh Zoo - but that's another blip..