Archaeological Excavations in Old College Quad - Professor Mary Bownes OBE

Wed, Mar 28th 2018 at 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

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Professor Bownes gave a most interesting talk to Club members on the results of development work in the University Old College Quad. Mary originally qualified as a biologist, advancing to a PhD in genetics at Sussex University.  She did research in various parts of the world before settling to head the department of molecular biology at Edinburgh University. She progressed to become Senior Vice Principal and Deputy Vice Chancellor of the University  and latterly senior positions with the National Museums of Scotland, Royal Zoological Society of Scotland and the Royal Society of Edinburgh. In 2006, Professor Bownes was awarded an OBE
In 2010 a private donation enabled consideration to be given to plans to re-develop the Quad in the Old College. Mary was appointed to manage the project.
The present building known as the Old College, was built initially by Robert Adam in 1789 but not completed until 1816 by William Playfair. It was built over various smaller buildings that had constituted the University since its original foundation as the “Tounis College “in 1583.
The quadrangle of the college known as the “Quad” remained unpaved and in later years covered in gravel, used as a car park. The intention in 2010 was to convert it to a proper amenity with slate walkways and grass, open to students and the public alike. This required the site to be bulldozed to remove the gravel and top soil. Archaeological digs were then instituted. These revealed many startling and interesting results. The first was a whole series of graves only a few feet down. Many contained skeletons all aligned in the same direction. It was known that the area had once contained a church graveyard  and clearly much of the top soil had been removed when the Old College was built. The bones have been removed for further investigation.
Further excavation uncovered the foundations of Hamilton House. This was built for the Duke of Chatelheraut, William Hamilton in 1552 and eventually sold to the Town Council in 1571 and later used as the college. Further on, the foundations of the old library of 1642 were revealed. These produced some alarming results as the cellar of the library contained many dangerous chemicals and apparatus used by the eminent chemist,  Professor Joseph Black, and his students in the 1700s. The site had to be decontaminated before any further excavation. This later revealed a remarkable collection of glassware and apparatus used in the teaching of chemistry.
Archaeologists then uncovered destruction deposits dated to 1823, of a large building built in 1617. This was built to provide an assembly area for an increasing number of students at the University. By the early 19th century this had become so ruinous however as to detract from the new college building work.
Although excavations could not reach the Anatomy Theatre which is now under the entrance to the present college, evidence of the anatomy teaching for which Edinburgh was renowned, was uncovered. Isolated bones some with cut marks indicated such activity.
An interesting historical event which occurred at the south corner of the present quad was the murder of Henry Lord Darnley, husband of Mary Queen of Scots, in 1567. The Prebendaries Lodgings where he was staying was blown up. However, he was found later having been strangled in the adjacent garden. The ruins of this building were covered by the later Principal’s House which in turn was built over for the new college. No evidence of either could be exposed during the present dig but the skull reputed to be of Darnley is presently displayed in the University’s Anatomy Museum.
Professor Bownes concluded her talk by saying how much the new works gave the opportunity to find out about the University’s past. A booklet explaining the extent and significance of the finds is now available from Edinburgh University. The vote of thanks for this excellent talk was proposed by Theresa Douglas.
Report by Mike Latimer
 

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