Hello
I am interested in the history of David Laing and his former residence 'East Villa' in Portobello. Most of his house was knocked down in the late 1800s, and the tenements on the promenade next to the new community Garden and James Street were constructed on the site.
I am particularly interested in hearing from anyone with any photographs from this time, of East Villa, inside or out.
Thank you!
David Laing History Query - died late 1800s
Sorry, but I've not been able to find out a great deal about David Laing. Hope this helps you to explore a bit further:
Dr David Laing was the Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, which he had joined in 1824. He served the society in many important offices, including fifteen years as treasurer.
After he died in 1879 his sister Letitia continued to live in East Villa until her death in 1896, when the villa was sold and demolished by the new owners.
In December 1872 he was one of the members of the Committee appointed to consider a suitable memorial to John Knox. He proposed that a statue in either bronze or marble should be erected. It was subsequently put in place in the courtyard at New College, at the top of the Mound. (Laing was editor of the works of John Knox and was appointed by Edinburgh Council in 1877 to a Committee dealing with the history of Presbyterian Churches.)
In September 1874 Laing was instrumental in the restoration of the Carstairs memorial in Greyfriars churchyard and in 1878 of that to George Buchanan. He was also responsible for the restoration of the Town Cross outside St Giles Cathedral.
Following his death in 1879, hiscollection of prints was sold at Sotheby’s on 23 February 1880. It included works by Durer, Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Raimondi. There were 213 lots in all.
1884 saw the posthumous publication of Laing’s book : The Ancient Popular Poetry of Scotland.
It was noted that when the National Gallery of Scotland re-opened after refurbishment on 11 February 1895, among the exhibits was the full length portrait of Robert Burns which had formerly been in the collection of Dr. David Laing.
After the death of his sister and the closing of East Villa, an auction of the collection of paintings from the villa, formed by Laing, was held on 2 May 1896. The collection included, among others, a Canaletto (Venetian Scene) a Poussin (Italian Landscape with Classical Ruins) and a Holbein (Luther).
Dr David Laing was the Secretary to the Society of Antiquaries of Scotland, which he had joined in 1824. He served the society in many important offices, including fifteen years as treasurer.
After he died in 1879 his sister Letitia continued to live in East Villa until her death in 1896, when the villa was sold and demolished by the new owners.
In December 1872 he was one of the members of the Committee appointed to consider a suitable memorial to John Knox. He proposed that a statue in either bronze or marble should be erected. It was subsequently put in place in the courtyard at New College, at the top of the Mound. (Laing was editor of the works of John Knox and was appointed by Edinburgh Council in 1877 to a Committee dealing with the history of Presbyterian Churches.)
In September 1874 Laing was instrumental in the restoration of the Carstairs memorial in Greyfriars churchyard and in 1878 of that to George Buchanan. He was also responsible for the restoration of the Town Cross outside St Giles Cathedral.
Following his death in 1879, hiscollection of prints was sold at Sotheby’s on 23 February 1880. It included works by Durer, Rembrandt, Van Dyck and Raimondi. There were 213 lots in all.
1884 saw the posthumous publication of Laing’s book : The Ancient Popular Poetry of Scotland.
It was noted that when the National Gallery of Scotland re-opened after refurbishment on 11 February 1895, among the exhibits was the full length portrait of Robert Burns which had formerly been in the collection of Dr. David Laing.
After the death of his sister and the closing of East Villa, an auction of the collection of paintings from the villa, formed by Laing, was held on 2 May 1896. The collection included, among others, a Canaletto (Venetian Scene) a Poussin (Italian Landscape with Classical Ruins) and a Holbein (Luther).
I have nothing to say and I'm going to say it.
Rathbone, I've been meaning to ask you about Dr L's sister - the records at the Registers shows his sis as Euphemia rather than Letitia???? And I've found Effie in the Hootsmon archive as popping her clogs in 1896.Poppy wrote:He was an LLB "Doctor of Laws" and "Librarian to the Society of Writers to Her Majesty's Signet".
So what gives, eh?
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SoupDragon
- Posts: 2201
- Joined: 03 Oct 2006, 11:02
Hi portocat try online at
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MAPS/0_ma ... obello.htm
http://www.edinphoto.org.uk/0_MAPS/0_ma ... obello.htm