Coade Stone Pillars

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Across the promenade, you’ll find the intriguing Coade Stone Pillars. These three ornately decorated structures have been a source of mystery and fascination for locals and visitors alike. The Coade Stone Pillars are named after the material they are made from, Coade stone. It was a type of artificial stone invented in 1770 by Eleanor Coade, a remarkable English businesswoman. Coade stone was renowned for its durability and weather resistance. This explains why the pillars look almost as good today as they did when they were first erected, believed to be around 1815. For about 90 years, the pillars graced the garden of Argyle House near Portobello High Street. Their journey to Argyle House remains a mystery, but clues suggest a possible origin. The Portobello Amenity Society, in their study of the pillars, discovered that the designs on two of them closely resemble Coade stone chimneys at Dalmeny House. Dalmeny House, the seat of Lord Rosebery, is located near South Queensferry, on the other side of the city. They also unearthed records of a Coade stone shipment arriving in nearby Leith in 1820. These designs, featuring the fleur-de-lis, Tudor rose and crown, and lion, are all associated with the Roseberry family. The third pillar stands out, as it’s made of complete circles instead of quadrants and boasts a different design. In the mid-2000s, the pillars were meticulously restored and moved to their present location, a site that once housed a bandstand, park, and children’s wading pool. Take a moment to admire these enigmatic pillars, a beautiful reminder of the enduring artistry of Coade stone.

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