Abbeyhill Primary School Janitor's House, City of Edinburgh

Addyman Archaeology undertook a programme of Historic Building Recording and Watching Brief in relation to the demolition of the derelict Janitor's House at Abbeyhill Primary School, Abbey Street, Edinburgh. The Janitor's House is a Category C Listed Building (LB49049), along with the Primary School, boundary walls, railings and gatepiers. The building was constructed to a design by Robert Wilson in 1880 along with the school in 1880 in response to the 1872 Education Act (Scotland). Historically the site lies within the medieval settlement of Abbeyhill. Due to the demolition of the building and the location of the site within the medieval and later settlement of Abbeyhill historic building recording was undertaken prior to demolition and a watching brief was maintained during the grubbing out of foundations. A photographic survey was undertaken of the outside of the Listed Building prior to demolition, with scaffold access provided to the upper floor and roof areas. The interior was not accessible due to collapsed ceilings. A watching brief was undertaken during and after demolition on the grubbing out of the foundations to determine whether any evidence of medieval settlement survived in the area. The Historic Building Survey recorded the single phase building and included the original architect's drawings for the Janitor's House, which are held at the school. The Watching Brief did not reveal any evidence of earlier archaeology. Because of the depth (0.9m) and nature of the foundations, only 0.3m were excavated, while the rest remained in situ.