Tanfield

Demolition 1987

Photo 1. above looks across the Water of Leith from Brandon Terrace, Canonmills, across the back greens of the tenements in Howard Street towards the Morrison & Gibb offices.

Many of the buildings at Tanfield were demolished around 1987 when the site was redeveloped to include a large new administrative block for The Standard Life Assurance Company.  The stone Morrison & Gibb building was retained as part of the new offices, as can be seen in photo 2. above.

Another Photo

Here is another photo looking across the Water of Leith to Tanfield.

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Sculptures

Axis Mundi

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A sculpture can be seen seen on the left of photo 2 above.  It is 'Axis Mundi'  -  a 35 ft high sculpture with five bronze virgins atop a granite-clad obelisk - by  sculptor Gerald Laing, born in Newcastle, 1936.

Gerald Laing's other work includes a  ''Freeze of The Wise and Foolish Virgins' (1979) commissioned for their offices at 1 George Street.

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Axis Mundi Moved

'Axis Mundi' was installed outside the main entrance to Standard Life's Administration Offices at Tanfield in 1990.

In 2007, following the sale of Tanfield House by Standard Life, there were plans to move the sculpture to outside the front door of Standard Life's Head Office at 30 Lothian Road, at the junction of the Western Approach Road. However Council officials expressed fears that drunks might clamber up it, if it was sited there.  [Scotsman, July 26, 2007]

So, instead, it was  moved to a a quieter site - the Perth Street entrance to Standard Life's Dundas House offices at Canonmills.

Gerald Laing

Here are links to other sites that give further information:

-  Gerald Laing's Exhibitions and Public Commissions

-  Photos of Gerald Laing and 'Axis Mundi' at Tanfield