Description

Early 18th century. Square ashlar pillar, set into boundary wall of 130 Grange Loan and Lovers' Loan, approximately 3m high, surmounted by carved stone coronet and wyvern.

S (GRANGE LOAN) ELEVATION: rubble base to approx 75cms; flutted pillar with carved ashlar bands, 2 bands with tassle carving, 1 blank. Ionic style capital; plinth supporting coronet and wyvern (wyvern's head to E). Banded polished ashlar to W (Lovers' Loan) face. Adjoined to tall rubble boundary wall to N.

Statement of Interest

This pillar is one of an identical pair removed from the grounds of Grange House, when it was demolished in 1936. Although commonly known as the "Lauder Griffins", it has been established that the heraldic beasts are in fact wyverns (see Grange Association (1982) p90). Wyverns were supposed to have had wings, the barbed tail of a serpent, and the head of a fire-breathing dragon, whilst griffins were composties of lions and eagles. The wyverns and coronets seem to be heraldic devices from the arms of the seton family, with which the Dick Lauders of Grange House were closely linked during the 18th century.

The original location of the pillars is not known, although it seems likely that they served as gatepiers. A late 19th century photograph (see THE GRANGE OF ST GILES, p88) shows the pillars as part of an ornamental garden retreat or arbour.

The other pillar now stands some 100m to the East on Grange Loan, set into the mutual wall between Nos 108-110 Grange Loan and No 2 Lauder Road.

External Links

• Historic Environment Scotland Listing
• Wikidata Q17797989

External links are from the relevant listing authority and, where applicable, Wikidata. Wikidata IDs may be related buildings as well as this specific building. If you want to add or update a link, you will need to do so by editing the Wikidata entry.

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