#st andrews square

Statues on the former Linen Bank, St. Andrew Square Edinburgh.

The building itself was designed by the eminent Scottish architect  David Bryce and built between 1846-51. The statues are the work of  Alexander Handyside Ritchie, a Musselburgh sculptor who had a studio at  Mound Place and lived on Princes Street.

Canmore the online catalogue to Scotland’s archaeology, buildings, and industrial and maritime heritage, and part of Historic Environment Scotland/Historic Scotland describe the statues as such;

The bottom of the building is clad in ugly scaffolding just now, hence only the top half captured, 

Navigation: female figure with an anchor by her left side and a stick(?) in her right hand.

Commerce: male figure with book in left hand and a large parcel tied with rope by his left foot.

Manufacture: a female figure with spindle(?) in left hand and a distaff in right hand.

Architecture: a female figure with a tablet of stone in her left hand.

Science: bearded male figure with a kind of bolt(?) in his right hand, his left hand holding a parchment on his left hip. At his right foot is an anvil and a hammer.

Agriculture: Female figure with wheat sheaf in right hand and a circle of wheat stalks in her left hand. Around her head are ears of whea0t.

They represent Navigation, Commerce, Manufacture, Science, Art and Agriculture.

And below the statues as;

On a frieze running below the figures are 6 putti. Each putto is directly below each figure and has further attributes:-

Navigation: putto with trident and sea creature.

Commerce: putto with globe and map.

The building housed The Bank of Scotland for some years and is now owned by  Gleneagles Hotels and is being converted into a  33-room boutique hotel, called “Gleneagles Townhouse”  There will also be a restaurant and bar in the hotel, and a rooftop terrace with views over the square.

https://gleneagles.com/townhouse/