NOTES uncovered during a refurbishment of Edinburgh Castle have been returned to the Crown Room where they were first found.
Hidden behind the room’s historic oak panelling, the papers came to light earlier this year as work began to redesign the display of the Honours of Scotland – the crown, sword, and sceptre that form Scotland’s crown jewels.
The first note, dated 1848, was originally discovered in 1992 during work on the previous Honours exhibition. Written on sandpaper, it offers a glimpse into the history of the Crown Room and the skilled craftspeople who helped shape it. It records the names of workers from the Edinburgh firm of Charles Trotter Esq, who completed the room’s wooden panelling on 29 May 1848.
A second note, written in 1993, records details and names of those involved in that year’s Crown Room refit.
To mark the moment, joiners at Historic Environment Scotland (HES) created a new container for the time capsule. A record of the recent work carried out in the Crown Room was added, along with copies of the original papers, before being carefully returned it to its hiding place for future generations to discover. Because the original papers are fragile, HES paper conservators undertook conservation work, and these documents will now be preserved in the HES Archive.
Andrew Carlberg-Husband, joiner at HES who worked on the Crown Room and helped pen a record of the works for the time capsule, said, “I started as an apprentice at HES in 2014 and have been based at Edinburgh Castle for a long time, so to have played a part in a project as significant as this is a real moment of personal pride. For those that find the time capsule in the future, I’d want them to know that this project was the result of a lot of individuals from different backgrounds coming together to create the finished product that you see today, all of them bringing a high level of workmanship across all the different aspects of the project.”
The Crown Room at Edinburgh Castle recently reopened to the public following major work to refresh the space and redisplay the Honours of Scotland. A new bespoke case has been installed to keep the objects secure, environmentally stable, and presented at their best for the two million visitors who come to see them each year.
Elements of the Crown Room’s Victorian design, including its oak panelling, have also been carefully restored. HES joiners carved new oak shields to return these features to the simpler original form that would have decorated the display at the time.
Kathy Richmond, head of collections and applied conservation at Historic Environment Scotland (HES), said, “The Honours of Scotland are immensely significant, and these papers add a new layer to our understanding of them while shining a light on the craftspeople who have played an important part in their story. This time capsule creates a special connection between the craftspeople of the past and those of today and celebrates the legacy they share. Many of the traditional skills used centuries ago are still being practised, which makes it all the more important that we protect them for the future.
“We’re delighted that the newly refurbished Crown Room is once again open to the public. It feels an especially fitting moment to recognise everyone who has helped care for and conserve these treasures, so they can continue to inspire, teach and be enjoyed for generations to come.”
