HMS Claverhouse

HMS Claverhouse was a shore establishment of the British Royal Navy, based at Granton, Edinburgh. It is a listed building, used as a training centre for E Squadron, 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers).

For HMS Claverhouse, the RNVR training ship, see HMS M23.

HMS Claverhouse
Granton, Edinburgh
Claverhouse Training Centre
HMS Claverhouse
Coordinates55.980618°N 3.224330°W / 55.980618; -3.224330
TypeTraining Centre
Site information
Controlled by United Kingdom
Site history
In use1939–1994
Garrison information
GarrisonRoyal Navy

Early years

The building was originally part of a planned waterside development by the Duke of Buccleuch in the late 1830s and was completed in 1938. The site was important as it fronted onto the new pier. The design is attributed to William Burn by John Gifford, Colin McWilliam and David Walker in Edinburgh, although previous descriptions state that it was designed by John Henderson.[1]

It is a 3-storey building with a basement. It is symmetrical and rectangular-plan in the classical tradition. The exterior is coursed, tooled sandstone with ashlar dressings; decorative features include band courses above and below piano nobile, V-jointed angle quoins, eaves cornice and architraved windows. There is a Doric entrance porch on the west side. Cast-iron torchere lamp standards with nautical finials flank the entrance.[2]

Service history

On the outbreak of World War II in September 1939, the navy took over the Granton Hotel, close to Granton Harbour and commissioned it as HMS Claverhouse for Reserve training. From April 1940 it was in use for Merchant Navy Defence Courses, and also served as the headquarters for the Motor Launches of the local Coastal Forces.[3][4]

Decommissioned on 15 August 1945, Claverhouse then became the Training Centre of the Forth Division. It was also a drill ship until 1958.[3][5]

Current use

The principal elevations are largely unaltered and retain a number of early/original fixtures and fittings, including the main entrance and lamp standards. The building, including the lamp standards, has been a category B listed building since 1970.[6]

The building is known as the "Claverhouse Training Centre" and is the HQ for E Squadron, 205 (Scottish) Field Hospital (Volunteers), No.17 (Granton) Platoon, Army Cadet Force and the Edinburgh Trinity Sea Cadets.[7][8]

References
  1. Stuff, Good. "8 Granton Square, Former Granton Hotel and Hms Claverhouse, Including Lamp Standards, Edinburgh, Edinburgh". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  2. Stuff, Good. "8 Granton Square, Former Granton Hotel and Hms Claverhouse, Including Lamp Standards, Edinburgh, Edinburgh". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  3. Warlow, Ben (1992). Shore Establishments of the Royal Navy. Liskeard, Cornwall: Maritime Books. ISBN 0-907771-52-1.
  4. Houterman, J.N. (2011). "Royal Navy Coastal Forces 1940-1945". World War II Unit Histories. Archived from the original on 3 July 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  5. "Between the Wars: Reconstitution of the RNVR". The HMS Unicorn Preservation Society. 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  6. Stuff, Good. "8 Granton Square, Former Granton Hotel and Hms Claverhouse, Including Lamp Standards, Edinburgh, Edinburgh". www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk. Retrieved 27 April 2018.
  7. "E Squadron, 205 Field Hospital". British Army Website. 2011. Archived from the original on 25 November 2011. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  8. "Edinburgh Trinity". Sea Cadet Corps. 2011. Archived from the original on 17 February 2009. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
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