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The White House, Edinburgh

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Coordinates: 55°55′57″N 3°08′19″W / 55.932554°N 3.138479°W / 55.932554; -3.138479
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The White House
The White House in 2024
Map
Alternative namesThe Whitehouse[1]
General information
TypeRoadhouse
Architectural styleInternational Style, Modern, Moderne, Art Deco[1][3]
Address70 Niddrie Mains Road
Town or cityEdinburgh
CountryScotland
Coordinates55°55′57″N 3°08′19″W / 55.932554°N 3.138479°W / 55.932554; -3.138479
Grid referenceNT 28984 71640[6]
Current tenantsCommunity Alliance Trust
Opened1936[1]
Renovated2010[2]
Renovation costc.£1.85 million (equivalent to £3.5 million in 2023)[3]
ClientJemima Hood Gair[4]
OwnerPARC Craigmillar
Technical details
MaterialBrick[1]
Floor count2[1]
Design and construction
Architect(s)William Innes Thomson[1][5]
Architecture firmW N Thomson and Co[1]
Renovating team
Architect(s)Smith Scott Mullan[2]
Structural engineerCurtins Consulting Engineers[2]
Services engineerTPS[2]
Quantity surveyorGleeds Cost Management[2]
Main contractorThomas Johnstone[2]
Listed Building – Category B
Official nameNiddrie Mains Road and Craigmillar Castle Loan, The Whitehouse
Designated7 December 1995
Reference no.LB30325

The White House (sometimes written The Whitehouse) is a former roadhouse on Niddrie Mains Road (at its junction with Craigmillar Castle Loan) in Edinburgh, Scotland, now used as a community café and volunteering centre.

History

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The White House was one of a number of roadhouses developed in Edinburgh in response to the growth of the motor car.[7] It was designed by architect William Innes Thomson of the firm W N Thomson and Co for Jemima Hood Gair.[1][4][5][8] Gair's fifteen year old daughter convinced her to request a Moderne design.[3] The White House opened on 18 October 1936.[1][4][5][8] It is a two-storey irregular-plan International Style and Modern building with Art Deco detailing;[1] its lounge bar bay window has been compared to that of the card room of the RMS Queen Mary.[9] The ground floor of the building featured a public bar, saloon bar, tea room, and skittle alley, while the first floor featured a billiard room and lounge bar.[1]

The White House was popular due to the shortage of public houses in the Craigmillar and Niddrie neighbourhoods of Edinburgh.[3] It later evolved from a roadhouse into a public house owned by Tennent Caledonian Breweries.[7] By the 1970s, it was known for its "happy-go-lucky" clientele.[9] In 1995, The White House was granted category 'B' listed status by Historic Scotland.[1]

The White House fell into decline in the late 20th century, eventually closing in 2000.[7][9] It was added to the Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland in 2004.[10][11] In 2005, the building was the subject of a major fire[7][9] which destroyed its skittle alley.[3]

In 2007, The White House was acquired from receivers by PARC Craigmillar, an arm's length company of the City of Edinburgh Council.[8][11][12] After grants were awarded from Historic Scotland and the Scottish Government's Town Centre Regeneration Fund, a c.£1.85 million (equivalent to £3.24 million in 2023) restoration of The White House began in April 2010 and completed in March 2011.[8][10] The works saw the building envelope restored, improvements made to the roof and windows, and repairs to internal elements such as the cornices and staircase,[2] while art deco elements of the interior were restored.[13] The architect for the renovation was Smith Scott Mullan and the principal contractor was Thomas Johnstone.[2] On 18 September 2013, The White House was formally reopened as a community café, art space, and volunteering centre.[7][14] It is operated by the Community Alliance Trust - a local charity - under a lease from PARC Craigmillar.[10]

In December 2024, the National Transport Trust inaugurated a "Red Wheel" plaque on the building.[15]

References

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  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k l "Niddrie Mains Road and Craigmillar Castle Loan, The Whitehouse". HistoricEnvironment.scot. Historic Environment Scotland. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b c d e f g h "The White House". Urban Realm. Archived from the original on 5 December 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d e Robb, Steven (6 July 2017). "Saving Craigmillar's Art Deco heritage". HistoricEnvironment.scot. Archived from the original on 2 December 2020. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  4. ^ a b c Arthur, Andy. "The thread about Edinburgh's roadhouses; when the glamour of art deco hostelries took on the Temperance Movement (and won!)". Threadinburgh.scot. Archived from the original on 16 March 2024. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  5. ^ a b c Grainger, Hilary (2020). Designs on Death: The Architecture of Scottish Crematoria. John Donald. p. 246. ISBN 978-1-7888-5265-4. Archived from the original on March 17, 2024. Retrieved March 17, 2024.
  6. ^ "Edinburgh, Niddrie Mains Road, The White House". Canmore. Archived from the original on 8 November 2023. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  7. ^ a b c d e "The White House". Scottish-Places.info. Archived from the original on 25 January 2022. Retrieved 15 March 2024.
  8. ^ a b c d "Revamp revives family ties". The Scotsman. 27 April 2011. Archived from the original on 9 July 2022. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  9. ^ a b c d "The White House". EdinPhoto.org.uk. Archived from the original on 1 December 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  10. ^ a b c "The White House". Smith-Scott-Mullan.co.uk. Archived from the original on 10 December 2023. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  11. ^ a b "Full record". Buildings at Risk Register for Scotland. Archived from the original on 12 October 2006. Retrieved 16 March 2024.
  12. ^ MacLeod, Michael (18 March 2011). "Craigmillar's iconic art deco White House reopens". The Guardian. Archived from the original on 17 October 2021. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  13. ^ Mackie, Andy (8 March 2011). "The White House (Edinburgh) re-opens following £2 Million restoration project". TheEdinburghReporter.co.uk. Archived from the original on 22 March 2011. Retrieved 22 March 2011.
  14. ^ "Art deco White House restored to become shining beacon for community". The Scotsman. 18 March 2011. Archived from the original on 17 March 2024. Retrieved 17 March 2024.
  15. ^ Stephen, Phyllis (1 December 2024). "A red transport wheel for the White House Craigmillar". Edinburgh Reporter. Archived from the original on 1 December 2024. Retrieved 2 December 2024.
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