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Showing posts from January, 2021

William Birnie Rhind and Jenners Department Store

Yesterday I spotted a news item about Jenners department store in Edinburgh. The building, on a prime site on Princes Street, is currently run by Frasers Group PLC who hold the trading rights to the Jenners name but have decided to withdraw from leasing the site. This has sparked fears that, along with the immediate job losses, there may not be a department  store on the site for much longer, although the current owner of the building, Danish billionaire Anders Holch Povlsen, states that he intends to continue to lease the building for this use. This news caught my eye as William Birnie Rhind was responsible for the statuary on the current building which was officially opened in 1895. It is a good illustration of how he gained significant commissions for architectural as well as monumental sculpture during his working life. Jenners, Princes Street, Edinburgh. Wikimedia Commons The first incarnation of Jenners was opened in 1838 as Kennington and Jenner. It was established by Charle...