Restored Victorian griffins return to Granton Waterfront

Two 19th century griffin sculptures that once stood either side of the entrance gate to Muirhouse Mansion in Granton Waterfront have been restored and placed near their original site, the City of Edinburgh Council said.

The council said the griffins had spent over 50 years in storage before being installed in its new affordable housing development, Silverlea, to mark a link to the site’s archaeological heritage.

Conservation and restoration work was carried out by James Innes & Sons and involved removing 20th century concrete repairs and crafting missing feet, wings and beaks that had broken off in the past, the council said. It added that the work was carried out on its behalf in 2025 and marks the last phase of archaeological work on the site, which included an excavation in 2024 by AOC Archaeology of grounds associated with the earlier 17th century Muirhouse Castle.

The council said it is in the process of handing over keys for more than 100 homes to new residents at Silverlea, with a further 43 homes expected to be ready for tenants in early 2027. It said work upgrading green space between the new homes and the football pavilion is due to be completed in January.

Council Leader Jane Meagher said: “There is a huge amount of work going on to celebrate Granton Waterfront’s rich cultural heritage. Placing the sculptures as art in open space near these much-needed new affordable homes, gives residents an opportunity to enjoy their connection to generations of people who lived in the area before them.”

She added: “This is one of many important conservation projects we’re carrying out to celebrate the area’s long-standing history. The former Granton Station Building with original platforms is now home to local artists, and the nearby iconic gasworks has become a new city park. The headquarters for the UK’s first car factory - Madelvic House - as well as Granton Lighthouse and Granton Castle Walled Garden are all also at different stages of being restored and I’m looking forward to seeing them all brought back to life.”

The council said Muirhouse Mansion, built in 1830 as a replacement for Muirhouse Castle built in 1670, is located to the north of Silverlea on Marine Drive. It said Muirhouse Castle was demolished in 1954 when Marine Drive was constructed, after which the griffins were placed in storage pending restoration. The council said Silverlea forms part of its £1.3bn regeneration of the local area to build a new environmentally friendly coastal town, and that one of the archaeological conditions attached to the development’s approval was that the sculptures be conserved and returned to the site as public art.