About Lucy
Relative of a donor of RIE
Lucy is a relative of one of the donors that funded the hospital’s construction in the 19th century, Alexander Cowan. Lucy’s portrait is taken by the donor board at the main clocktower entrance. The name of Lucy’s great-great-great-grandfather is at the very top of the board.
Alexander Cowan – the story behind the Ward
EFI offered a sneaky peak of the building to University employers at the end of May, prior to its official opening. So some of my colleagues and I trundled across George Square and up Middle Meadow Walk for a snoop. In we went, up the steps leading from Lauriston Place, across the amazing new entrance esplanade, all gleaming paint and freshly-finished, with workmen still laying new turf outside the Canopy Cafe.
The very first thing I noticed on entering this glorious, Victorian behemoth of a building was the huge, original Ward Donor board handing on the left hand wall with its golden lettering. And top of the list, alongside the date 1852, was the name Alexander Cowan – my great great great great grandfather. I had absolutely no idea that he had bequeathed funds to the original infirmary.
He owned a papermill in Penicuik called Valleyfield, producing the paper for various publishers in 19th century Edinburgh. He was quite the philanthropist of his day, contributing to several local projects including re-glazing every building on the Royal Mile, and leaving monies in his will to Penicuik sufficient to build the Cowan Institute (later Penicuik Town Hall) in his memory. He was also one of the trustees who came to Sir Walter Scott’s rescue when he was declared bankrupt. So a nice link from Cowan Ward at EFI, via papermaking, to BOOKS.
Lucy Ewing
Written for Edinburgh International Book Festival’s initiative Words from the Wards
