'Engineering marvel' found in Scottish attic 'is one of only three in world'
A RARE Victorian engine, one of only three on earth, has been found by accident in an Edinburgh attic.
The magnitude of the discovery of the Crossley four-stroke engine was only noticed after staff at the pod-hotel firm CoDE Concepts 'posted a photo online not knowing what we had,' director and founder Andrew Landsburgh said.
'Suddenly experts from around the world were contacting us telling us we'd uncovered something incredible,' he added.
During renovations at the CoDE The Court hostel, next to St Giles' Cathedral in the Scottish capital, the engine was uncovered in an attic.
The Crossley four-stroke engine is an early internal combustion engine that uses four piston movements – intake, compression, power, and exhaust – to convert fuel into motion efficiently.
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CoDE explained: 'Built in 1878, this marvel of Victorian engineering, it was far ahead of its time, used to regulate the temperature of the Edinburgh Police Chambers, and its survival offers a rare glimpse into 19th century innovation.
'Remarkably, this engine is the second-oldest surviving Crossley four-stroke engine in the world and the oldest in Europe.
'Only two other examples exist, the oldest is housed at the Henry Ford Museum in Michigan, USA, and another in Denmark.
'Its discovery, in near original condition, by founder Andrew Landsburgh, adds a significant chapter to Britain's industrial heritage.'
The rediscovered engine had originally been installed in the short lived 'Royal Aquarium' at Waverley, before being moved to the police chambers in 1881 where it was installed for the purpose of ventilation.
Archive image of Waverley train station in EdinburghThe story of the discovery is due to feature in a new documentary titled Potential Energy. It will look at how the engine was found, its relocation from the attic to The Lost Close – where it is currently on display – and the possibilities of restoring it for modern use.
James Armandary, tourism development lead for The Lost Close, said: 'This is an incredibly exciting addition to The Lost Close. It's not every day you uncover a piece of engineering history that bridges the gap between Scotland's past innovations and technology we take for granted today.
'This building continues to surprise us with its storied history and with the launch of the Scottish Innovations Tour, visitors will not only be able to see the engine up close but also explore Edinburgh's long-overlooked role in shaping global industry.'
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Landsburgh said: 'This is one of the most exciting finds in Scotland. We found it during The Court's renovation, posted a photo online not knowing what we had, and suddenly experts from around the world were contacting us telling us we'd uncovered something incredible.
'What began as a refurbishment turned into the discovery of a vital piece of Edinburgh, and the world's industrial heritage.
'This engine connects us directly to Scotland's innovative past and the very beginnings of technology which still powers the modern world. We've brought it down from the attic to The Lost Close, the underground vaults of the building, where visitors can experience this historic find firsthand.'
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