the Crossley engine

the engine's discovery

During renovations in the attic of CoDE The Court - the building above The Lost Close - an exceptionally rare Victorian Crossley engine was found. It is now on display in The Lost Close.

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 adds a significant chapter to Britain’s industrial heritage.

It’s unclear whether the engine was newly installed in the building or a second-hand acquisition. Adding to the intrigue, research revealed a royal connection. In the 1800s, Edinburgh Police Chambers and Balmoral Castle, the Royal Family’s Scottish residence, had the same system installed; adding to the royal connection, this 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.

Andrew Landsburgh, Director and Founder of CoDE Concepts, 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 first-hand.”

the documentary

The story of this extraordinary discovery will be featured in an upcoming documentary titled ‘Potential Energy’, which delves into how the engine was found, its relocation from the attic to The Lost Close, underground vaults of the building and the possibilities of restoring it for modern use.

Brand-new historical tour

To mark this discovery, we are launching a brand-new tour - The Scottish Innovations & Inventions Tour - this June. Book your space to explore the country’s contributions to innovation and industry. The tour will start around Edinburgh's Old Town where you will lean about the role of the city in shaping global technological progress, and will finish at The Lost Close, now the permanent home of the Crossley ‘Otto Silent’ engine.

Development Lead of 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.”